11 Meter Express handling questions

7421f · Post by **7421f** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 11:17 am

Being a new owner of my first twin inboard biggest boat yet, I am looking for docking/un-docking tips. Is it possible to "walk" these boats sideways? I only have about 10 hours time at the helm, so I admit to being unseasoned on twin inboards. I had an encounter with the wind yesterday (about 8 kts) during both leaving the dock and again while docking. All went well but my blood pressure was elevated!

Vitaliy · Post by **Vitaliy** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 11:44 am

well i can tell you right away the helm is fairly much useless... especially in reverse... your best friends are abviously the tranny and throtle... and honestly it depends on how your boat is docket, ive seen people having many different methods of "parking"

for me for instance i have to fairly much parallel park to get mine into the slip simply because i have a bow of another boat sticking up in front of me and im the last boat on the dock with 3 pilons in the way... so what i do is usualy overshoot the dock a bit and then back up at an angle and in windy conditions i do use the wood to my advantage to "nudge" the oat in so i don't drift to far....

it all depends on your style honestly...

little side note here, there's a guy that has a 34ft silverton (mid 70's) a few boats down from me, this dude parks his at about 20 knots, making an enormous wake.... gets it in one shot, one time i asked him why he does that and his response was because if he tries any other way he wouldn't be able to dock within 10 tries....

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 11:54 am

all of the Trojan International series "meter" boats have a tremendous advantage over other twin inboard boats of similar size.

Thier design pushes the driveline/shafts/props more outboard of the center line than most comporable boats.

The result is far easier handling at the dock.

You'll be SURPRISED at the result of applying a bit of reverse throttle while still under forward momentum on your approach.

I have had folks comment on my docking skills.

But

Truth is it's not me

It's the design of he boat.

Practice practice practice and you will get it

RWS

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 12:04 pm

Just takes some practice and you Will get that boat to to do almost any thing . it wont walk sideways but you can get pretty close .

Vitaliy 20 knots ?? common

But some of use do dock kind of fast

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 8:08 pm

prowlersfish wrote:Just takes some practice and you Will get that boat to to do almost any thing . it wont walk sideways but you can get pretty close .

Vitaliy 20 knots ?? common But some of use do dock kind of fast

Some of us dock kind of fast?.................I know of one person that does but not at 20knots.............maybe 15knots

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:00 pm

Allen Sr wrote:
prowlersfish wrote:Just takes some practice and you Will get that boat to to do almost any thing . it wont walk sideways but you can get pretty close .

Vitaliy 20 knots ?? common But some of use do dock kind of fast
Some of us dock kind of fast?.................I know of one person that does but not at 20knots.............maybe 15knots

Not me .

smiller192 · Post by **smiller192** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:16 pm

As an owner of an 11 meter, I think with some practice you will soon be proficent at handling your boat in close quarters. along with the hull design, you are swinging pretty substantial props (with a 2.9 to 1 reduction). The boat is very responsive to to the throttles and clutches. Go to open water and back up to a buoy, it is great practice,(make sure you stay in the channel)! One other suggestion, practice running on one engine. on my boat, I have found that it handles quite well on the starboard engine, very difficult on just the port engine. It is better to know what to expect, in the event of a problem. I think you will love the 11 meter, it is a great boat. do you have diesels or gas engnes? we love pictures here, put some up!

http://www.collegefair.org/11_meter_progress_page.htm

Vitaliy · Post by **Vitaliy** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:03 pm

Allen Sr wrote:
prowlersfish wrote:Just takes some practice and you Will get that boat to to do almost any thing . it wont walk sideways but you can get pretty close .

Vitaliy 20 knots ?? common But some of use do dock kind of fast
Some of us dock kind of fast?.................I know of one person that does but not at 20knots.............maybe 15knots

ok i might have over exhilarated the 20k lol, but its effeminately fast enough to make all 4 docks in the area to go on a roller coaster ride, i was standing on my bow one time when he was docking and had to grab onto the rails to keep myself from tumbling over.

7421f · Post by **7421f** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:36 pm

I have 454-350HP turning 23 x 24 4 blade props smiller192. I have had the experience of running it on just the port engine and boy was it a bear! I will have to try just the starboard to check out the differences. For sure, there is no substitute for practice and I am committed to doing that each time I take her out. If there is one thing I have in all my years, is that I don't know enough! Oh, I added a link to some pics of my boat. Thanks for all the input guys.

http://photobucket.com/MyVixen

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:47 pm

Pratice and time you will handle it like a pro

Good looking boat

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 6:24 am

7421f wrote:I have 454-350HP turning 23 x 24 4 blade props smiller192. I have had the experience of running it on just the port engine and boy was it a bear! I will have to try just the starboard to check out the differences. For sure, there is no substitute for practice and I am committed to doing that each time I take her out. If there is one thing I have in all my years, is that I don't know enough! Oh, I added a link to some pics of my boat. Thanks for all the input guys.

http://photobucket.com/MyVixen

VERY NICE 11

GREAT GELCOAT TOO !

RWS

todd brinkerhoff · Post by **todd brinkerhoff** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:27 am

7421f wrote:I have 454-350HP turning 23 x 24 4 blade props smiller192. I have had the experience of running it on just the port engine and boy was it a bear! I will have to try just the starboard to check out the differences. For sure, there is no substitute for practice and I am committed to doing that each time I take her out. If there is one thing I have in all my years, is that I don't know enough! Oh, I added a link to some pics of my boat. Thanks for all the input guys.

http://photobucket.com/MyVixen

Very nice boat. I really like the 11 Meter Express

And for docking, the practicing with one screw is invaluable. Docking at 20, or even 15 knots, is a little crazy. We used to do some practice with fast docking at the small boat station I was stationed at in the CG, in those times we would have injured aboard and we didn't have a ton of time for docking. I NEVER did it at 20 knots, and it was always in an area where the only thing that would get damaged was our boat. Doesn't do the patient much good if we damage and now have to rescue the boat.

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:41 am

don't discount the use of momentum when docking.

Especially if needed to overcome current, wind OR BOTH.

Coming in at 4 kts or so and then using one wheel in reverse, with a good bit of throttle allows the boat to walk her ass end to the dock nicely.

The key here is PRACTICE somewhere with a FIXED piling or something.

RWS

yorklyn · Post by **yorklyn** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 12:44 pm

The best advice I ever got was from the salesman who sold us our first f28 trojan on the sea trial.
When docking never touch the throttles, set them at idle and keep them there. set the rudders straight and then dont touch the wheel. just use forward and reverse at idle
going slow is key
always stop the boat before making another move (for example if you are backing into the slip and put the port engine in reverse to bring the the stern around. once the boat the boat is lined up be sure to stop your momentum by putting the starboard engine in gear forward for a second. ) By stopping your movment each time before making another move you accomplish two things
1 you are making slow, deliberate moves
2 You are not trying to continually compensate for the momentum of the boat .

I am always amazed how out of controll people that rev there engines look while docking. I have never had to use my throttles even when docking in a very swift current. It takes a little longer for the boat to respond with the curent but if you take it slow it limits anxiety and potential damage.
spend some time in a cove playing with it. because of the beam you and spin these boats on a dime.
Running on one engine is an adventure in itself! had a bad tranny and ran on one engine for about a month. (short trips about 1 mile each way) kept it slow while docking and had to use the rudders but was able to get the hang of it.
Good Luck

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Mon Aug 20, 2012 1:59 pm

[quote="Vitaliy"]well i can tell you right away the helm is fairly much useless... especially in reverse... your best friends are abviously the tranny and throtle... quote]

I have never had a "tranny" as a best friend, not sure my club would allow that!