Mastering Control Of A Twin Engine Boat

Operating a twin-engine boat may seem daunting, but with practice, it can be easier than controlling a single-engine vessel. Twin-engine boats offer more manoeuvrability, allowing you to push or pull from both corners of the stern. This enables you to move in a straight line, perform standing turns, or make small directional changes with a single thrust – all without touching the steering wheel. However, the type of boat you have, whether it's a twin inboard, sterndrive, or outboard, will determine how you should approach docking.

For twin inboards, it's best not to use the wheel when docking as it can overload the captain, leading to poor manoeuvring. Instead, rely on the two shifts and two throttles to control the boat. On the other hand, with twin sterndrives or outboards, using the wheel in conjunction with the shifters is crucial for effective docking. The wheel helps to redirect thrust, but be mindful of the position of the steering wheel; if it's not centred, you may lose control of the boat.

Regardless of your boat type, practising in a safe, open area is essential. Get to know your boat's handling characteristics and how it responds to different shifts and throttle adjustments. This familiarity will boost your confidence and make docking a breeze.

Understand the basic principles of twin-engine control

Understanding the basic principles of twin-engine control is essential for effectively operating a twin-engine boat. Here are some key principles to keep in mind:

Precision Control: Twin-engine boats offer very precise control due to the ability to independently adjust the throttle and shift of each engine. This allows for pivoting on the boat's axis and making sharp turns. Understanding how different throttle and shift combinations affect the boat's movement is crucial.

Use of Throttles and Shifters: When docking or manoeuvring at idle speeds, rely primarily on the throttles and shifters rather than the steering wheel. The rudders have minimal impact at slow speeds, so focus on controlling the boat's movement by adjusting the throttle and shift on each engine.

Opposing Engines for Manoeuvrability: One of the significant advantages of twin-engine boats is the ability to oppose the engines, putting one in forward gear and the other in reverse. This results in the boat spinning in place, making it easier to manoeuvre in tight spaces or when docking.

Understanding Boat Behaviour: Spend time practising with the throttles and shifters to understand how your boat behaves under different control inputs. Experiment with various throttle speeds and combinations to get a feel for how the boat turns, pivots, and responds. This knowledge will be invaluable when docking or navigating in close quarters.

Stay Calm and Practice: Docking can be a stressful situation, especially with onlookers. It's important to stay calm and avoid hasty control actions. Take the time to learn and practice docking techniques in a safe, open area. Dedicate a day for a practice session to improve your boat-handling skills and build confidence.

Wind and Current Considerations: Always be mindful of wind and current conditions when operating a twin-engine boat. Plan your approach to utilise wind and current to your advantage when docking. Check for their impact before initiating docking manoeuvres to avoid surprises.

Learn how to steer without the wheel

Learning to steer a twin-engine boat without using the wheel takes practice, but it's a valuable skill to master. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you learn:

Understand the Basic Principles

First, it's essential to understand the basic principles of twin-engine boat control. Twin-engine boats offer more manoeuvring control than single-engine boats because you can push or pull from both corners at the stern. This allows you to move in a straight line, perform standing turns, or make small directional changes with a single thrust – all without touching the wheel.

Practice with Throttles and Shifters

Find a calm, open area with plenty of space to practice, such as a gas dock at the end of a T-dock. Start by putting one engine in forward and the other in reverse at the same RPM to make the boat pivot on its axis. Observe how your boat responds; some boats will pivot precisely, while others may turn in a wider radius. Experiment with different RPMs on each engine to understand how the boat behaves.

Steering Without the Wheel

Now, try steering the boat without touching the wheel. At idle speed, head off for about 50 yards, and then make a sharp 90-degree turn using only the shifters. To do this, shift the engine on the side you want to turn into reverse. Control the turn's radius by adjusting the throttle on that engine. Practice this repeatedly until you can steer the boat around a square course, making sharp turns and controlling your speed with the throttles.

Combine Techniques

Once you're comfortable with throttle steering, combine this with your pivoting practice. With both engines in forward, control the boat using only the throttles. Practice running the boat around your imaginary square, familiarising yourself with the various control combinations. This will help you avoid panic situations when docking.

Dancing with Your Boat

This next exercise is about precision control. Move the boat forward and stop, holding it steady for a minute or two. Find a rhythm and repeat this process, moving forward and stopping. Pick an imaginary spot on the water about 100 feet ahead and try to hold the boat steady relative to that spot for a few minutes. Then, make an axial 90-degree turn and hold it again. Repeat this process, practising making the boat do exactly what you want.

Practice Docking

Now that you can control the boat at idle speeds without the wheel, it's time to practice docking. Approach a T-dock head-on or perpendicular. Ease the boat in until the bow is about 10 feet from the dock. Now, dock the boat using the control techniques you've practised. This may involve pivoting the boat by pushing against a piling. Remember to stay calm and start over if you need to – docking takes practice!

Master the Bulldozer Turn

Capt. Craig Hamilton, a Master Instructor at BoaterSkills.ca, recommends mastering the "bulldozer turn" for efficient manoeuvring. Put the wheel hard over and use the outside drive to turn (for example, use the port drive for a starboard turn). Using both drives will turn the boat but adds momentum and uses more space.

Remember, take your time to learn and practice steering your twin-engine boat without the wheel. It's a valuable skill that will make you a more confident and proficient boater.

Learn how to pivot the boat

Learning how to pivot a twin-engine boat is a crucial skill for any aspiring boat operator. Here's a detailed guide to help you master this technique:

Understanding the Basics

Before attempting to pivot your twin-engine boat, it's essential to grasp the fundamental principles of twin-engine control. One key advantage of twin-engine boats is the ability to manoeuvre by pushing or pulling from both corners at the stern, providing exceptional control in a straight line and when making turns or small directional changes.

Practising in a Safe Environment

Find a calm body of water with no boats nearby to practise pivoting. Start by bringing your boat to a complete stop. Then, shift one engine into reverse without adding any throttle to observe how the stern responds. Repeat this process with the other engine to understand how each engine affects the boat's movement. This exercise will help you learn the steering characteristics of your vessel.

Pivoting Techniques

Now, let's delve into the steps involved in pivoting your twin-engine boat:

• Prepare for the Turn: Begin with the boat stationary in the water. Place the steering wheel hard to port or starboard, depending on the direction you want the boat to rotate. This initial step sets the foundation for a smooth and controlled pivot.
• Burst of Forward Throttle: With the rudder hard to port, for example, engage the engine in forward gear and give it a short but powerful burst of throttle. This action will cause the stern to swing to starboard and the bow to port. Quickly bring the throttle back to idle and put the transmission into neutral.
• Engage Reverse Gear: The boat should now be rotating in the direction of the rudder. Shift into reverse gear and apply another strong but brief burst of throttle. The stern should swing in the opposite direction. If your boat is not responding as expected, you can adjust by orienting the rudder to aid the turn.
• Repeat as Needed: Continue alternating between quick bursts of forward and reverse throttle to maintain the rotation. In many boats, you won't need to touch the wheel during this process, as the thrust of the propeller acts more on the rudder in forward gear.
• Final Adjustments: When the bow is approaching the desired direction, centre the wheel and engage forward gear, leaving it in gear to propel the boat forward. Make any final adjustments to ensure the boat is aligned with your intended course.

Additional Considerations

It's important to remember that every boat is unique, and factors such as hull shape, weight distribution, and rudder size can influence its handling characteristics. Therefore, take the time to familiarise yourself with your vessel's specific behaviours in both forward and reverse gears. Additionally, be mindful of external factors like wind and current, which can impact your pivoting ability. Always check for these conditions before initiating a pivot.

Learn how to dock the boat

Docking a twin-engine boat is easier than docking a single-engine boat. This is because you can oppose the engines, putting one into forward and the other into reverse, which will cause the boat to spin in place. You will also have more propeller blade area and thus more "bite" on the water. However, the process can still be intimidating, especially if you haven't tried it before. Here is a simple process you can follow to dock your boat successfully:

Prepare for docking

Before approaching the slip, prepare for the docking manoeuvre by deploying fenders and lines as necessary. Also, check for wind and current so that you are not caught off guard by their effects.

Trim your engines

Trim your engines up slightly using the tilt-trim switch at the throttle. This will ensure that the propwash goes under the boat where it has the greatest effect. If you don't do this, the propwash may hit the transom, making the boat harder to manoeuvre.

Approach the slip

Approach the slip at a 90-degree angle. Once the middle of the boat is even with the middle of the slip, stop and centre your steering wheel. From this point on, it's easiest to turn the boat by opposing the engines (shifting one into forward and the other into reverse). Resist the temptation to touch the steering wheel and use only the engines for manoeuvring.

Get the boat spinning

Now, oppose the engines to get the boat spinning. Remember, the bow will move in the direction of the throttle you shift into reverse. For example, if you shift the starboard throttle into forward and the port throttle into reverse, the bow will spin to port.

Adjust for constraints

In an ideal situation, you will have no wind or current, and plenty of room to manoeuvre. You can simply spin the boat until it's perfectly parallel with the finger pier, then shift both engines into reverse idle and back up. However, more often than not, you will have constraints that will force you to continue manoeuvring the boat as you back up. For example, if you have space constraints and can't spin the boat completely, you can take the forward throttle out of gear to remove all forward thrust. The boat will then begin backing up as it continues to spin, and you can get it very close to the slip. Remember that when you pull the forward throttle out of gear, the rate at which the boat is spinning will be reduced, so you'll need to shift in and out of gear to balance between backing and spinning.

Final adjustments

As the boat moves into the slip, you can reverse both throttles briefly to stop all spinning motion. Then back slowly in the rest of the way, coming to rest at the side of the slip. If the bow is too far off, you may need to make light adjustments, such as shifting starboard reverse and port forward, to bring the boat alongside.

Troubleshooting

What if a gust of wind knocks the boat out of alignment, or you misjudge the current? Don't panic! There is no one-size-fits-all solution to these situations. You will need to use your judgment and adjust your power accordingly to get back on track. If things get too tricky, don't be afraid to pull away from the slip and start over. Even experienced mariners have to do this sometimes!

Practice in a safe, open area

When practising how to control a twin-engine boat, it is important to find a safe, open area with minimal wind and currents. This could be a weekday when there is little traffic, giving you plenty of room to manoeuvre.

Firstly, you need to understand the basic principles of twin-engine boat control. With the boat stationary in the water, put the starboard engine in forward and the port engine in reverse, both at the same speed. Observe how the boat pivots—whether it turns on its axis or not. Play around with the throttle speed and see how the boat behaves at different engine speeds.

Next, bring both throttles back to idle and observe how the motion stabilises. Increase the throttle on the starboard engine and observe how this affects the turning. Repeat on the port side. Now, with the gears in the same position (one in forward, the other in reverse), adjust the throttle on the engine in reverse while reducing the throttle on the engine in forward. Pay close attention to how this control combination affects the boat's turning.

Spend some time playing around with the throttle and shifters, increasing and decreasing engine speed on one or the other engine. Get a feel for how these actions control the boat.

Now, try steering the boat without touching the wheel. At idle speed, head off for about 50 yards, then make a sharp, right-angle turn using only the shifters. To do this, shift the engine on the side in the direction you want to turn into reverse. Control the radius of the turn by adjusting the throttle. Repeat this process until you can steer the boat around a square course, going straight and then making sharp 90-degree turns.

Once you are comfortable with this, put one hand on each of the throttles, with both engines in forward, and control the boat using only the throttles. Practice this exercise so that you become familiar with throttle steering. Then, combine all the control techniques you have learned by running the boat around the imaginary square again.

The next exercise is similar to dancing. Move the boat forward and stop, holding the boat steady for a minute or two in the stopped position. Repeat this with a rhythm—1-2, 1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2-3. With the boat stopped, pick an imaginary spot on the water about 100 feet ahead. Move forward to that spot and stop, trying to hold the boat in a particular position relative to that spot for a few minutes. Now, make an axial 90-degree turn and hold it. Repeat this process until you have completed a full rotation.

Finally, practice running the boat in reverse. When backing up, make sure the wheel is centred as the rudders will steer the boat more than in forward. Try to back along a straight line, using the gears to control the direction. Make a sudden stop, then pivot 90 degrees again. The idea here is to learn to make fast, sharp, precise movements while also learning to bring the boat to a complete stop in exactly the place you want it to stop.

Frequently asked questions