Calling all Oyster 435 owners/sailors

[lyralicious]

Why won't our boat reverse in a straight line, and is this a common problem with 435's?

Admittedly we are getting a little better, but we have to put on an almost full lock one way and then immediately the other way as she turns. Having an off-set shaft and a folding prop doesn't help, of course...

By the way, we're both competent in steering backwards in more manageable or lighter vessels, so I'm not sure it is because of a lack of confidence or technique.

Any advice from anyone would be gratefully accepted!

 

[tome]

Hee hee! You're obviously used to lighter and more modern designs

Most of the earlier Oyster have the same keel configuration which makes for interesting steering going backwards. The knack is to get some way on her before even attempting to steer, and this calls for some bottle (and space)

Once you have her going astern at a couple of knots, you can ease the throttle and she will answer the helm. So give yourself enouh space to get her moving backwards under control. Takes a bit of practice and confidence

 

[demonboy]

Hi Emot,

This is all very well but have you tried getting enough space in Bodrum marina? Tighter than a gnat's bum. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

We have finally got the knack of reversing with lots of space, like in a big anchorage, but the problem is tight manoeuvring. As you say, it takes a lot of bottle, practice and confidence.

Regards,

Demonboy (Queenie's partner)

PS: Just read your biog. Hilarious!

 

[silver-fox]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi Emot,

This is all very well but have you tried getting enough space in Bodrum marina? Tighter than a gnat's bum. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif



[/ QUOTE ]

Not on anchor tonight then /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Had enough of ploughing your own furrow? (sorry couldn't resist that .... )/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just had another thought .... if you are going round in circles in astern then you must be doing the marine equivalent of crop circles before your anchor digs in.....that is going to intrigue some marine archaeologist in future years/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Ah well, nearly time for my tablets matron,.... and I promise to behave better in future /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Whimsy over and back to packing. (we join you in the med in just 7 days)

 

[demonboy]

Hehehe......I'll have whatever he's having!

No, Bodrum marina is a thing of the past, before the days of anchoring. And at EU35 a night we won't be going there again!

Where in the Med will you be? If you are near Turkey come and join us for a raki.

 

[Koeketiene]

Our - similar size/weight - Kalik has a similar problem.

To reverse straight - wheel hard over starboard
Reverse starboard - boat did not come with that option
Reverse port - wheel every so slightly to port

 

[BlueSkyNick]

ditto on our Moody 44 with a fixed 3blade prop and shoal keel. That is until she gets some speed up, as Tome describes, then the heart starts beating normally again and the buttocks de-clench.

 

[ChrisE]

And Rival 38s, the other way is to get a real head of steam up in reverse, oh let's say 5 knots and then you can steer her although heaven help you if you are in a tight spot....

 

[tome]

You want to ditch the fixed prop and fit a Max-prop, it'll give you another 1/2 knot at least under sail

 

[tome]

[ QUOTE ]
This is all very well but have you tried getting enough space in Bodrum marina? Tighter than a gnat's bum

[/ QUOTE ]

Sometimes warps or springs are the only answer in a tight space. Worth practising a bit in reverse - we can get into some pretty tight berths astern provided we have room for the initial manouevre

 

[Robin]

You people really need to get proper boats! We can reverse out of our berth either way, and the direction is chosen by us and not the boat. That is a fin keel (but not a skinny thing, quite long) and a Brunton 3 bladed prop.

Our last Westerly 33 was a bit more reluctant but still manageable. The trick was to set up at a 45 deg angle to port initially then go astern which would walk the stern straight whilst getting moving astern, after which she would steer quite well.

 

[demonboy]

Encouraging to know that it's not just us with this problem then!

We anchored in Gumusluk the other week and this KNOB of an English sailor sat and criticised my technique at the top of his voice to his wife as Esper reversed in her strange way (an arc). I was consoled by the fact that I had four beautiful girls on board and he was merely a charterer who probably had to return to work the next week /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[demonboy]

[ QUOTE ]

You want to ditch the fixed prop and fit a Max-prop, it'll give you another 1/2 knot at least under sail

[/ QUOTE ]

Definitely agree with this statement. We have a Max prop and as soon as we knock our gear lever into reverse, which locks and folds the prop, we pick up half a knot easy.

 

[michael_w]

Don't whinge, my boat has a poxy saildrive, this means no propwash over the rudder, no propwalk worthy of the name either. Plus only controlable at some speed too.

Given practice, with propwash and walk you can berth your boat like a Jedi - Feel the force Luke.

 

[silver-fox]

We are starting off in Spain but won't reach Turkey until next summer so we wont be able to join you in "astern manoeuvres in the dark" until then.

We have a Moody 425 and I haven't had the opportunity to sail it enough to pretend I know what happens going astern.

Sufficient to say I missed the last berth I was aiming for by a good 50 yards... a course error of 45 degrees .. and that was with a bow thruster to further confuse matters.

One of my first jobs is to mark the wheel with a rudder centre position, as not knowing where the rudder was didn't help

Five attempts later I was inch perfect, but I have no idea why.

Excitin innit?

I have no doubt that once have learned her nasty habits they can used to good effect. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Oliveoyl]

Own crew, or did you charter the Spice Girls?

 

[BlueSkyNick]

[ QUOTE ]
You want to ditch the fixed prop and fit a Max-prop, it'll give you another 1/2 knot at least under sail

[/ QUOTE ]
yeah I know, its on the Dear Santa list, although I don't believe it will improve anything going backwards.

At least you were polite enough not to tell me to ditch the shoal keel.

Its the only thing about the boat I am not to keen on. I have thought about getting a new deep fin, but darent enquire about the casting costs let alone the labour to fit it.

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
ditto on our Moody 44 with a fixed 3blade prop and shoal keel. That is until she gets some speed up, as Tome describes, then the heart starts beating normally again and the buttocks de-clench.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nick

Not a criticism, but this is definitely down to ability and experience. Rob, my YM instructor, could do things with Rogue that i couldnt even dream of, after spending about 10 minutes getting used to her!!.

Having had a bit of instruction, I am much better in reverse, but wind plays a large part when it's not from almost directly astern.

 

[tome]

No wonder your having problems going astern. You need to be looking backwards from the helm, not easy under the circumstances. Oooh er!

 

[demonboy]

I frequently picture that image when I'm going astern /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif