Issues docking 01 2400SCR

[viper12161]

I have been having a ton of issues trying to dock my boat. It's getting very frustrating and quite frankly kinda embarrassing. Boat has a 5.0 Mercruiser with an Alpha 1 drive. My slip is basically like a giant L. Dock is on my Port side and I back in. I'm sure I just need to practice here, but figured I would put it out there in case there is a common issue that others have docking their boats that I need to watch for. The issue I have is as I am backing up....either I can't get close enough to the port side dock. I try to correct this by trying to bring the stern in that direction towards the dock, but if I am not careful my bow ends up swinging STBD side, caught by wind or current and now I am sideways. I am not new to docking a boat. I could dock my old boat into a postage stamp, but it was also an 1800SR3 and I could put it anywhere. This boat is quite a bit bigger and heavier. I have thought of just saying screw it and pull it bow in and then swing it around using lines, but if I could just do it the right way, I'd obviously like to do that. Any tips or tricks anyone knows of aside from dropping a ton of money and adding bow thrusters?

Thanks!!!

[mmwjr]

The bow on this boat doesn’t have much draft to offset the wind against all the forward sail area for the wind to push against. When docking into the wind I’ve just maneuvered the stern to the end of the pier with a line already on the cleat then stop the boat and step off onto the pier and walk the boat back into the slip. Approach with the bow up wind.

[Phillbo]

Practice and go slow....

[donald]

What Mike and Phillbo said.
I had a 24 ft Bayliner that I sterned into a slip that had a cross wind and cross currents both ways, it can be done, just take your time and judge when the wind is gusting less.
Don

[jparsons121]

Use a spring line on the midships cleat.
Measure out the length needed to reach the forward most cleat on your dock finger and tie a large loop In it.
As you’re backing in, get the stern near the finger and drop the line over the cleat.
Continue to back into the slip, once the line tightens, you’ll be pulled right to the dock.