Maneuvering a Motor Yacht -Visibility

Wireless or Aft controls (wireless or remote) may be something you'd want to explore.

I believe he meant the helm, as many express cruisers combine the two. That or he is a current or expired pilot.

Another nod here for aft controls. Or you could simply install an aft-facing camera to show you what you just hit.

Looks like a nice boat. After you dock it a few times I don't think you will have a problem. We had a 36' Sea Ray aft cabin with a similar layout. While you do lose sight of the dock as you get close you still have an idea where it is. A quick look out the sides tells you exactly where you are. And with that size boat it's easy to correct mistakes pretty quickly. If you're worried get someone who knows the boat to ride with you a few times until you're confident.

Bruce,
You only need a slight bit of visibility. It can usually be found down the bridge step. Once you determine that your boat will fit the slip you just have to watch one side of the stern slip past the piling. If you stay close to that piling your other side is fine. Once inside the poles stop the boat with about 1/3 in the slip and check the distance from your stern to the end of the slip. Then watch the one piling you can see. If you have 10' left to go watch that piling move about 8' along your side. Then you can stop and check the distance at the stern again and fine tune. Also, when you turn your stern to the slip turn your body around and plant your butt on the wheel, square your shoulders with your transom and the slip. That will allow you to become one with the boat. If your angle to the next boat, the bulkhead or whatever becomes anything but square you can feel it and adjust. No need to see all or even more than a small part of your boat.
What I will generally do is aim for the upwind pole. When I'm a few inches away I will stop for a split second, make the final adjustment and slide in. Once you corners are inside the poles NEVER pull back out. If the wind grabs your bow you can just pivot off the downwind pole. If you leave it your whole boat will head for your neighbor.
FInally, remember my favorite expression when I teach: "SLOW IS CHEAP". Whatever happens let it happen slow. If you lose it and are being pushed into another boat and don't know what to do; do nothing. Let the hit happen. If you hit the throttles it will get so bad, so fast. Put another way, When that little voice in your head screams 'HIT THE GAS', go straight to neutral...think...then either do the maneuver you KNOW is right or do nothing at all and take the soft hit. It's happened to everyone.

NYCAP123, great instructing.

To add tio NYCAP's advice, I would add that "Neutral is a working gear"
Some folks feel they must be in either Fwd or Rev to have control but infact, as stated, the slow approach is wise and requires using neutral as well.

Good point. When I teach, two main points I push are "Slow Is Cheap", and when it starts turning to c--p; you feel you heartrate starting to rise, and that little voice inside your head screams 'HIT THE GAS; HIT THE GAS' go straight to NEUTRAL. Stop, think and if necessary take to soft hit. It's happened to everyone and will only get worse with speed. Besides, we do have to support the fiberglass repair industry.

Excellent Advice.

Yes go slow and never hit the gas! Easier to say than do. I clipped a guys boat backing in and made it worse by hitting the gas. I had three people shouting at me with conflicting instructions and was in serious back pain. It's a good idea to have a little safety (docking) meeting with all involved if possible and always designate one person to shout!

Hitting the gas (without knowing exactly what the result will be) is a great way to turn a bad situation into a horrible one. Unless you can evaluate the instructions and determine that the person giving them does in fact know what he's talking about close those ears, put the boat into a safe position and figure it out yourself.

I always use the saying "Never approach anything faster than you're comfortable hitting it".

Great instructions here. I guess I'm lucky. From the first time I backed our 40 into the slip, it just always seemed naturally easy to me. The only time I ever had a problem was fighting the 7 kt cross current at the St. Augustine (FL) municipal marina.

Been in that marina many times. If that's the hardest marina you've encountered you've lived a charmed life. Have I got a couple of marinas up here for you to try?

3 knots tops there- but it does feel like 7. It is one of the tougher marinas to pull into- but then so is Sailfish Marina on singer island FL my home port.
Slow is cheap? My version is "slow is pro", but then at places like Sailfish and St Aug MM slow is not really an option sometimes.

You guys really have to try Modern Yachts on the west side of the Shinnicock Canal when the locks are open. Legitimate 6 kt to the south, wind to the north and about 50feet bow to bow once inside the T-dock. Guaranteed to hold your attention. Yes, all the power you need, but only the power you need.

While I'm headed to Shini tomorrow, it's in my MB diesel wagon not the Sea Deuce. She's not going there anytime soon unless it's an emergency.