BASIC POWERBOATING. SAFETY & RESCUE FOR SAILING INSTRUCTORS 21 4. Boat-Handling Concepts


KEY CONCEPTS E Starting


E Throttle Control


E Directed Thrust Steering E Tiller & Wheel Steering E Pivot Point E Windage


STARTING


Putting a boat in motion involves shifting into forward or reverse gear at a low throttle setting and then adjusting the throttle to achieve the desired speed. The key concept to remember when shifting to forward, neutral, or reverse is that it should be done at idle rpm to prevent damage to the engine or transmission.


USING THE THROTTLE CONTROL


Changes in the throttle control should be done in a smooth, gradual manner. When operating in conditions where the boat could impact waves or wakes, steady your hand on the base of the control and adjust the throttle with thumb and fingers.


STEERING WITH DIRECTED THRUST


All boats with outboard motors, stern drives, and jet drives use the directed thrust of the propeller or jet to steer the boat. To generate directed thrust, the propeller has to be turning (in forward or reverse gear) or the jet drive has to be pumping water through it. If the engine or jet drive is in neutral, the boat will have minimal response to changes in steering.


When the outboard motor is turned, the directed thrust from the propeller swings the stern (back end) of the boat, causing the boat to turn. To make a tighter turn, turn the outboard all the way to the side and increase the amount of thrust by increasing the throttle.


Steady your throttle hand against the base in conditions where wake or waves are present.


E Underwater Hull Shape E Minimum Control Speed E Balance & Trim E Speed Modes E Boat Wake E Stopping


An outboard uses directed thrust from its propeller to turn the boat.


Table of Contents


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