close quarters handling

[mikemonty]

Concur with this,
My Contessa exhibits no propwalk that I can see, and has to be going appreciable speeds astern for the rudder to bite.
You have to make prop wash (considerable) and bow falling off the wind your friends.
I've had to do a 270 to turn into a finger pontoon when I couldn't get enough way on to swing 90 deg into the wind and into the berth (was a bit blowy that day).
needed the extra angular momentum to make it go.

 

[AHoy2]

[ QUOTE ]
I probably shouldn't be here ( being a mobo'r) but I gotta ask: WHAT is propwalk? I simply have to know!

[/ QUOTE ]

Propwalk is just as much a feature of Mobo handling, maybe not very noticeable on your MF but can be significant with many powerboats. The RYA Powerboat Handbook covers it in the boat handling section.

Interesting to note the comments on here about using "burst" power for control, very much a mobo method for turning in confined spaces with poor rudder steerage and susceptibility to wind direction.

Very little of my sailing time was spent on long keel boats so can't comment otherwise.

 

[jhr]

[ QUOTE ]
WHAT is propwalk?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not an expert on the physics of this but it's the tendency of the propellor to push the stern of your boat one way or the other when you first go astern.

From a stationary position, go into reverse and look at the stern. You should see a bit of turbulence in the water on one side of the boat or the other. This will tell you which direction (opposite to the turbulence) your boat is pushed by prop walk.

 

[ChrisE]

I'd also recommend Southern, I learnt more in two days with one of their instructors on board than I'd picked up myself in two years.

 

[michael_w]

In a word, practice.

Get propwalk right and manouver your boat like a Jedi. Feel the force Luke!

 

[Jean]

I agree with what’s been said so far, and practice in open water. Don’t be afraid to stand off well clear of berth (and not near other boats) and practice the manoeuvre with the conditions that prevail at the time, and once you are happy, it’s all fresh in your mind as you approach your berth. For the final bit, I’m a great fan of a mid ship cleat, particularly if short handed.

 

[mandlmaunder]

So you're a mobo'er, eh?

It's OK, we check out the mobo forum - there's always something you can learn!

 

[BrendanS]

lots of people here have both mobo and raggie experience, no matter what their current boat is.

 

[l'escargot]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
WHAT is propwalk?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not an expert on the physics of this but it's the tendency of the propellor to push the stern of your boat one way or the other when you first go astern.

From a stationary position, go into reverse and look at the stern. You should see a bit of turbulence in the water on one side of the boat or the other. This will tell you which direction (opposite to the turbulence) your boat is pushed by prop walk.

[/ QUOTE ]
Prop walk is also present when going forward but is less pronounced when "pushing" and is easily controlled by the rudder. It is the cause of boats steering one way or another when the tiller or wheel is released.

 

[mawm]

My long keel boat has an 'off set' prop - ie it comes out the side of the keel. This reduces her prop walk but makes her an absolute b!&ch to handle in close quarters in reverse. I use the tide and wind to direct her. It just takes a bit of practice. I can get anywhere and have not hit anyone else (yet).

 

[Topcat47]

I've had a long keel boat for fifteen years and she still catches me out. Sadly marina berths are very tight and manoeuvering inside them is never easy. I always go in bows first on my boat as it's easier to control the bow when going astern if you've a line on a pontoon. Fenders both sides is a good idea as you can always tie up to the guy in the next berth and warp her over, if the wind doesn't let you drive straight in. Southern Sailing School would be my first choice for own boat tuition, but I've been a fan of John Goode and his methods since meeting him during my first year of boat ownership.

 

[flaming]

[ QUOTE ]
forumite flaming should be along any minute, he is an expert on own boat tuition.... hope you havent got a bowthruster though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry I'm late......

If I was looking at this I would want to know that the instructor had spent time in long keel boats.

 

[Sailfree]

[quote
Propwalk is just as much a feature of Mobo handling, maybe not very noticeable on your MF but can be significant with many powerboats. The RYA Powerboat Handbook covers it in the boat handling section.


[/ QUOTE ]

Remember many MoBo's have twin counter rotating props either on same shaft or twin shaft so many would not have felt propwalk as we understand it.

I would add that propwalk is the paddle wheel effect of a propeller "thrashing" through the water eg burst of engine power when boat stationary. When the boat speed and prop speed are matched the prop screws nicely through the water and no sideways walk! The amount of prop walk can therefore be controlled and used to assist manoeuvring by using excess of engine power in either direction to the boat speed.

When getting on a new boat while still moored its a good idea to put engine in astern and see which side the prop wash is going and hence developing sideways thrust to help turn the boat. Better to expext it that deal with it once it happens!!

 

[Twister_Ken]

>When getting on a new boat while still moored its a good idea to put engine in astern and see which side the prop wash is going<

This is oft repeated advice, but on my long-keeler, it looks like there's prop wash coming up on both sides, pretty equally. I reckon on long keelers the wash is split port and starboard immediately after leaving the prop (the trailing edge of the keel is only inches in front of the prop), so even though the prop is paddling one way, the wash doesn't show you beforehand which way.

 

[DavenHelen]

Use of Sail....

[ QUOTE ]
but I've been a fan of John Goode and his methods since meeting him during my first year of boat ownership.

[/ QUOTE ]

Amazing what you find on t'internet when looking for something else. Looks like the forum has always been "entertaining" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Previous Discussion

 

[Sailfree]

Thanks for pointing out that. It reinforces the point I made earlier "try your class association and get tuition from someone familiar with your own type of boat".