Handling a single shaft

realslimshady

realslimshady

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No doubt this question has been asked many times-I have just bought a new boat, an Albin 25 with a single diesel engine on a shaft drive. I've only ever driven boats with outboards or outdrives before, where obviously one can direct the thrust when manoeuvring and push the stern of the boat as required, so I'm a little concerned about 'close in' handling-getting on and off the pontoon, especially if there's any side wind.
So,any advice gratefully received (and I intend to find some open water to practise in!)
 
realslimshady said:
No doubt this question has been asked many times-I have just bought a new boat, an Albin 25 with a single diesel engine on a shaft drive. I've only ever driven boats with outboards or outdrives before, where obviously one can direct the thrust when manoeuvring and push the stern of the boat as required, so I'm a little concerned about 'close in' handling-getting on and off the pontoon, especially if there's any side wind.
So,any advice gratefully received (and I intend to find some open water to practise in!)
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Driving a single on a shaft works on two principles, the first is that if you can control the stern you can control the boat.
The second is that when you steer a boat the stern moves first.
So to move the stern to the right, turn the wheel all the way over to the left. Then give the throttle a quick burst, enough to kick the stern out to the right but not enough to have forward motion. To move the stern to the left turn the wheel all the way to the right. It involves a lot of wheel spinning. It’s worth doing a lot of practice as not all boats respond as well as others and it’s possible that it won’t respond equally left and right but it’s a skill easily gained and very useful.
Failing that get a thruster:)
 
Agree with above. Once I was used to a shaft, I would never go back to a single stern drive.

Add a bowthruster and there won’t be a manoeuvre you can’t handle.
 
In addition to above, find out if you have a right or left handed prop. A right handed prop will make the stern of the boat move to port when in reverse gear. You can make use of that movement (propwalk) when coming alongside a pier.
 
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Good advice posted earlier
My first single shaft confused me terribly
My berth was port side to
My boat went to starboard in reverse due to the prop wash
Therefore as you can imagine 'walking' me away from the pontoon
Took me an age to figure out what F to do!
Practiced and practiced outside the Marina
Reversing and going forward up to mooring bouys and 'outside' pontoons and other boats. Piers and jetties and any floating thing I would not damage if and when I cocked it up, which were numerous times
Figured it out this way
I would 'aim' the boat at an angle and speed that I was happy with. Pop Her into reverse towards my pontoon berth
She would make some way in reverse initially and try to walk away from the 'target'
With the wheel still hard to starboard I apply a short'kick' ahead which brought the bow to starboard and the stern to Port
Aligning the boat in the manner needed to berth to Port
Then apply some more 'sternway' which again shoved the blunt end away from the pontoon but then the kick ahead again on the same 'lock' would adjust the vessel to the correct attitude. So I kinda left the Helm alone and nugded my little vessel into the desired position just using the single throttle
Touch of forward to adjust and a little engagement of astern to gently guide into the berth.
Yes it is awkward and confusing at first but it is so rewarding when you master it. Sorry 'master it' is a kinda lie-- do we ever 'master' boat parking!!?
Writing and 'talking' about Marina berthing is hard too
I hope I have not totally confused you realshlimshady!
 
not confused-looking forward to the challenge! according to the manual, going astern should pull the stern to starboard, same as yours Kawasaki-so I'll be following all advice-and will let you know how I get on. Also will need to work out a 'three point turn'...
 
As a tip, if you take the way off her before making a full turn, in other words stop her by going astern, and then apply full helm, you could find that you may be able to get her to turn 'in her own length' may save you a three point turn. This can also be true for coming alongside etc...lest you carry too much way, which, in the wrong scenario, could spell disaster. On the other hand if can get sufficient way going astern, she may be steerable. This will depend on the type of rudder fitted to the boat. As you rightly say, go and practice and you will find out what she is capable of
 
realslimshady said:
n Also will need to work out a 'three point turn'...
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Ahh! 'the three point turn'!
She walks to starboard
Job sorted, leave the wheel to port, kick ahead-- hey presto , she turns to port ---Magic
Kick astern she we go to starboard any way!! The bloody things
Kick ahead, port she goes
De Blah de blah, carry on in that fashion
Yep, that stuffs you up with only doing the 'three point' or lets call it 'turning in Her own length' really 'anti clockwise' but hey who cares?
Turning in your own circle clockwise with a prop that wants to send your boat to starboard in reverse. I won't even begin to try and explain that in 'writing'. My head will be muddled and your brain addled by the time I could explain that Trigerry Pokerry!!
The thing is with single shafts. You are mostly governed by their idiosyncrasies anyway. Depending on the vessel(length. beam, prop pitch etc ) some are more vicious astern than others. Some will answer to the helm astern more quickly than others. In my experience it takes about at least three boat lenghts of astern way before the rudder counteracts the prop wash. Then the buggers then react quite quickly. It's a bugger innit!
:D:D;)
Enjoy!
 
Medway Mudlark said:
As a tip, if you take the way off her before making a full turn, in other words stop her by going astern, and then apply full helm, you could find that you may be able to get her to turn 'in her own length' may save you a three point turn. This can also be true for coming alongside etc...lest you carry too much way, which, in the wrong scenario, could spell disaster. On the other hand if can get sufficient way going astern, she may be steerable. This will depend on the type of rudder fitted to the boat. As you rightly say, go and practice and you will find out what she is capable of
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wise words Mr Larkin in the Mud!
 
You could cut out the "trial and error" side of learning and take some lessons with Kawasaki, you will become an expert at maneuvers and he throws in the pirate training for free!! lol.:eek::D:encouragement:
 
MrB said:
You could cut out the "trial and error" side of learning and take some lessons with Kawasaki, you will become an expert at maneuvers and he throws in the pirate training for free!! lol.:eek::D:encouragement:
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OWN BOAT TUITION!!!! Please. I dont fancy an Albin 25 pontoon bashing my pontoon with Captain Ahab as master. It's barely tolerable when the pirate scourge do it in a RIB while plundering my supplies. To The OP though, dont fret it too much. It's easy. Just watch how this helmsman does it and invest in one of these :encouragement:

 
Having enjoyed a Birchwood 25 and Broom 30, I agree with the previous respondents comments, which by and large all offer the same advice.

The Birchwood was trickier as it didn't steer at all in reverse as the prop was in a tunnel, so had to be reversed like a 'Flag' where the bow would have to be pulled along by the stern using the 'forward kick' principle to decide the direction of travel, while the Broom would steer quite well with a knot or two speed.

Never had any issues once mastered, although a stiff wind would possibly only offer one chance to moor successfully without deploying fenders!!

Never had a bow thruster...never missed one, far more satisfying to learn how to do it properly (awaits bow thruster fans abuse)

A short kick forwards on full rudder never made a reversing boat actually go forwards, so the visual effect was quite smooth and seamless by the way! Trick was to get the boat going astern at a fair lick, then correct it for a second before taking advantage of your new 'correct' course. Most satisfying.... :encouragement:
 
realslimshady said:
not confused-looking forward to the challenge! according to the manual, going astern should pull the stern to starboard, same as yours Kawasaki-so I'll be following all advice-and will let you know how I get on. Also will need to work out a 'three point turn'...
Click to expand...

Choose a starboard pontoon berth. I have a port side berth because I have a right handed prop and it helps a lot as I always reverse into it
 
BruceK said:
OWN BOAT TUITION!!!! Please. I dont fancy an Albin 25 pontoon bashing my pontoon with Captain Ahab as master. It's barely tolerable when the pirate scourge do it in a RIB while plundering my supplies. To The OP though, dont fret it too much. It's easy. Just watch how this helmsman does it and invest in one of these :encouragement:

Click to expand...
That made me laugh;)
 
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