Any tips for Docking an R5

[JulianaLL]

We have just purchased a 2016 Cobalt R5 and we launch from our local boat ramp in Lake Tahoe. We were used to dock a 220 before which was much shorter and are finding it a little harder to dock the R5 as the boat is too tall to jump out of the front, does anyone have any tips?

[Southerncomfort]

Bumpers, lots of bumpers.

I find it easier to back in most of the time with the higher gunwales as you can step off the back and get onto the dock and tie up the back. Then using the engine to bring the bow around if needed.

[CaptainTom]

A couple pieces of hardware might be helpful. First, a boat hook for extra reach. The second is a roving fender. A roving fender is a big fender on a line that can be walked around the boat. They're very common on big boats. Have the first mate just be ready to place the roving fender between the dock or adjacent boat you might bump into. The bigger the better. A big marine roving fender is very expensive and you will eventually get the hang of docking that you won't need it. So consider doing what I did. Rather than spend hundreds on a big roving fender. Get an adult jumpy ball:

[BobRae99]

Go slow, but not too slow. That my experience, anyway.

[Norris_Boating]

Never go faster than you are willing to hit something. At this speed anyone will be able to push you off of what ever.
Backing in usually works good but takes practice, the 220 is MUCH easier to maneuver at slower speeds so you will struggle some in the beginning.
When teaching my kids how to maneuver I throw a hat in the middle of the lake on a calm day and have them pick it up with bow, then repeat with stern.

[MnLakeBum]

Practice. My son is 21 and learning how to drive a boat. I’m having him dock our R5 at least 10 times each weekend until he’s proficient at it. FYI, our R5 surf tends to walk a bit to the right at docking speeds.

[NautiGirl]

Never go faster than you are willing to hit something. At this speed anyone will be able to push you off of what ever.

No offense, but I would rather put a scratch on our boat than have someone risk breaking an arm.

It's like a roller coaster - Keep your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the ride vehicle at all times. Remain in the ride until it comes to a full and complete stop at the unloading point of the ride.

[sailor55330]

Docking is something that is very intimidating to many. My .02 is the key is learning the characteristics of low speed thrust and maneuverability, especially with the duo prop. Many here will tell you that "bumping" in and out of gear at low speeds will yield the best control, and I agree with that. Leaving the boat in gear and trying to steer it near a dock doesn't usually go well for me with the duo prop. Heck, I've even found that at low speeds once the prop bites, I can turn in all the way to the stops (at engine idle) and the boat won't come around in reverse--it just goes straight, but if I "bump" it in and out, it responds much better. As Norris said, float an item in open water (I use a bumper and anchor) and practice maneuvering around that. The other skill I find very useful is what I call "the kick". I will approach the dock bow first at an shallow angle--maybe 10-15 degrees. When I get close--think of the bow at 1 ft or less, coming to the dock in neutral, I bump the boat to reverse to stop all forward momentum (it helps to have someone call out the distance when first learning). I then turn the drive so that it looks like I am turning away from the dock (think of the dock on the right and you want to execute a left hand turn). I bump the drive in and out 1 time of forward as quickly as possible. Turn your wheel all the way the other way and bump again to stop forward momentum. You should have stopped any forward movement and are now basically parallel to the dock. This "kicks" the stern to the dock, and you have someone step off the stern and grab the lines. Obviously, you want fenders in place prior, as you would on any docking maneuver. This was crucial to boat handling on a keel sailboat as you didn't have a lot of HP/Weight ratio to work with so you had to learn to be very efficient with what you had. Once you learn this, you can spin virtually any boat within it's own boat length. It's all about power management. You'll get it. The other option is spring lines, but that's another topic.

I also use this if I'm trailering and the boat is slightly crooked before I power up. I "bump" the boat to let it straighten. I hope I didn't confuse you

[AsLan7]

Docking is something that is very intimidating to many. My .02 is the key is learning the characteristics of low speed thrust and maneuverability, especially with the duo prop. Many here will tell you that "bumping" in and out of gear at low speeds will yield the best control, and I agree with that. Leaving the boat in gear and trying to steer it near a dock doesn't usually go well for me with the duo prop. Heck, I've even found that at low speeds once the prop bites, I can turn in all the way to the stops (at engine idle) and the boat won't come around in reverse--it just goes straight, but if I "bump" it in and out, it responds much better. As Norris said, float an item in open water (I use a bumper and anchor) and practice maneuvering around that. The other skill I find very useful is what I call "the kick". I will approach the dock bow first at an shallow angle--maybe 10-15 degrees. When I get close--think of the bow at 1 ft or less, coming to the dock in neutral, I bump the boat to reverse to stop all forward momentum (it helps to have someone call out the distance when first learning). I then turn the drive so that it looks like I am turning away from the dock (think of the dock on the right and you want to execute a left hand turn). I bump the drive in and out 1 time of forward as quickly as possible. Turn your wheel all the way the other way and bump again to stop forward momentum. You should have stopped any forward movement and are now basically parallel to the dock. This "kicks" the stern to the dock, and you have someone step off the stern and grab the lines. Obviously, you want fenders in place prior, as you would on any docking maneuver. This was crucial to boat handling on a keel sailboat as you didn't have a lot of HP/Weight ratio to work with so you had to learn to be very efficient with what you had. Once you learn this, you can spin virtually any boat within it's own boat length. It's all about power management. You'll get it. The other option is spring lines, but that's another topic.

I also use this if I'm trailering and the boat is slightly crooked before I power up. I "bump" the boat to let it straighten. I hope I didn't confuse you

.
Could not have worded that any better myself S55. This is exactly what we do with our 26 footer.

Any pics of your R5 JLL?

....oh, and welcome aboard mate!
.

[NautiGirl]

Yeah Sailor, I had to read that 3 times to realize that's how I dock... I just would have said it differently! Different strokes!

[sailor55330]

Yeah Sailor, I had to read that 3 times to realize that's how I dock... I just would have said it differently! Different strokes!

Yeah, well, I tend to ramble sometimes. Never claimed to be good, right, or smart...

[Ytmsn]

I pretty much back in everywhere I go, and I've discovered that it has helped bigtime when maneuvering the bow to get alongside another boat or dock.

Practice docking during the week or early in the morning when nobody is around. Use your fenders and go very slow using the bump technique. Docking in the wind or current is a whole different technique, but for now, practice, practice, practice.

[Mike in SC]

I approach the dock at a slightly bigger angle, slowly, out of gear, then steer all the way toward the dock and bump into reverse and out. Should arrest forward momentum and pull the stern alongside the dock. Or approach the dock very slowly, loop a line around a forward cleat on the dock and do the same thing. But I think the key is to start slow and mostly stay slow.

[MnLakeBum]

Yeah Sailor, I had to read that 3 times to realize that's how I dock... I just would have said it differently! Different strokes!

I also had to read it three times but it is spot on for me as well! I will add that a forward drive is a little different to dock than a regular VP drive. It took me a dozen or more times docking to adjust to the way the forward drive responds differently at low speeds.

[NautiGirl]

I pretty much back in everywhere I go, and I've discovered that it has helped bigtime when maneuvering the bow to get alongside another boat or dock.

Can confirm, YT Can back a boat into a slip like its nothing. I think he was just trying to impress Matt though.