I have seen and understand the benefits of docking a multi engine sea float plane with reverse. How is it for a Single Engine Turbine Float Plane? Great, Marginal, Minimal? I have time driving single and multi engine boats but not a great deal of seaplane exp. Edit to add PT6.

I would think that single engine reverse on the water would be awesome. I was at Kenmore a number of years ago getting a ride out to the islands in one of their single otters. All the planes showed up for the day and filled up the dock space pretty quick. There was one spot left that looked like a good parking spot for a ski boat. The last plane to show up was the single otter. The guy drove up to the dock and parallel parked that thing between a 185 and another Otter like it was nothing.Don't think that would be possible without reverse.

I am a Kenmore single otter driver, I find the airplane very dock-able in most conditions.

Key to good control in a single turbine is a widely adjusted Beta Range. Example: lots of movement across the range into reverse before the NG starts to pick up and put out too much thrust.

Another key which I believe is only available on PT-6 is fine pitch latches. If every start is a feather start un-docking is a real challenge.

Often when jumping into a recip beaver after a few days in the otter one has to relearn docking, important to remember to shut down the engine BEFORE reaching the dock!

Matt docking/undocking a Garrett Otter in the wind:

I watched literally for hours the docking/undocking of both Baxter and Kenmore at Nanaimo, BC one year. Baxter's were all Beavers, and most of Kenmore's were Otters, although there were still occasional Beavers in Kenmore's stable at the time. Frankly, I was impressed with the docking/undocking skills of all of the pilots. Of course, doing it multiple times in a day gives them lots and lots of experience!

A couple of years ago when I had my first opportunity to take a seaplane lesson at Pat Bay Air near Sydney, BC, my docking experience as a boater for nearly 60 years really helped. There wasn't a lot of wind, which obviously made it easier, but understanding what rudders can and can't do, gliding, etc., was helpful. One of these days, I really need to go somewhere to get that SES rating!

Cary

In the Maule Allison Turbine combination which I have used, the addition of Beta is a great advantage in river currents or if needing to stop in the water to wait for something but the docking crew need to be aware of the prop surge at shutdown.
Once the ropes are tied no problem but dock crew then have to be fully aware of the prop.
The optional docking method of course is to shut down on approach to dock and take into account(allow for) the surge forward as prop feathers.

A few years ago I watched Jimmy Buffet's pilots dock his Caravan during the Moosehead fly in. They pulled up in front of the slip, turned 90 degrees, and backed it in. Coolest thing I saw all weekend.