Low speed handling!!

[azirkhan]

I am new to boating, never owned in my life. Bought the 2001 Challenger 2000 just a month ago, having a great time, however low speed maneuvering is very frustrating. Just cannot get used to the Jet drive behavior. Finding it difficult to line up to the dock, boat always wants to "go", have to constantly change from forward to reverse to stay in one place and then putting in reverse the controls seem to be the opposite to a regular boat. Does any one have some advice on how to properly maneuver the boat a low docking speed?

 

[flyingarmy]

I don't have any advice but being a newby to Jet Drives also I had the same issue this weekend trying to get the baot back on the trailer. Ended up bending one of the guide-ons as I came in a little off center!:cuss:

I think it will just take a lot of practice to get it right. The reverse is tough to get used to for sure. But at least on my Speedster there is some additional steering at low speeds with the jet boost when full stern or port. Not for sure if your boat has that feature also. Good luck and keep it between the guides!!!

 

[RFoster130]

Sounds like you already have the right idea. Now you just need lots of practice. Working the lever constantly does the trick for me. I ease up to it slowly and use the lever, mostly in reverse as i get close. You are correct with the steering in reverse. It is like backing a trailer, turn it the opposite way you would with a car.

All you can do is keep practicing. It took me a while to figure out too. I smashed into the dock quite a few times and embarassingly smacked a few other boats. You will get the hang of it.

Putting the boat back on the trailer, I ease up to it and pretty much just float on. I then use a short section of rope tied to the eyelet on the front and pull it up to the winch by hand. Its much easier than smacking it against the roller or being all crooked.

 

[Dr Honda]

Practice... or stop getting close to the dock.

 

[Rogerswimuk]

If you have two engines, try shutting one off and only using one... I find it much easier to stear at low speads with only one running.

 

[moosehead]

Practice and no gas are your friends. Feathering between F, N, and R are enough to outmaneuver most prop boats in tight places.

Once you get her lined up to the slip or trailer properly, a little F is enough to keep her straight. Then back to neutral and perhaps a bit of R if you are coming in too hot. But if you stay off the gas, it's hard to do real damage to your boat or other things.

Same for coming about, these rigs will do full 360's around a static axis.

All bets are off in rough water and windy conditions. This is where nothing beats experience, patience, and calm demeanor.

Enjoy your new rig, post up some photos.

 

[unclejay]

Docking

Best way to dock -

Engine(s) idle, in N - pull parallel to the dock and about 5 feet away
Go into reverse engines still idle, and steer toward the dock, will cause the boat to crab sideways over to the dock

This is preferable to just driving up to the dock in F and banging the bow and scraping along the sides

 

[cheappc]

I figured a pretty good way for me to put my boat on my trailer to leave... I drive up to a dock, get my kids off and my girlfried off, she comes over to where a launch, I get close to her, then throw her the "tow rope", she holds the boat till i get back with my truck, and I dont steer it in, I just push it on my trailer? makes sense...

I think its better than bending anything..

 

[flyingarmy]

I figured a pretty good way for me to put my boat on my trailer to leave... I drive up to a dock, get my kids off and my girlfried off, she comes over to where a launch, I get close to her, then throw her the "tow rope", she holds the boat till i get back with my truck, and I dont steer it in, I just push it on my trailer? makes sense...

I think its better than bending anything..

Definitely agree....but when you are launching/recovering it alone, not much of a choice than getting it on the trailer yourself.

 

[cheappc]

wow...

So you go alone? I havent tried that yet.. I guess I could.. steer boat to dock tie it up.. park the truck, go back to dock, untie..

reverse the same, come back in tie boat to dock (hopefully its not illegal), drive the truck back to launch location, go back to dock, get on boat, steer boat close to launch where my truck is, jump off the boat (close to the shore), and hopefully everything goes well... oh oh, its scary.

I guess im gonna have to try!

 

[cheappc]

One more thing I forgot to mention that is very important, well at least to me, I HARDLY GO REVERSE GEAR..

I try not use the reverse at all, my reverse gear is very sensitive since its made of plastic, so I only use it if its incredibly important.. I found out that I havent had the need to use it at all.

I guess in the newer boats it shouldnt be a problem, but I learned my lesson...

 

[ocod]

Best way to dock -

Engine(s) idle, in N - pull parallel to the dock and about 5 feet away
Go into reverse engines still idle, and steer toward the dock, will cause the boat to crab sideways over to the dock

This is preferable to just driving up to the dock in F and banging the bow and scraping along the sides

Thats a good tip if open dock.
I opt for #2 but w/grace since I scare the mosquitos away.
Pretty much as I approach inlet to docks I'm N to F at times, line up in b/w both ramps then turn into side that is open then kill engines.
Then run to the front and push off dock to jump out with rope and tie up.
Wife helps.

I figured a pretty good way for me to put my boat on my trailer to leave... I drive up to a dock, get my kids off and my girlfried off, she comes over to where a launch, I get close to her, then throw her the "tow rope", she holds the boat till i get back with my truck, and I dont steer it in, I just push it on my trailer? makes sense...

I think its better than bending anything..

Definitely agree....but when you are launching/recovering it alone, not much of a choice than getting it on the trailer yourself.

To drop in wife walks boat line from dock as I reverse then she ties it up at the end of the dock till I come back.

to recover I pretty much walk it up kicking the back out of boat to the trailer.
Get it on trailer(mindfull to line up bottem bunks not on hull raised edge)
Clip hook of winch up then crank it up..

 

[truthbetold]

Aside from my seadoo sportster I also have a 1994 Bayliner Jazz Jet boat. On the Bayliner there is only one handle with 3 positions. Straight up is neutral. Push the throttle forward and naturally you go forward. Pull the throttle back and you are going in reverse. It seems simple and is simple. It works fine for me, especially for docking. You don't have a sparate handle for forward, neutral and reverse and another handle for throttle speed. Two handles can cause confusion under the stress of docking without smashing. My question is why would Seadoo use a two handle system when a one handle system, which I have used for years on my Bayliner, seems so much simpler?

 

[WAJetboating]

I believe your frustration comes from having different experiences in other boats. Our C2K was our first boat, so I had no expectations, and found controlling it was super easy from Day One. I've literally never had problems with it.

I've found that all low-speed moves are done using the FNR lever by itself. I never need the throttle. The FNR sits mostly centered, and by toggling it slightly forward and backward while steering you can do almost anything, including the 360's mentioned above. I can walk the boat sideways any distance, something a propped boat cannot do.

Also, don't worry about using reverse. The thrust reverser on your Mercury engine is solid aluminum and VERY strong. You can throw it into reverse while going forward at 30 MPH and not damage it. That's called a "sub move" and is very popular with everyone except those sitting in the bow seats {grin}.

Just take your time and practice. You have some previous experiences to unlearn. Once you get the feel of it, you'll never be satisfied with anything else.

 

[nohassle5]

As many have stated, practice is the most important portion of this process. I never use throttle on my twin engine speedster when docking, but rather just engaging the drive unit into the appropriate position.
One of the most vital bits of info I picked up on this site was while maneuvering the boat in reverse, turn the wheel where you want the bow to go. Once you get the hang of the low speed handling, you'll be able to put your boat where most can't.
Good luck.

 

[davo]

I'm not that experienced but I launch & retrieve solo. I tie a rope to the fwd cleat, come into the dock at a bit of an angle, with idle throttle & use the shift stick as a low speed throttle control, works a treat, I move it constantly to keep the speed slow & in check, nearly dead stop as the nose is an inch away & turn the tail in & jump out & tie her up. I pull it onto the trailer with the rope. easy as. good luck & practice.

 

[dsw222]

If you have two engines, try shutting one off and only using one... I find it much easier to stear at low speads with only one running.

I think its actually harder with one engine than with both. When you only are using one engine, the thrust is coming from one side of the boat (off center), so it has a tendency to pull harder in one direction. Plus backing up becoming challenging too.

I slow down to almost idle while i'm approaching the dock... then switch between forward and neutral (i dont use any throttle) until i'm lined up. Its a lot easier when you are coming in slow

 

[timeman]

I've been boating for about 50 years, motor and sail, never found any two boats that handled exactly the same, as evidenced by the different, individual techniques above, no two drivers are exactly the same either. Because there's a definite learning curve that has to be met, all you need to do is practice practice, PRACTICE...and stay off the throttle. Most people spend only a couple minutes,(sometimes frustrating / embarrassing), launching and retrieving and the rest of the day out in open water, full throttle, having fun and never really practice developing their skills.

 

[vollthrottle]

WAJetboating: That sounds interesting. Could you please explain how to walk the boat sideways? What exactly is the procedure? I have not been able to do that yet.

 

[WAJetboating]

WAJetboating: That sounds interesting. Could you please explain how to walk the boat sideways? What exactly is the procedure? I have not been able to do that yet.

If you turn the wheel to the right and move the FNR lever to R while idling, the boat will start moving forward BUT it will also start to spin the bow to the right. If you then reverse the wheel and the FNR lever, the stern will shift right. If you alternate like that and get the timing right, the boat will essentially "shift sideways" without moving much forward or backward.