Backing a 53 extended deck

[Miss Swivel]

I‘ve been looking at 53’ motor yachts and extended decks. I prefer the walk around decks and interior visability of the motor yacht but with 45+ year old boats, beggars can’t be choosers. Anyway, I was looking for tips on how to back into a slip from the lower helm of the extended deck as there is a bulkhead obstructing the view through the salon. Thanks.

 

[SEVEN]

Cameras, someone on the dock with a radio or someone on the stern with a radio or cell giving instructions. It’s easy.

 

[Pascal]

It’s no big deal. I’ve run a couple of them over the years. if solo can lean over and look aft thru the door. Make sure any blinds or curtains are raised on the starboard side so you can see distance to pilings. With someone on board, they can call distances with a radio

Cameras can be very useful as well but it a hard to find cameras with wide enough lens for the stern.

 

[HahnR]

We have the 58 MY, so pretty much the same story. What Pascal said, although I will add with the shifters on the starboard side of the helm, I can stand far enough over while running the clutches to look through the salon & aft deck to see what I need to see. I also open both pilothouse doors for added visibility & it's just a few steps away from peering down the side of the boat if need be.

Pick your marks & use them. While it's not ideal, it's doable & not as bad as you think, especially when you get more familiar with your boat.

Hope that helps,
Randy

 

[carolinacoast]

Camera helps to get into a slip short handed. Open both aft doors, and PH doors. Camera is mounted on a small flag mast, varnished and removable from bracket. Wired by stereo guy to a plug in sternlight.
Knowledgeable crew with a headset is far more helpful. I use it more to make sure stern is clear when departing, than docking.

 

[Sadey]

What camera set up is that? I have a Garmin GC200 center stern but I only see the ladder and some of the swim platform, definitely not the corners.

 

[Pascal]

Two other options… install a pair of side cameras, near the wing doors which will give you a good view of any obstacles at the transom corners. Or look at aftermarket car back up cameras, they have very wide angle lenses.

 

[cww]

This is the reason why I got a 53MY instead of an ED, I can singlehand it pretty easily. As long as the aft wing doors are open you can just pop your head out one of the pilothouse doors and have a clear line of sight behind you. Easy peasy.

That said, every time I walk into an ED it feels like a 20' larger boat and I have a minor twinge of regret.

 

[Freestyle]

CarolinaCoasts' camera system is fantastic. It's not my boat, but the cameras made it easy the first and only time I docked it. Without the cameras it would take a couple of times to get sight lines figured out. The 53ED has a great deal of room in the salon that should not be given up for fear of backing the boat up. It's just not hard.

Bruce

Freestyle
1986 62 CPMY (54 with ext)
Tampa

 

[JD5652]

I have the previous generation of this system but I've yet o have it installed. I do have just the rear view camera of theirs currently and liked the performance of it.

inView 360° HD Around Vehicle Monitoring System (rearviewsafety.com)

FYI, my boat is a 58 LRC... and I don't find it particularly easy backing into a slip from the pilot house... especially if the slip beam is less than 22' (boat beam is 18'2") and the winds or currents are abeam.

 

[carolinacoast]

This is what I did. Dont have a better pic here. Concept was to make it look oem like a burgee or flag. I put a flag mount next to the sternlight. The camera location is only partially up the mast for best sight picture.
I only put it out when needed, so it stays pristine.

 

[carolinacoast]

I believe that I purchased a predecessor to this. Works great for 10 years so far.
https://www.roscovision.com/our-products/view/stsk7833

 

[zigzag930]

On our 58LRC, one of the PO's installed MicroCommander electronic controls.

We currently have four stations, but the two in the "Portuguese bridge" - port and starboard sides are awesome. I can stand outside on either side and operate Katerina standing with my back to the controls and look straight down the side of the boat. All four stations also have the bow thruster control so very convenient.

The MicroCommander system that we have will support up to six stations. I have thought about adding one more control station in the cockpit, but so far haven't felt it necessary.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

After 20 years of running a 53ED, I can say that there is really no issue sterning in. You can take two steps to either side deck and look out the pilothouse door. I have no cameras. I have no thrusters. The boat goes where you put her and visibility is not a problem.

 

[OVERBOARD]

I own a 53 my classic, a neighbor owns a 53 my extended. We live in Michigan, and boating weather is short. We love the space on the back deck to enjoy the short, summers. The extended seem to fetch a larger dollar value. A captain has crashed her swim platform once and I find it much more difficult to back it into the dock. So really, to me is the loss of seating isnt worth it to me to have a harder time tying up the boat and backing into wells at a higher cost. But if I lived in a really humid climate and I was tired of the heat and the humidity, then there might be an appeal. Also my classic cruises four knots faster than the two extended that I know of. I believe they are heavier?

 

[carolinacoast]

I'm one of the few in a strong current environment without a thruster. Many have 2 for single hand ops. A camera really helps in a cross current situation when you either get a fender/rub rail inside/on a piling or go missed approach. The window can be a few seconds. You can also bail to a face dock/anchor until slack tide.
Practice with a captain is more valuable than another gizmo that will break.

 

[Bahama Mama]

Look up Rear View Safety. I bought 4 cameras and monitor. 2 cameras mounted on roof over rear deck showing edges of swim platform and put other cameras in each engine room. Can monitor on split screen 1,2 or all 4 at same time.