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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2013 : 00:41:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 [quote]I never back in... I prefer the butt clenching at the beginning of the journey, not at the end.

Sten
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I almost always back in, singlehanded. It's all in knowing how. Like many things, there's a "trick" to it, and once you know the trick, it's easy. If you get up to the Chesapeake Bay this summer, give me a shout out, Sten, and I can teach you in a few minutes. It's easy to do, but it's hard to find a person who either can or will teach you how to do it.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks Steve! The last guy that managed to "show" me how to do it agreed that my racing rudder was definitely designed to go forward. It does require a lot of thrust to move backwards and while I have done it a couple dozen times, and quite a few more on other peoples boats, I still prefer bow in. Besides, I have this clear plexy hatch, so the dock can see me dancing on the stripper pole when I have the fireplace lit up anyway.

I prefer in bad conditions to drive in hot and throw the brakes on. Drive it like you own it I always say.

Sten

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2013 : 08:21:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by awetmore
 Thanks Steve.

My boat actually has very little prop walk, which is nice most of the time but does make using prop walk to your advantage very difficult. I just changed props actually (going from a 2-blade 16" prop to a 3-blade 13" prop) and need to try it again to see if that has any new or different effect. I have experienced more prop walk on other boats.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> If the prop shaft on your boat is offset, it will reduce the effect of prop walk. In that case, you might be right that your boat has very little prop walk.

Some of the old Atomic 4-powered C&Cs had offset props. The main purpose was to enable removal of the prop shaft without removing the rudder, or so the shaft would slide by a skeg. Coincidentally, the offset shaft also reduced prop walk. If the prop shaft on your boat is oriented along the centerline of the boat, however, like most modern sailboats, it will most likely exhibit prop walk.

There's a good basic explanation of prop walk at this website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propeller_walk

Can you rotate your boat almost as if it was on a turntable, by putting the helm hard to starboard, and then alternately shifting from reverse to forward, giving the throttle a brief shot each time you shift gears? When you do that, the stern should kick to port each time you give it a shot in reverse. If it does, then that is prop walk. In an earlier post, you said, "I'm comfortable turning my bigger boat in place on it's keel". The exact same principles that enable the boat to do that are the principles of prop walk.

The effects of prop walk are always there with conventionally designed boats, but the effects become increasingly apparent with an increase in the size and weight of the boat. Last summer, I helped a fellow with a C27 learn how to maneuver his inboard boat under power, and he didn't think it experienced prop walk, but it did. Prop walk only works when the boat is nearly dead in the water, or when the boat is going so slowly that the water is moving over the surface of the rudder so slowly that the rudder isn't generating much lift. As soon as the rudder begins to generate lift, the tendency of prop walk to kick the stern to the left diminishes very quickly, and the boat responds to the dictates of the rudder. The engine on my friend's C27 had so much power in relation to it's weight that, when he gave it a healthy shot of reverse, it accelerated right through the range where prop walk works, and the effects of prop walk were hardly noticeable. When he learned to give it less throttle each time he shifted from forward to reverse, and to keep the boat's speed negligible, the effects of prop walk became immediately apparent.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">My boat requires a good amount of speed to get good steerage in reverse. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> That's true for all sailboats. If you want to back the boat a long distance, such as all the way down a fairway, then that's the technique you should use.

Using prop walk to back into a slip is different. Think of it this way. Prop walk turns a boat at a fairly predictable rate of turn, and it always turns to port, just like when you rotate your boat. So, if you want to back into a slip, you position the boat near the entrance to the slip, but canted at a slight angle to the slip, so that, as she backs up, the transom will move both backwards and to port, and she will back into the slip.

Like I said, it's hard to describe, but easy to demonstrate. Once you see it, you can visualize how it works, and you just have to position the boat the same way each time. But, if you know how to rotate your boat, you can back it into a slip, because the techniques used are identical.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 02/02/2013 08:26:52

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2013 : 17:19:20

Thanks Kevin. When I drive up to SHM I plan on going up 4 and turning west on Perkins, north on Mills, then west on Monroe to Huron.

Thanks for the offer, Kevin and John on being there when I launch. As part of the purchase agreement, the previous owner is to be there to help launch and rig the boat for sailing, so think I'll have plenty of help. I'll let you know if that changes though. I do look forward to meeting you shortly after the season. Are you guys memebers of the yacht club. My broker mentioned it and encouraged my joining.

Your comment, John, about the iron bars in the corners of the slip may very well be why I didn't see any boats backed in. Small potatoes I suppose. I'll guess I'll find out for certain once the season begins.

Looks like I'll have to email the dock facility to find out how to schedule a launch.

Edited by - on

panhead1948
Captain

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345 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2013 : 21:44:25

Ben I can give you better direction. If you can send me your address I can sent you a map. In the summer Rt 4 is terible with Cedar Point traffic.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2013 : 22:19:28

My technique for backing in is quite simple. Rotate until lined up with the slipand nearly hitting what is in front of you, then center the wheel and go for it with a lot of thrust, slam on the brakes just before impact and grab the amidships line as you step off. I find that trying to use propwalk only screws things up.

You are dead on on the rotate program. I have headed down the wrong fareway so many times I got got at turning around under the worst of conditions.

Sten

Edited by - redviking on 02/02/2013 22:20:25

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2013 : 16:36:15

Kevin, i sent you an email thru the forum. Thanks so much. :)

Edited by - on

panhead1948
Captain

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345 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2013 : 19:26:18

Didn't get it try kjburk19482002@yahoo.com

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2013 : 10:33:19

Email sent a moment ago, Kevin, thanks again.

Edited by - on

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