A random question

[andyo83]

Being new to this i want to ask a question.

I have a bayliner 2651, and it has an all over cover.

How much does the wind affect the steering of the boat with the covers on? and is there any way to counter the affect, or to improve the steering?

cheers.

 

[colingr]

I'm assuming you mean a camping type cover.

Lots at low speed on a windy day. Not much out on the sea at speed.

Can you do much to counteract the effect? No.

 

[nickd]

I know nothing about the boat
but the simplest way to find out is to leave the cover on for a short while and then take it off and compare the way she handles.
Do this in a variety of conditions and speeds.
cheers

 

[andyo83]

Basically i mean a cover over the rear like this,

http://www.boatcan.com/photo/1184256025.jpg

 

[colingr]

Basically i mean a cover over the rear like this,

http://www.boatcan.com/photo/1184256025.jpg

That's what I thought. If motoring with the full cover up it will have quite an effect. We tend to take the cover down completely if weather allows and it it gets a bit wet just run with the top and front only up.

Hope that helps?

 

[Philiz]

A canopy like that looks to be increasing the area on which the wind can act by about a third. So it will increase windage considerable, particularly at lower speeds and close quarters manouvering.
Only way of countering the effect is to take it down.
Unless there's a problem with the steering there's nothing you can do to improve it. It's just nature having a bit of fun with you, learn how to compensate for it.

 

[andyo83]

Thanks guys much appreciated.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

There are ways of mitigating wind effects without dropping the canvas but those that modify the boat are not very compatible with blatting along at WOT. You can stick a rudder style extension onto the leg which will give better low speed handling, but add drag.

 

[neale]

You should be able to learn to live with it but if all else fails you could always fit a bow thruster

 

[Ripster]

We used to have a moterey with lots of covers and the wind blew it about a bit at close qtrs - but you get to know what will happen and soon become used to it and work out a syetem. Did nit really bother us a higher speeds. As has been said, take them down if weather permits, if not you may also be able to use the wind as a form of propulsion ie to gently move you in a certain direction as part of your move at slow speeds.

 

[Kipper]

Just take the cover off you wuss! LOFL

 

[RIN]

We used to have a similar but smaller bayliner and taking down and putting back up the rear canopy was a real pain. After the first year we got a canopy company to produce a new section which zipped on to the back of the front canopy and went straight down to the deck. It also had a zip door so we could get into the front half of the cockpit. The rear of the cockpit was open to the weather, but the front (with the seating) was still totally enclosed. This was great and had very little windage. It was so easy to go out as all we had to so was remove the one piece of canopy. And if it started raining we could just zip and pop it back on again.

The only time we used the rear canopy was when the boat came out of the water for the winter

I have looked to see if we have a pic but I'm afraid it pre dated our first digital camera

Definitely recommend this approach

 

[AndieMac]

The windage thing is mostly an issue when at close quarters.
Just make part of your preparation for berthing include rolling up both aft. sides and the rear vertical clear covers, maybe even the fwd. vertical clear above the screen.
You basically need most of them open anyway.
You can feel the windage effect on the boat change as they are opened approaching the pontoon.

 

[Solitaire]

Being new to this i want to ask a question.

I have a bayliner 2651, and it has an all over cover.

How much does the wind affect the steering of the boat with the covers on? and is there any way to counter the affect, or to improve the steering?

cheers.

My second boat was a 2651. I never boated with the covers up. They are not really built strong enough if they are the originals and the stainless steel for the supports is not very strong. Unless you have had new UK made covers then the plastic can distort your view. Biggest factor is the effect on the boat by the wind - bloody great sail!

I had the boat both on the Solent and on the Clyde - great memories of doing the Kyles and Arran and round to Tarbet. But for the 2 years I used it in Scotland never had the covers up when running.