R-27 OB control in wind conditions?

F

fhanscom

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2017
Messages
6
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2719j617
Vessel Name
401(k)
Given that the R27 OB has a planing hull it is prone to slip (difficult to control) in wind conditions. I have a question for owner.. Under what wind conditions do you feel comfortable with docking maneuvers? Any suggestions close-quarter maneuvers under wind conditions? Any thoughts appreciated.
 
We have 2021 R27OB. Docking gets easier with experience. At this point (after four months) I would say 10 knots or less is pretty easy. 20 knots is doable. Also, difficulty of final dock maneuver depends on the wind direction. Winds pushing boat away from the dock are the most challenging imo.


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I wouldn’t say I’m comfortable yet, but it is getting easier. There is a webinar on the topic from Ranger Tugs in their As the Prop Turns series on YouTube.


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As Tippetknot says, wind blowing you off the dock is the most challenging. Seems to me that in that situation I do best starting with some momentum moving me towards the dock with an aim point somewhat closer than where I expect to end up. Then in neutral the outboard acts as rudder as I turn to start to get the bow parallel to dock. I keep the bow pointing at the dock now moving the aim point farther away. In windy conditions I will need a slight amount of forward thrust again to both kick the stern towards the dock and counter the wind trying to move the bow, even though then it may feel like you're going too fast into the slip. At this point if all is working well I switch to neutral, and quickly turn (steering knob very helpful here) to get outboard in reverse so as to pull the stern towards the dock in and slow my forward momentum. Having the first mate in cockpit with the boat hook to grab the bull rail is very helpful. I keep a long line on the docking side attached to both stern and bow cleats so that when she gets on the dock with that line she has control of both bow and stern.

I've also seen some people have success with a ferry maneuver where the boat starts in the fairway at an angle to the wind with enough power to keep from slipping backwards as the boat moves sideways into the slip. Then the same method as described above to get the bow around and the boat parallel to and up against the dock.

I have the bow thruster ready to use but it is not very effective, at best it can only add a small bit of help in this situation.
 
I do exactly as Maggie Anne describes.

A suicide knob is essential in my opinion so you can set that outboard in the correct direction. Turn it hard to starboard, put the boat in reverse, and then tap the bow thruster as required and the boat is moved laterally towards the dock on the starboard side.

If it's super windy out, and the wind is coming off the dock, I've also used the trick to just back the boat in. It's got great steering while in reverse. The bow thruster can't overcome the wind, but the outboard can.
 
We faced precisely this issue two weekends ago in our new R-27. We back into our slip. On only our third or fourth outing, it took us probably 15 attempts to get into the slip because of a 30 mph gust that had kicked up unexpectedly, and was coming off the dock at an angle. While frustrating (and, of course with a crowd watching), the good news was we did not trade paint with anyone else in the marina.

I'm actually not sure, given the conditions, that there was a good solution - we finally got a lull in the wind, which allowed us to get in rather easily as we had done in the past and since. In thinking about how to do it better next time if faced with similar conditions, my belief is in those conditions, I need to be slightly more aggressive as I kept getting blown out of the slip and to the side as soon as I lined up. And I think backing more into the wind would have helped. That said, I have no desire to try those conditions again.
 
In extreme cases I picked up a couple of tips from a coast guard veteran.

A lightweight grappling hook can be thrown onto or over the dock, then pull the stern in. Then work up to the bow with a line rigged back along the side of the boat.

He also told me that is acceptable to rig fenders on the downwind side of your boat and come to rest against your neighbor’s boat, climb aboard, and then work around your boat and pull it into your side of the slip. This sounds extreme to me and a little like trespassing, but in my home slip my neighbor and I have discussed it and pre approved the procedure if things get really out of hand.


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Love the grappling hook idea. Any specific recommendation for a hook?

FWIW, our general backup plan is to find an empty 2-boat slip, or a long dock oriented so the wind would set us on. Then wait it out. Doesn't solve all cases of course!
 
Sorry SJI , he didn’t give specific recommendations, but he did say some hooks are very light weight. I wonder if there is a plastic grappling hook, or a folding aluminum one??


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Thank you all for your very helpful comments !!

Fred
 
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