Carver Owner

Twin screw= Your docking just got so much easier. You'll find several threads here that cover docking a twin screw. Hit the search button and explore. Good luck. Welcome to YF.
BTW, hiring the Captain for lessons was an excelent idea, although I'd recommend several shorter lessons concentrating on docking more than an entire day that may end up being part docking and mostly cruising. When I teach, the first lesson I walk them through their new boat and an engine room check. That takes about 15 minutes. After that it's docking, docking and more docking for about 3 hours. I like to drill them docking from every direction and under every circumstance I can put them into. It's very exhausting. On a boat like yours one lesson or two is generally sufficient. After that (and a few days of them practicing on their own) we can spend a day cruising if they'd like, and that too will be a day of constant learning, but first I want them to get the docking down cold and feel one with their boat.

Go very slow, then when in doubt, go slower... (unless there is wind )

On a boat that size one good lesson should do you well IF YOU PRACTICE. You may decide to take a second a few weeks later after a docking turns to absolute crap one day. (It happens to us all). I always tell my students that I'm not good or talented. I just do it a lot. That's the key. If you just have 20 minutes to spare go down to the boat, pull it out, spin it in place then drop it back in and go home. Do that a couple of times a week and you'll do fine.
The most rewarding feeling I get is the "Got it" moment. When I begin a lesson I maneuver the boat using the owner's hands. Just telling him step by step what to do. They're amazed when they drop it in clean. Invariably though they say 'but I could never do it without you telling me what to do'. With each docking I instruct them less and less, and in a short time I see the 'I got it' look come across their face. A wonderful feeling for us both. After about 3 hours though the stupids creep in. That's when it's time to quit. Docking takes 100% concentration and that's tiring.
And like someone just mentioned, we use finese not force. When in doubt slow down. As I like to say "Slow is cheap" or as my friend likes to put it "never go faster than the speed you feel comfortable hitting something at".

Good luck

If I can add my two cents. Our first twin screw was a carver 3697. Docking is by far the most nerve wracking. We are now about to begin our fourth season and each spring I still do an afternoon of docking practice. The best advice I can give is to ensure that your first mate and yourself communicate with each other during docking. You both need to be on the same page and work as a team. Also be careful with the lines the boats are heavy and you can loose fingers easily if not paying attention. Best of luck it is an addictive lifestyle.

Admirals do not take kindly to surprises and boats tend to shrink when the Admiral is unhappy.

Never, ever, forget that you may be the Captain; but she will always be the Admiral.

A happy Admiral is a happy boat.

We have a Carver 444. This is our second twin - our first was a 31' Tiara and the difference in size made a difference. It took the admiral and I some time to get our system down. We eventually got headsets to communicate and they helped. Before that she took my loud talking for yelling, now I can talk normally and she can hear.

Friends and extended family on board is always a challenge. They always want to help. Coming into dock is no time to have to keep an eye on someone whose skill level you don't know. They can put themselves in some very precarious places and not understand the danger. Based on this I have one rule for guests on board when coming into dock - sit in the seat and do not move. I try to be a little more diplomatic than that, usually say that the admiral and I have our system and they need to let us do it. Occasionally I have someone that forgets and I have to remind them.

Regarding the heavy friends, I wouldn't be all that worried about the load carrying ability of any particular area. My concern is getting them on and off the boat. For us tide has an affect on our boarding position. The admiral wants to have her 80 year old mother come for for a few days... I plan to move to a floating dock when she is here. Folks that have restricted movement or lack agility worry me especially when getting on and off the boat. For some reason they always thing they have to be in a hurry.