343 Owner’s Manual
3-11
Operating Information
• If there is no wind or current, approach the dock
at a 10° to 20° angle.
• If possible, throw a line to a person on the dock
and have that person secure a bow line. If no
one is on the dock, maneuver as close as you
can, then secure any line to a piling or dock
cleat.
• With the bow secure, swing the stern in using
engine thrust, or pull it in with a boat hook.
Approaching a Slip
This maneuver is similar to backing an automobile
into a garage or parking space. When approaching
a slip:
• Have fenders, mooring lines and the crew
ready.
• Turn the boat’s stern toward the slip.
• Shift to reverse.
• Maneuver slowly into the slip then shift to
forward. Use your steering wheel and throttles
to align the boat with the slip.
• Once aligned, shift to reverse and continue to
back in slowly. Shift into forward when
completely in to stop the movement of the boat.
• Shift to the NEUTRAL position, secure the
mooring lines and stop the engines.
Approaching a Mooring
1 – Mooring Buoy
The only buoys you are permitted to moor to are
mooring buoys. Mooring to a navigation buoy or
other navigational aids or regulatory marker is
illegal.
Approach a mooring buoy by heading into the wind
or current. Observe the direction of other boats that
already lie at mooring buoys. Since they are
heading into the wind or current, approach your
buoy at the same heading.
• When you think you can move enough forward
without using your engines, shift to the
NEUTRAL position.
• Have a crew member positioned on the bow
with a hook to retrieve the mooring line. At that
point, the crew member should be guiding your
maneuvers toward the buoy.
• Turn off the engines after the mooring line is
attached to the boat.
Basic Maneuvering
Techniques
Wandering is a characteristic of all deep V-hulls at
slow speed. There is no cure for wandering;
however, a very basic operational technique can be
applied which will minimize this characteristic.
If the steering wheel is moved back and forth to
compensate for wandering, invariably, the situation
will be magnified. If the steering wheel remains in a
centered position, the boat will wander back and
forth slightly; however, the overall course of the
boat will be a straight one.
Trim
Boat trim while on plane is influenced by three
factors:
1. Load distribution
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