Putting A Boat In Reverse: Mastering The Art

Operating a boat in reverse is a skill that requires practice and familiarity with the vessel. The process varies depending on the type of boat, with outboard and sterndrive motors being easier to manoeuvre than inboard boats. Inboard boats tend to reverse in a specific direction due to their propulsion system design, while outboard motors can reverse in both directions. When reversing a boat, it is crucial to focus on the desired direction while staying aware of the surroundings to avoid accidents. Practising in different conditions, such as high winds and busy marinas, is essential for building confidence and becoming a skilled captain.

How to Put a Boat in Reverse

Steering an inboard boat in reverse

Inboard boats are different from outboard and sterndrive motors in how they react when put in reverse. Inboard boats are designed with a propulsion system that includes a transmission and propeller shaft setup to power the boat in one reversing direction only. This makes inboard boats safer and more consistent but also more challenging to steer in reverse.

Understanding Your Inboard Boat

An inboard boat is a boat with an engine mounted within its hull, often towards the rear of the hull. Before attempting to reverse an inboard boat, it's important to know which direction the boat prefers to reverse in. For example, MasterCraft boats pull to the starboard side when reversing.

Techniques for Maneuvering in Reverse

There are a few techniques to manoeuvre an inboard boat in reverse:

• Reversing in a straight line: This involves holding the steering wheel straight and setting the boat to low power. The boat will reverse in a straight line.
• Pivoting: This is similar to a three-point turn in a vehicle. You can adjust the direction of the boat multiple times until it is positioned correctly.
• Sidestepping: This involves pulling up to a dock or similar structure at a 45-degree angle and then reversing into the spot, positioning the boat perfectly.

Tips for Reversing an Inboard Boat

• Practice: It is important to practice reversing an inboard boat in different conditions, such as when it's windy or busy, to build confidence and become a strong captain.
• Check conditions: Before reversing, check the wind, current, and docking conditions, such as the busyness of the marina.
• Use features: Some boats have features like Dockstar and Thruster systems, which assist with manoeuvring in reverse.
• Focus on direction: When reversing, focus on the direction you want to travel while staying aware of your surroundings.
• Low power: Always use low power during reverse procedures to avoid accidents.
• Avoid overcorrecting: When steering in reverse, avoid overcorrecting by steering hard in one direction, as this will not be effective.
• Use bursts of throttle: Instead of constant throttle, try using short bursts of throttle, followed by idling.
• Use spring lines: Spring lines can be used to pivot the boat around pilings and pull the back of the boat in.

Remember, with practice and help from an expert, you can conquer any situation on the water and make every experience enjoyable and stress-free.

Using an outboard motor

To put a boat in reverse using an outboard motor, there are several steps to follow. Firstly, ensure the engine is off and the gearshift lever is in neutral. This is an important safety measure to prevent accidental engine ignition while shifting gears. Next, locate the gearshift lever and move it from neutral to reverse. The process may vary depending on the outboard motor model, so it is essential to be familiar with your specific model. Some models may require pushing or pulling the lever in a certain direction.

Once you have shifted into reverse, you can start the engine and slowly increase the throttle to gain momentum for reversing. It is crucial not to increase the throttle too quickly, as this could cause potential damage to the outboard motor or other components of the boat. Remember to always be aware of your surroundings when reversing to ensure safety and avoid any obstacles.

When you have finished reversing, shift back into neutral before turning off the engine. This step is essential to prevent any damage caused by sudden stops or starts while the gear is still in reverse.

Additionally, it is worth noting that outboard motors are generally easier to manoeuvre than inboard motors. Outboard motors allow reversing in both directions, providing more flexibility when navigating. However, inboard motors are designed for performance and precision, even though they may pose some challenges when reversing due to their propulsion system design.

Reversing a twin-engine inboard vessel

Firstly, ensure that your rudders are in a straight-ahead position and leave them there. To reverse in a straight line, put both engines in reverse with the same amount of throttle on each. If you want to reverse slowly to the port side, increase the throttle on the starboard engine and decrease it on the port side. For an even quicker turn, put the port engine in neutral. With practice, you'll be able to pivot your vessel on its stern. Just remember to give yourself plenty of room to avoid collisions.

When approaching a slip, prepare in advance by deploying fenders and lines, and be mindful of wind and current conditions. Trim your engines slightly upwards so that the propwash goes under the boat, making it easier to manoeuvre. As you approach the slip at a 90-degree angle, stop when the middle of your boat is aligned with the middle of the slip, and centre your steering wheel. From this point onwards, it's best to turn the boat by opposing the engines (shifting one into forward and the other into reverse) without touching the steering wheel.

Opposing the engines will cause the boat to spin, and the direction of the bow will depend on which throttle you shift into reverse. For example, shifting the starboard throttle into forward and the port throttle into reverse will make the bow spin to port. In an ideal scenario with no wind or current, you can spin the boat until it's parallel with the finger pier, and then simply back up into the slip by shifting both engines into reverse idle.

However, you may encounter space constraints or other challenges that require you to continue manoeuvring as you back up. In such cases, you can remove all forward thrust by taking the forward throttle out of gear, allowing the boat to continue spinning as it backs up. Adjust the throttles to find the right balance between spinning and backing up. As you move into the slip, reverse both throttles briefly to stop the spinning motion, and then back slowly into the slip. If necessary, make light adjustments to bring the boat alongside the pier.

Remember that each boat is unique, and you'll need to get a feel for how your vessel handles. Practise in open water to familiarise yourself with the controls and how your boat responds at different speeds and in varying wind and wave conditions. Always put safety first and avoid backing up in shallow water or when there are people in the water near your stern.

Reversing a single-engine inboard vessel

Understand "Prop Walk"

Before attempting to reverse, it's crucial to understand the concept of "Prop Walk". Prop walk refers to the tendency of a boat's stern to swing in a particular direction when reversing due to the rotation of the propeller. The direction of prop walk depends on whether your propeller turns clockwise or counterclockwise when viewed from astern. For example, if your propeller turns counterclockwise, your stern will likely swing to starboard when reversing. Knowing this will help you anticipate the behaviour of your boat during manoeuvres.

Prepare for Reversing

Start by deploying fenders and preparing your bow and stern lines on the side where you intend to tie up. Having helpers on board can make the process easier. Position your boat with the transom even with the end of the dock you plan to tie up to, and ensure the boat is at a right angle to the slip. If your boat has a preferred side for docking, take that into account. For example, if your propeller turns counterclockwise, it may be easier to tie up to a dock on the starboard side.

Begin the Reversing Manoeuvre

With the boat stopped, turn the wheel hard to port and engage forward gear with a quick burst of throttle. Immediately bring the throttle back to idle and shift into neutral. The goal here is to kick the bow to port and the stern to starboard without moving forward much, if at all. Centre the helm, then shift into reverse idle until the boat starts moving backward. Do all these steps slowly and gradually. Adjust the throttle slightly if needed to compensate for wind or current, but avoid overdoing it.

Fine-Tune Your Reversing

Shift into forward gear, turn the wheel to port, and give another quick burst of throttle to rotate the boat further if needed. Repeat this step until you are aligned parallel with the slip and ready to reverse in neatly. When the stern is about 5 feet from the bulkhead, centre the helm and give a quick burst of power in forward gear to stop the boat and bring the stern closer to the dock. If your boat has a tendency to swing the stern to starboard when reversing, a short burst of reverse power may also help achieve this.

Final Steps

Once you've mastered the basic technique, remember that each boat is unique, and factors such as rudder size, keel length and depth, and underwater hull profile will affect how your boat handles. Practice in a clear stretch of water to get a feel for how your boat moves and responds to different manoeuvres. Find a spare dock on a calm day to refine your skills and gain confidence in reversing your single-engine inboard vessel.

Tips for reversing out of a slip

Docking your boat can be a stressful experience, especially when reversing out of a slip. Here are some tips to help you navigate this manoeuvre like a pro:

• Understand the Basics: Recognise that docking a boat is a daunting task, and there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. Experiment with your boat in safe conditions to learn its unique handling characteristics. Understand the influences of wind and current, and plan accordingly.
• Prepare Your Boat: Ensure your lines are set, fenders are adjusted and in place, and you've identified the wind and current conditions.
• Trim Your Engine: Trim your engine up slightly using the tilt-trim switch at the throttle. This is especially important if your propwash slaps against the transom, so it goes under the boat when you reverse. Most boats have a right-handed prop, which backs better to port than starboard.
• Approach the Slip: Position your boat so that its pivot point (about two-thirds forward of the transom when moving forward) is along the centre line of the slip. Leave plenty of room between your boat and any obstructions.
• Turn and Initiate the Manoeuvre: Turn the engine all the way to port or starboard, as needed, to kick the boat around so the stern faces the slip. Apply forward power to start the turn, then shift into neutral, spin the wheel the opposite way, and apply power in reverse to slow down and continue turning.
• Apply Power Strategically: Use minimal power to prevent losing control. Remember that you may need additional power to overcome wind and currents, especially in reverse when thrust is reduced.
• Centre the Boat: When parallel to the dock or finger pier, centre the steering wheel and use forward or reverse power as needed to stop the boat's motion.
• Compensate for Wind and Current: Keep the boat's forward pivot point along the centreline of the slip by adding extra power with the wheel cut in the appropriate direction. If the boat drifts too far, it's usually better to motor away and try again rather than attempting a last-minute correction.
• Use "Touch In-Touch Out": When manoeuvring near the dock, engage the engine for a second ("Touch In"), then immediately go back to neutral ("Touch Out"). This allows you to adjust direction without increasing speed and losing control.
• Avoid Overcorrection: Avoid steering hard in one direction, especially in reverse, as it won't be effective and may result in losing rudder control.
• Practice and Learn: Take time to practice docking and understand your boat's behaviour. Consider hiring an experienced captain for lessons if you're struggling.

Frequently asked questions