something in the steering system.
SAILING TIPS Mike Huston Prop wash usually comes into play
when we want to slow our reverse
motion and we put the engine in
Handling a Sailboat
forward. If the rudder is not centered
when we do this, prop wash will affect
in Tight Spaces
the boat; usually by fighting against
the turn we were trying to make in
reverse.
More Complex Maneuvers When backing, the pivot point
moves aft, to about the back edge of the
The Third of a three part series on boat handling.
keel, usually around the companionway
stairs on most boats.
This is the third article in a series on Prop walk has the most impact The first exercise is to steer the
handling a sailboat in tight spaces. Over when a boat first starts to back up; boat backwards. Do so in an open area
the past two months we have discussed once the boat gains enough speed for and just pick something behind you to
the tools at our disposal and some basic the rudder to bite it can over-power the steer towards. Don’t go too fast, keep
maneuvers. This month we move on to prop walk. However, this usually takes the speed at 2-3 knots and, remember,
more complex maneuvers. This article will more speed than may be comfortable don’t let go of the wheel. Next, pick a
not make much sense if you have not read around docks or may take more room spot on the water or something like a
the first two. They can be found online at than you have available. mooring ball and back around it and
www.48north.com, click on the link to If you need to eliminate the effects go back the way you came.
January’s magazine and turn to page 42 of prop walk, shift into neutral and it Next, get a feel for the effect of
for the first article, and click on the link to will instantly go away. Therefore, one prop walk on steering. Stop the boat,
February’s magazine and turn to page 32 useful trick is to goose the engine in then put the engine in reverse at idle
for the second in the series. reverse, not heavily, but enough to and turn to port; this turn should be
Please remember to practice these quickly get the boat moving in reverse easy with a right-handed prop. Next,
maneuvers in a safe place, somewhere with – then shift into neutral. This is very stop the boat again and do the same
low traffic and enough room for you recover handy if you are trying to back out of trying to turn to starboard. Many boats
from a mistake. a slip and turn the stern to starboard will simply go straight back or even go
(assuming a right handed prop). to port when you try this; basically, the
Steering Backward – The tools we have When backing, never let go of boat is not going fast enough for the
available when backing are the same as the wheel or tiller. The danger is this; rudder to over-power the prop walk.
those discussed for steering forward. rudders are designed to steer a forward Now try this, stop the boat again and try
But like cars, boats are primarily the turn to starboard by putting
designed to be driven in the the wheel over and goosing the
forward direction; so driving
Forward Backing
engine in reverse just enough
them backwards is bit more
Water flow tries to Water flow tries to push
to get some reverse momentum
challenging. Think about pulling
center rudder. rudder further out.
(say 1 knot), then shift into
a car out of a parking space; you neutral; the boat should quickly
need to be watching behind start to turn to starboard.
you to make sure you don’t hit As you are doing the above
something and at the same time backing exercises practice
watching in front to be sure you bringing the boat to a stop with
don’t swing into the car next to forward thrust and don’t forget
you. Driving a boat backwards to center the wheel first. And
has exactly the same issues. when you do forget to center
And, on boats with aft cockpits, it, watch to see what happens
it is hard to see if you are driving (if you don’t forget I will be
straight or not – looking forward impressed, but try it anyway
to see if the bow is swinging is the moving boat – they have a large surface just to see the effect).
easiest way to tell. For these reasons, I area behind the rudder post so the water
teach students to stand sideways and moving past tends to center the rudder. Spinning – Have you ever seen a twin
behind the wheel when backing. From When backing, the water pushes on engine power boat pull out of a slip and
this position they can easily see both this surface from behind the post and then turn in place? This is relatively
forward and aft by simply turning their the pressure pushes the rudder further easy when you have two engines.
heads side to side. aside – and it can do so with surprising While it is not as easy to do, it can be
Here are some other items of speed and force (see diagram). If the done with a sailboat. This maneuver
interest with backing a boat: boat is moving fairly fast it can break can come in very handy – say you go
down an aisle way only to find there are
48° No r t h , Ma r c h 2010 Pa g e 40
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