Why do power boats back in and sailboats pull in?

[thinwater]

Yes, I know this is not 100% true, but in my creek it is about 80% true. Specific slip locations can sometimes dictate. I've even seen marinas say "bow in only," but I think I would learn to ignore that.

In this area nearly all slips are non-floating and have very short fingers.

Bow-in

• Privacy.
• Easier arriving, not too bad leaving.
• Possibly more room for the transom to move in weather.

Stern in.

• Easier to board in most cases.
• Generally greater skill arriving. Dead easy to leave.
• Good practice.
• Dinghy (I have) on davits or towed can be bothersome. Likewise wind vane.

I back in, principally because my wife and parents (87/90) can't board over the bow. I like it too, since it makes loading stuff easier; carrying stuff around the shrouds would feel and look stupid.

[nigel1]

I usually go by the prevailing weather conditions, which around here is SW'ly, so I prefer the bow pointing that way, makes it a bit awkward at times backing into a slip with the wind from ahead.
Other considerations are looking ahead to leaving the slip, so if a big breeze is forecast for departure day, I tend to park the boat in a direction which makes departing easier.

[pcmm]

Its a control issue. Sailboats almost never back in because they don't have the power or control in reverse to do it in all conditions. powerboats generally have alot of power and twin engines to make it much easier to do.

[Steadman Uhlich]

You've raised a question I have wondered about too. And I have never heard definitive answers from others. So I am glad you asked.

First, historically sailboats had full keel designs and were more difficult to back under power or to turn in tight areas. As sailboats have a single engine, they are more prone to prop walk.

My guess for why sailboats (in the USA) go into the slip bow first is that the marina owners want to reduce damages, and many sailboat owners are not good or comfortable backing a boat, so that it is prudent to make sure a sailboat backs into a wider area, rather than coming stern first into a more narrow slip or beside another boat (possible damage).

[thinwater]

Obviously I have twin engines, though not much power (2 x 9.9) and not separated by the full beam (they are about 7 feet apart). If the wind is more than ~ 12 knots, I cannot spin the boat with impunity and have to make a quick approach and use the rudders as well. Windage is a problem. My slip is also only ~ 2' wider than the boat.

If I have an engine out I might pull in, though normally I can back in. And backing a cat with one engine is terrible (it wants to go in circles); like prop walk, you learn to use that quirk.

My last boat was also a catamaran and had a single engine. The help there was that the engine was steerable and the rudders were huge, allowing good control in reverse.

I will counter that ALL of the work boats back in and they are all single screw with little keel. They are skilled and have substantial power. They know when to give it a burst, though mostly they just use speed and don't miss. The trawlers also back in, and they are mostly single screw and low power.

The bottom line is that if I could not back in, neither my wife nor parents could sail with me. Period.

[SoundWave]

In our marina there's a natural bottom/shore slope, so the water's shallower nearer the dock than a few feet out. The power boats still back in, all the sailboats bow in.
Maybe because sailboat rudders are often deeper draft than power boat sterns?

[Shrew]

I was in a rough marina for many years where any two sailboats in adjacent slips had to alternate (1 head in the next stern in) to keep the masts and stays from getting caught in each others rigging.

many finger piers simply aren't long enough so docking bow in forces you to enter exit over the rails on the bow, which is really ackward. Most of the hook-ups for power and water are at the stern as well.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Yes, I know this is not 100% true, but in my creek it is about 80% true.

Well, that's true.

My experience is somewhat different. Powerboaters are 50/50, Beneteaus back in 80%, Catalinas 1%, no Jenneaus around.

Much depends on the marinas and the "social-ability" of the skippers.

The rear "door" open transoms have part to do with it also.

[tomdidit]

OK Stu, I will bite. Why the Beneteau number compared to the Catalina???

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by tomdidit

OK Stu, I will bite. Why the Beneteau number compared to the Catalina???

Beneteaus have a walk-thru transom.

[tkeithlu]

This a problem for us - our trawler is single engine, left hand prop, five foot draft, nine square feet of rudder, and weighs 60,000 pounds dry. She just about does not steer in reverse, although I can hover turn her. She is far more like a monohull sailboat than a powerboat when it comes to docking. The marinas assume that because she's a powerboat, she has thrusters and can go into any space wider than her beam, and turn in a very narrow channel. 25' Ranger Tugs now come with both bow and stern thrusters. I bet a lot of the sailboat - bow in, powerboat - stern in can be summarized as "That's what they can do."

[Hydra]

In my marina, the choice is influenced by the prevailing wind: in many berths, the boats (power as well as sail) are head to the west, the most probable direction for gales and storms.

Alain

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

Beneteaus have a walk-thru transom.

+1 On any boat with a walk--thru transom it is much easier to load and off-load crew, baggage and provisions when stern-to. When I am teaching we always start and finish stern-to. It also make exiting the dock much easier for beginners.

On powerboats and most cats, stern-to means stepping off the grid when docking as the freeboard is usually way too high to allow for "stepping" to the dock.

You do get more privacy when bow in. When I was first sailing in Turkey in the 80's we went bow in on a Med moor with the boats with aft cockpits; with the centre cockpit boats we went stern-in.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by tomdidit

OK Stu, I will bite. Why the Beneteau number compared to the Catalina???

I really don't know, Tom. Could be personalities of the skippers, could be convenience, could be the docks, could be the local customs. Lotsa reasons.

This is just my experience from 35 years in The Bay Area.

Originally Posted by fstbttms

Beneteaus have a walk-thru transom.

Yeah, Matt, but Tom has a C34MarkII which HAS a walk through transom, as do about half of the Catalina 34s ever built. ALL, yes ALL of the C34s in South Beach Harbor, for example, most of which are walk throughs, go in bow first.

Our marina has N/S slips, which means the usual west wind is abeam. If I had an upwind slip, I'd go bow in. If I had a downwind slip, I'd consider going stern in because I hate wind funneling down my hatch with the dodger. I much prefer the wind abeam or from the bow when trying to relax in the cockpit. Just another reason for why folks do what they do.

[Lepke]

To the original question-
Lemmings. If one jumps off the cliff, they all gotta do it.