Glen-L.com

... been doing it a while and have no trouble at all. But now that the ageing senior years well set in, I've having troubles turning my creaking body around to view the process facing aft.

I know truckers rely completely on their side mirrors , is their any tip on using them the more experienced can give ?

My boat is only 18'.

Thanks

Ole salt

The best way to learn to back is to go to a big parking lot on some off day and practice backing in parking spaces. Most of the time out at the ends of them are using empty with plenty of room. The mirrors are the only way I back, even with the smaller hulls thats not seem threw the rear view mirror and back window in a truck, YOu will get the hang of it when you start to see the boat thats on the trailer too which gives you a vantage point to gauge turning.

ole salt.

I learnt to use the mirrors when backing quite recently. The best advice I could give is that if you are backing straight you turn towards the mirror with the most boat/trailer in it. I alsways used to the twisted body and neck, but found that once I started using the mirrors it takes no time at all to get used to it. Backing round a corner takes a bit more thinking but it still comes pretty easily.

KC

for docking the boat in my back yard, I installed a ball on the front of my little jeep. that way I back the trailer while the jeep is forward.

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God Bless our Troops; especially our Snipers

Yessir, it's a bit different the first time you use mirrors only... Like Oyster, I too only ever use mirrors. I had to learn a long time ago cuz the werk trucks that we hauled equipment on usually blocked the back winder. It's just like the first time you learned to back a trailer looking over your shoulder. You just come to get used to it and trust the mirrors. Oyster has the best advise in going to a parking lot and just getting her done. I have DARK tinted winders in all of my trucks so I have no choice... I always use mirrors, even when backing up to the trailer to hook up which is normally by myself. You would be supprised of the advantages of using the mirrors to do this. I usually get it on the first try...

Stick with it and you'll get it. I have less than a foot on the passenger side when I back in my 24' MasterCraft in my storage building and about 2 1/2' on the other. It's tight and I slide it in everytime with the mirrors. One thing I have seen others do is on tight sqeezes is to hang a ball where you want the center of the boat to be and you can usually always see that out of one mirror or the other.

One tip,pull up and back using the side on your left when possible,not backing to your blind side (right)

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Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

I also have difficulty turning around due to a neck injury and mirrors are the best way for me, too. My new Ford Explorer has the backup camera and on the monitor there is a black dotted line in the center of the screen and red dotted lines to the left and right sides. I use them like gunsights to help keep the trailer in line during straight backups. I line up the tongue on the black line. Really works cool and is one of the many things that leaned me towards the Ford. It also helps to get in for the hookup. I can back right up to the hitch.

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

I know your pain about turning around and only use the mirrors now. I second the comments about going to a parking lot. It won't take you long to make the change since you have backed trailers before.

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Dave

My Riviera build - the Midnight Cry Project

Video of Midnight in Action
Blog

Few things in the world measure up to the thrill and satisfaction of boating in a boat that you built.

I learned how to back trailers and attachments on our tractor...best advise I ever got was from my grandfather. Instead of holding the wheel at ten and two with both hands just hold it with one hand at six o'clock. Then you can move your hand right to make the trailer go right, left to make it go left....I rarely turn around any more.

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Bill

I told my wife we needed a three-car garage for my projects...she told me to ask her for permission next time before I buy a house.
http://www.unitybuild.net

That makes too much corn sense

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Dave

My Riviera build - the Midnight Cry Project

Video of Midnight in Action
Blog

Few things in the world measure up to the thrill and satisfaction of boating in a boat that you built.

Well, alfalfa sprouts!

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Bill

I told my wife we needed a three-car garage for my projects...she told me to ask her for permission next time before I buy a house.
http://www.unitybuild.net

I've been driving a truck (semi) for close to 20 years and the lesson my instructor told me (I still hear his voice in my head) - "turn the wheel in the direction you want your trailer to go and only turn it a quarter turn at a time".
I still have days when I just can't seem to hit the broad side of a barn.

Jason

Were not the only ones that have problems
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... diYjFqTSDA

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Malahini, SEAN-NÓS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd6vkPjEy4U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uDVzcVpdhc
crackerbox build http://s753.photobucket.com/albums/xx17 ... =slideshow

Funny stuff Fergal!!!

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream