Docking nightmares..

[Legio Patria Nostra]

First try with a motor boat.. Why is docking and even undocking such a nightmare??
The boat is almost not responding to either full starboard or port rudder! Speed control is also very 'flimsy' and makes these manouvers a real nightmare..
What has happened since 'Fishing Barents Sea' where manouvering was a delight! Also conflicts when leaving Autopilot and goes in to "Drive Boat" and it says "There is already a driver" !?!? Why is there not an external cam view, from behind, where you also could steer the boat?
This is so frustrating so I had better keep on rowing I guess.. or leaving the game for the good old "Barents Sea".. I am not happy with this at all
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3434048550

[1islandguy1962]

v on the keyboard

[darko]

ahoy @ Legio - slow down - there ARE few things to help with dockings .. ;-)

1st - you have better view - press "V" key - to change between cabin and outside view ..
(you have to look at wheel and press "E" key to "Drive the boat" first..)

2nd - take advice - and upgrade BOTH your ENGINE and PROPPELER
- to the best options available - it will greatly improve handling ..
(although - it will not be easy - but easier .. ;-) )

and why I am saying "to best option available" ?
- because - if you take some medium option - you will spend money unnecessary
- you can not sell previous option - just buy a new one - for full price ..
- so - it is better to collect some money before - and buy best ..

and it is not so hard to do - you already foud that "special" mission with Rowmeo
- 20k NOKs for short run to Lingvaer or Kvedsbeita (usually) ..
- or you can take a loan in bank - it is not that hard to return
- your choice ..

[Legio Patria Nostra]

Originally posted by darko:

ahoy @ Legio - slow down - there ARE few things to help with dockings .. ;-)

1st - you have better view - press "V" key - to change between cabin and outside view ..
(you have to look at wheel and press "E" key to "Drive the boat" first..)

2nd - take advice - and upgrade BOTH your ENGINE and PROPPELER
- to the best options available - it will greatly improve handling ..
(although - it will not be easy - but easier .. ;-) )

and why I am saying "to best option available" ?
- because - if you take some medium option - you will spend money unnecessary
- you can not sell previous option - just buy a new one - for full price ..
- so - it is better to collect some money before - and buy best ..

and it is not so hard to do - you already foud that "special" mission with Rowmeo
- 20k NOKs for short run to Lingvaer or Kvedsbeita (usually) ..
- or you can take a loan in bank - it is not that hard to return
- your choice ..

ahoy my friend!
Thanks for your advice
1-I did try to press "V" but nothing happened. Will try it again though.
2- Ok, I will buy most of those improvements, even if it takes a bank loan :)
I do hope it will help..
I had to go back to 'Fishing Barents Sea' for a while, just to feel what it should have been here. Got 100 tonnes cod and haddock on 6 km longlines with a 4 man crew, hauling line, machine gutting and stacking.

N report will come soon :)

[Legio Patria Nostra]

Originally posted by darko:

B.t.w Wasn't there a graphic setting for wave heights etc? I remember I saw it but can't find it in 'Settings' now.. or maybe it was in the game Installation phase?
I think it is way too much wind and high waves inside the harbour, so it would have been nice to lower those values a bit.

[Legio Patria Nostra]

@ darko
Now it is the way I expected! Upgraded engine from 86 to 115 hp got the golden, 3-blade prop and the boat is manouverable! Only if I had known from start..
Also found the way of typing "V" while pointing at steering wheel , so now I can see from behind and also control the boat, just like in "FBS" .
Feeling very happy now
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3434132730

[darko]

for "V" key - you did "Drive Boat" first ? right ?

other than that - you can check your key bindings

- either straight from initial menu or from game by hitting "Esc"
- and choose "Settings - and check "Keyboard (and something?)"

- it pays off to study a bit - there might be other useful stuff
- like "X" key to "kill" your engine - easier to use "Rest" feature
- or park near the buoy when you start with fishing..

for bank loans - or doing that "20K" mission few times - your choice really ..
- Roster is really inexpensive to upgrade - compared to other boats
- I usually did just few more runs with "20K" - it was enough ..

[darko]

Originally posted by Legio Patria Nostra:

@ darko
Now it is the way I expected! Upgraded engine from 86 to 115 hp got the golden, 3-blade prop and the boat is manouverable! Only if I had known from start..
Also found the way of typing "V" while pointing at steering wheel , so now I can see from behind and also control the boat, just like in "FBS" .
Feeling very happy now
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3434132730

oh yes - sorry - forgot to mention that all important "white dot"
(it is very pale - and hard to notice at first - especially if background is white
- try to look at sea - or some darker background - and you soon find easy to spot it)
- it is so natural for me - not even thinking of it ..

but for you - please remember that "white dot" - it will be used for all sort of stuff

- whenever you must select something
(for one example - when you need to "hit" the fish with your hook
- when you will start fishing..

- or to pick cargo - when you train your eyes - you will notice that when you align
white dot - you will get message "pick" .. )

- and for selecting stuff in the cabin - switches for lights, AP, sonar, radio etc.

EDIT - important

- one other useful thing - you can use "right button" on your mouse
- to "zoom" on stuff you selecting - much easier .. ;-)

[darko]

for "sea state" - yes - it is only available when you "Create Game"
- sadly - no option to change that later .. (for now ? we asked for that feature ..)

my usual settings
- 25% for harbor
- for open sea - 50 or 75% ..

P.S.
as I understand - could be wrong - when you choose % - it is the "MAX" ..
- so for 50% - sea state will change from "calm" - and only up to 50% - randomly ..

[darko]

and for boat "upgrades"
- only engine and propeller are absolute must ..
(and that goes for all motor boats in SaS - very important)

- when you start longer missions - fuel tank is also useful
(at that point - you might also consider using "skill points" for "Eco driving"
- if you have them accumulated enough ..)

- search lights are up to your preference - some like them - some not ..
(I do them last - after those upgrades before - in that order

- engine AND propeller 1st
- fuel tank 2nd (and some "rig" later - you will learn on the way ..)
- search lights last ..

throttle and wheel - are just cosmetical - as it is in their description (read all)
- so - when you will have extra money - and you like some of them
- again - your choice .. ;-)

[Legio Patria Nostra]

Originally posted by darko:

Originally posted by Legio Patria Nostra:

@ darko
Now it is the way I expected! Upgraded engine from 86 to 115 hp got the golden, 3-blade prop and the boat is manouverable! Only if I had known from start..
Also found the way of typing "V" while pointing at steering wheel , so now I can see from behind and also control the boat, just like in "FBS" .
Feeling very happy now
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3434132730

oh yes - sorry - forgot to mention that all important "white dot"
(it is very pale - and hard to notice at first - especially if background is white
- try to look at sea - or some darker background - and you soon find easy to spot it)
- it is so natural for me - not even thinking of it ..

but for you - please remember that "white dot" - it will be used for all sort of stuff

- whenever you must select something
(for one example - when you need to "hit" the fish with your hook
- when you will start fishing..

- or to pick cargo - when you train your eyes - you will notice that when you align
white dot - you will get message "pick" .. )

- and for selecting stuff in the cabin - switches for lights, AP, sonar, radio etc.

EDIT - important

- one other useful thing - you can use "right button" on your mouse
- to "zoom" on stuff you selecting - much easier .. ;-)

Ok, and I have seen the white dot :)

[Legio Patria Nostra]

Originally posted by darko:

for "sea state" - yes - it is only available when you "Create Game"
- sadly - no option to change that later .. (for now ? we asked for that feature ..)

my usual settings
- 25% for harbor
- for open sea - 50 or 75% ..

P.S.
as I understand - could be wrong - when you choose % - it is the "MAX" ..
- so for 50% - sea state will change from "calm" - and only up to 50% - randomly ..

Ok, thanks again.. This feels very important!
I think I will start all over a new game, after having learned a lot, mainly from you!

[Legio Patria Nostra]

Originally posted by darko:

and for boat "upgrades"
- only engine and propeller are absolute must ..
(and that goes for all motor boats in SaS - very important)

- when you start longer missions - fuel tank is also useful
(at that point - you might also consider using "skill points" for "Eco driving"
- if you have them accumulated enough ..)

- search lights are up to your preference - some like them - some not ..
(I do them last - after those upgrades before - in that order

- engine AND propeller 1st
- fuel tank 2nd (and some "rig" later - you will learn on the way ..)
- search lights last ..

throttle and wheel - are just cosmetical - as it is in their description (read all)
- so - when you will have extra money - and you like some of them
- again - your choice .. ;-)

Yes, I have understood that now, tried both the small cargo boat and the small fishing boat with max upgraded engine/props. They handle much better now.

About fuel tank, fuel consumption and distance travelled, I have a big headache here..
As an old sailor, I can do my math but here is what happened during my long run in the cargo boat, from Röst to Ellevsnyken:
It said the distance = 5nm , so I calculated it would take about 30 min at 10 kts speed.
In game, it took almost 5 hrs!! I fueled up there and I had consumed 100 L , which corresponds with fuel flow at about 20 L/hr at 11-12 kts.
I guess there is a scaling factor here but why is not the distance in nm correct?

[darko]

yeah - that IS the problem ..

(@baobobafet might jump in here or even @frosen - they did a more detailed calculations
- and there is also "time scale" - about "8x" )

look - we did the math before - and I forgot all about it
- and I just play by the "Mk I eyeball" rules now:

from Rost
- Roster - up to Vedoya or Stavoya in other direction .. (about 1hour or less)
- Dr.Phill or Fixer - you might stretch further - up to farthest ports (2 hours +)
- Skarven is really meant for long runs (about 1 hour or less)

I am not mentioning fishing boats - because you can split trip to any fish habitat
- save game when you need to stop - and safely load game again ..
- you just avoid to leave fishing gear in water - you will loose it
(do fishing part in separate session - by using "Rest" feature
- you can do fishing cycle in under 1 hour)

my general "rules of thumb" for play:

- XP (and miles for license)
- take (small) cargo missions for gaining in XP and mileage (primary "weapon" - Skarven
- or bigger cargo missions with Dr.Phill if you enjoy crane operations)

- skill points
- best tool is "net fishing" with Conquest - you will get a lot of skill points

- money
- either - long lines with Flippy or Conquest - very good money
- or "fish farming" - a ton of money - but very boring
- endless carrying of fish food bags manually - but it pays off in the end ..

all of this is highly subjective - and you might develop your own "favorites"
- which I highly recommend .. ;-)

[Legio Patria Nostra]

@ darko
Thank's for all your help and input. It has helped me go on and even start a new game here with your wave settings etc. Having learned a few things during my 20 hr trials
About the time scaling, I will let it be for now.. Having done too much time/distance/fuel- calc's in my past on the sea and in the air as F/O , I am happy to just play it. Of course I can make an Excel-sheet to calculate if my fuel will be enough to delivery , considering the 8x time scale, but not today!

[darko]

ok

just few notes on fuel - and I will go to sleep too ;-)

right now - you don't have to worry if you will empty tank in any single mission
- even up to farthest ports and back ..
(and then - you can asses your range based on that )
(and using skill points for "eco drive" can change that too ..)

Rost And Veroy are 2 "main/base" ports - you have all functions there
- office, shop, shipyard, fishery and fuel pumps with unlimited quantity ..

on other ports - you also have fuel depos - but with limited quantities
- and that is a bit of shame for 0.7.5 version ..
- in version before that - 0.7.2 - you could "rig" Dr.Phill boat with fuel tank
- and load in Rost or Vaeroy for smaller price - and deliver to other ports for slightly higher price - and it depended - if you refueled from those ports - the levels would drop
- and you could refuel again - but I never used that (questionable economy)

in 0.7.5 we are limited - some mission are missing - like mentioned refueling
- and service missions - towing boats, suppressing fire etc.
- 0.7.5 was also intended just for testing then new features (like 0.8 now)
- and tutorials and service missions were left out ..

enough - good night ..