Driving a boat solo | How to come into a berth single-handed | Motor Boat & Yachting

[@gordonhamilton727]

Sign of someone who really knows what they're doing, they never seem to rush, everything is smooth. fantastic job.

[@laki74]

Legend has it that John Mendez was once spotted without his life jacket.

[@coalitionperformance5901]

More chance of seeing aliens skippering a sunseeker than that happening

[@gaycha6589]

Well, he has to take a shower occasionally?

[@ReviewMarineProducts]

Was it on the golf course?

[@christianwestling2019]

@@gaycha6589 Obviously showers by jumping into the ocean with his life jacket on.

[@adamristic2822]

I was waiting for a video like this for a long time. Thank you so much for educating on something that people are generally afraid to do by themselves.

[@topgame881]

Im a German 38m living in Cyprus. Im about to do my Skipper Licence (24m) and I found your videos very helpful, also in attractive format. Big thanks to you!

[@53glowe]

This guy is good...obviously very experienced. Excellent tutorial 👌

[@skinny1968]

The less people around talking and trying to "help" the better off you are. My wife and I usually dock by ourselves. She knows not to try and push or pull and just has to hook the stern line once stopped. Slow and steady with transmissions doing the work. Good video.

[@Chrisdalm]

great description of backing into a slip. I looked at the surrounding water and flags and saw very little wind. I would like to see a challenging docking with a decent amount of crosswind. I have an end slip and constantly fight the crosswinds.

[@Faithinthedock]

I've a 50ft boat which I often single hand. Being an aft cabin trawler style (Trader) she's a little exciting getting off the boat to sort lines and the sheer height does add a lot of windage but adding a remote control to the bow thruster has added some added peace of mind (though I check it works before heading into the marina).

[@MrMcnamex]

love the composure and experience shown now i need to get my license

[@1Giuseppe007]

perfect! no rush, no stress

[@terryknickle1548]

Handled like a pro!

[@gregovens5040]

Twin engine, & a bow thruster…..hardly a challenge !!

[@BigWaveStudio]

true, but he still handled it nicely

[@bostondan77]

It’s a big boat, doing it alone, if the wind was blowing harder it would be more challenging- he would have to run down not casually walk down.

[@darthkek1953]

Fantastic tutorial. John deserves his mugshot in the banner graphic.

[@Sgt_Hest]

Great tutorial, I always wondered if you had to panic, to park a big boat on your own :D Would love to see more stuff/tips like that

[@legin999]

This *excellent* video is stuffed to the gunnels with great wisdom - so many points that all add up to a calm and controlled berthing. For the past 20 years I've usually been effectively single-crewed [untrained visitors more of a liability] and find that slow and steady is always best. It gives more time to plan and react if conditions change suddenly.

[@ScottNelles]

I'm new to boating. It's like he's speaking another language.... I have a lot to learn. Great video.

[@Peter-m5l]

odd - aerial video shows him directly next to another boat to his port, but video from his fly bridge shows him going into a single slip, no boat next to him

[@maxmann8607]

The last command you gave the binnacle was starboard ahead. In that situation, I go with port ahead instead. It seems to stop the backward momentum while continuing to bring the boat (especially the bow) toward the dock and may not even need the last thrust of the bow thruster. Either way, great video. Thank you!

[@jeffjohn9898]

Great job! You make it look easy. And with a little practice most captains should be able to accomplish this feat. Bravo!👏👏👏👏

[@jaimelopez3991]

This was a great video sir, thanks!! I have to confess, quite different than my first docking attempts back in the marina in Dubai where I used to dock my Searay Sundancer 290!! A bit chaotic at the beginning...

[@Endoflife.-1w]

It’s amazing parking a boat best captain, thank you sir..!!

[@Dan-qt7kq]

Nice job. It’s just good judgment and patience.

[@bryonejohnson9146]

That was a nice smooth docking.

[@captain-Dan]

Weirdly I went looking for any new vids from John earlier today. Another great addition to the series.

[@davetate6992]

I love watching a professional at work! So easy just do it a couple of hundred times in various conditions and the job is a good un.

[@mareewalker1096]

If you don't rush he was going really fast from experience but very slow anyone can do it after 6 to 12 shots! I have a 7.3m fishing boat and it's no different just bigger! Because of size people think it's going to be hard but it's no different to a small boat! ⚓🛥

[@davidfrank2824]

I really love what you did with the rest of that rope. I have never thought about doing that. I also liked how you kept the boat to the dock when you jumped off. I am just spoiled I use my GPS anchor feature. That does a pretty good job of keeping the boat right where I want it to stay. I enjoyed the video I have been a subscriber for a long time. And I always make sure to hit like after watching the video. I look forward to seeing more sense boating season starting up.

[@darkgreen9098]

Smooth as butter

[@Dmanning11]

“If I get it wrong it’ll make a nice fender” 😂 quote for the ages

[@fknmillsi]

Nailed it as usual!

[@BenzinioB]

You made it look super easy :)

[@BigWaveStudio]

nice job Captain!

[@nickwebb9290]

As always, fabulously explained, thank you John 🙏

[@Bluestarx15]

Awesome job! And beautiful boat!👍😊

[@mantas6293]

At the very end. Why starboard ahead? And not port ahead? The stern was already at the dock, so it would put the bow to starboard, wouldn’t it?

[@victorramsey5575]

Well done mate!

[@derekec]

Opinion please...I've reasoned and used to great effect in up to ~30ft. lightweight single outboards to back in starting bow facing upwind rather than downwind here. Backing with the wind would be difficult to hold a straight path but advantageous in a turn since I can tractor the stern with engine and allow the wind to turn the bow for me. Backing against the wind is very stable but in a turn I'd be fighting that weathervane affect on the bow. Looks like I'm about to acquire a heavy single engine trawler with high windage, lots of prop walk. Have to admit some trepidation. Guess it'll be some trial and error while hopefully no one is looking but sure would like some thoughts.

[@josemanuelmendezmoreno7906]

Very educational thanks namesake!

[@rb2712]

I'm curious as to what the small current in the water astern was when he was tieing the stern line.

[@seasider101]

It might be the ejection of water from the engine cooling system.

[@skinny1968]

Generator cooling?

[@patrickmolloy6994]

as usual, so easy!

[@abuhamza1970]

Brilliant! Thank you 🙏

[@hubschenk1652]

Good captain!

[@trinisuprazee]

love these

[@buddymac3993]

Think about this behemoth as backing up your petite auto and you will be fine!!!! No scrapes or bruises ?🇨🇦

[@dorflonnigan4413]

Great information

[@eddu4361]

looks so simple. as always.

[@GavinKohAquascaping]

Well done!!

[@Nick_G7IZR]

Single shaft, no thrusters, lots of wind. That would be a useful docking video if you wouldn't mind obliging! 🤣

[@shakyangler]

John always like your videos but when are you going to do a video with a 25 to 30ft single shaft engine boat single handed berthing .

[@PhilbyFavourites]

I’ve got a Swift Trawler 34 we can use to give him a coronary trying to get it into a small marina berth…… it’s got the windage of a block of flats and astern comes with a massive prop kick to port. Other than that it’s fine…….

[@shakyangler]

Always liked trawlers . I have merry fisher 805 and it would be nice to see John demonstrate how’s it done in a similar boat or he can use mine .

[@michaelandrich]

Is it just me or is the drone video different to the 2nd person videoing?? in the drone pics there is a boat next to the berth he is going in to, but in the 2nd person video there is a space and pontoon between them. Even the wind direction looks different (see the flags). Doesnt take away from some experienced handling but just seemed odd to me

[@markgiomblanco9813]

love the docking but please tell me you tie to cleat off differently in real life

[@Whatta33]

Super cool…with the seat belt on the boat

[@MatthewMckenzie7]

Damn you made that look easy 😂

[@Creemy89]

Great video. What qualification would you need to pilot a boat of this size?

[@Dr_Frazion]

money and guts. but seriously, rya lvl 2 and general experience in a smaller boat are advised. no formal qualifications *needed*

[@philheap512]

What wind??

[@sprig6043]

Heat vid im in the uk how can i go about getting my license to sail vessels of this size. Thanks

[@iainchesterman5474]

That’s Swanwick marina , and down in the fairway , the tide and wind is always much lighter there , we are on the first bend and it’s a totally different challenge in wind and tide , hence our boat has been hit by other boats twice 😮

[@garryhall9660]

Thats funny a trainer told me to use only one engine and to offset the wheel while transitting down the isle. knew it was not the right way.

[@automaticboatfender]

This would be even smoother with a set of Automatic Fenders!

[@steadytube]

brilliant

[@yakopro49]

Nice knot tie lol

[@DanielBottger-vz4tb]

With no Wind, docking is always easy - becomes difficult when ist windy, More Then BFT 3

[@Glofilter]

How big is that boat? What do you think the limit on something like that would be? It looks to be a pretty big boat. Thanks!!

[@ironichumorist]

60

[@Glofilter]

@@ironichumorist 60? Wow, that's a big boat. I wonder what the limit would be. 72? Most 72+' boats have a rear helm station, so perhaps you could solo a big boat. 60'. Wow, that's really impressive.

[@SherLock55]

@@Glofilter I would probably say 80ft would be the max you would want to solo without crew, though purely docking one solo who knows I am sure the more experienced guys could do bigger.

[@sailexw6414]

you need to do one without the bow thruster...

[@julianr1862]

I notice that in the overhead shots there was another boat in the adjacent berth....pressure on... yet in the on boat shots the adjacent berth was empty???? lowers the credibility of this video a bit...doesn't it ?

[@SecretariatSecretariat-k4s]

what are the dimensions of the yacht? thanks

[@masterful7574]

"Uhnuver" is not a word.

[@rgg6322]

sorted!

[@TheOceanX]

Do you have a version that doesn't utilize bow thrusters?

[@tlteal]

bingo!!!!

[@ClassicAutomotiveGarageInc.]

Thanks

[@jakubsct8479]

Is this your yacht?

[@yakopro49]

I can get this easy. Just a few trys

[@michaelsorrentino-yp7nb]

So glad he said "DOCK" and not park!!

[@climatixseuche]

watched it I'm the captain now

[@yassinelakhdar7345]

Searching for work in the context of boats

[@johnlouisclarke]

Because we have a boat like this...

[@coalitionperformance5901]

Can big Jon Mendez do a video tutorial on how to navigate your wife moaning at you when you get back from work? As ever class information and insight, thanks JM

[@totarim]

I ask you to support the translation in your videos so that the benefit spreads. I tried to translate into Arabic, but I couldn't

[@jesuschrist-alphaomega]

Ya wanna no how? Practice. There you go. Youre welcome

[@shakilkadir3557]

have all camera angels on same time on top pls so we can see all angels all the time, thanks

[@donpedro5389]

why life jacket ???? you are supposed to enjoy the boat life.easy docking...thats the reason for bow and stern thrusters with hold function ☺

[@pierpalumbo415]

you made a mistake... first the bow must be tied, due to the direction that the (little) wind presents in this area of the marina. Your rescue vest won't make you a good advisor, that's freshness, you're in a safe bathtub... go back to the first square...

[@Darcy-Roo]

First time I did it, I wrecked a jet ski 🤣🤣🤣

[@squatch2461]

🍻

[@ironichumorist]

there is no more competent instructor.

[@philiplockhart4053]

Don’t try this in 10-15kt winds

[@dougsessa1251]

this was bull crap if u look at video theres a boat next to him but when he get off his boat the boats not there also from areal view theres a jet ski in his slip

[@virgil54]

Sorry, but it's verry simple

[@mikenagy938]

Never take boating advice from someone who can't tie a proper clear hitch!

[@user-vv2wd9vm4l]

Dudes a badass

[@paullewin8615]

Hahaha yes John perfect conditions. Show us when it's sh..it weather.