How to move a boat sideways

petem

petem

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IIRC Bluetooth was asking about a stern thruster on his T40 earlier in the year and a few of us commented that they're not necessary as sterndrive boats fitted with bow thrusters can easily be made to move sideways (and other directions).

Anyhow, this latest video from Mendez / MBY / Bates illustrates this perfectly (7:35 onwards)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XxED9N_JEg

Learning how to move sideways was a bit of a game changer for me. I use this technique to get the boat aligned for reversing into my berth, getting on and off the fuel pontoon and if I happen to get too close to neighbouring boats in a fairway.

We were lucky enough to have one of Jon's guys teach us this technique in the summer when we did our ownboat ICC / pontoon bashing. But anyone could teach themselves this technique with a bit of space and a quay or similar to play with.

It's well worth looking at the other videos in this series too.

Pete
 
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Jonmendez said:
Cheers Pete, it was probably the hardest to make sense of for video as the movements are quite subtle!
Click to expand...

You're welcome. What helps is the drone overhead. You can see the direction you have the drives pointing and the brief bit of ahead power that you apply to the (outside) engine to get the stern moving sideways. Plus of course the separate bow thruster burst you use for the bows.
 
petem said:
IIRC Bluetooth was asking about a stern thruster on his T40 earlier in the year and a few of us commented that they're not necessary as sterndrive boats fitted with bow thrusters can easily be made to move sideways (and other directions).

Anyhow, this latest video from Mendez / MBY / Bates illustrates this perfectly (7:35 onwards)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XxED9N_JEg

Learning how to move sideways was a bit of a game changer for me. I use this technique to get the boat aligned for reversing into my berth, getting on and off the fuel pontoon and if I happen to get too close to neighbouring boats in a fairway.

We were lucky enough to have one of Jon's guys teach us this technique in the summer when we did our ownboat ICC / pontoon bashing. But anyone could teach themselves this technique with a bit of space and a quay or similar to play with.

It's well worth looking at the other videos in this series too.

Pete
Click to expand...

Hi,

(coment you video) Bringing a rat on the wheel is just futile, twins move just fine as you want the wheel centered only with gears.

Here's a short and simple video where an easy memory rule moves the Twins engine to the boat sideways or otherwise. I used this earlier in my old boat twins and it worked fine, sometimes with a tougher wind to assist with Bow truster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2TNpfvn6QA

NBs
 
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NBs said:
(coment you video) Bringing a rat on the wheel is just futile, twins move just fine as you want the wheel centered only with gears.
Click to expand...
Actually the OP video boat is outdrive powered, and while by and large what you are saying is still true, it does make a difference.
Of course it also depends on the specific boat, but generally speaking twin engine boats on outdrives aren't as maneuverable as those on shafts.
With some of them, using the wheel for directional thrust is almost essential.
 
Jon is one of those experts that I have always got time for.
He may not remember but he gave me considerable confidence when I first started driving larger motorboats.
Most of my experience before that was in RIBS - as a local rescue coxswain in our sailing club (20 years of valuable experience).

But back to the point - moving a boat sideways - this time on shafts.
I would like to add a technique that was shown to me by the owner of Pearl Yachts.
I believe that he has loads of experience as a professional Med skipper.
The trick he showed me was simple - split the throttles and "tickle" the bow thruster.
Actually, that doesn't completely work for me - I "tickle" both.
That means, I split the throttles for about 2 to 3 seconds and then correct with the bow thruster.

And if all fails play the "get out of jail free card" - the stern thruster!!!

I've said a number of times that we don't use our boats enough to be real experts at manouvering.
It is all about practice practice practice.
 
NBs said:
(coment you video) Bringing a rat on the wheel is just futile, twins move just fine as you want the wheel centered only with gears.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but in the case of outdrive boats, to effectively move the boat sideways (with minimal forward or aft movement), it is absolutely essential (and elementary when you think about it) to point the drive in the direction that you want to move the stern take and apply forward or astern power to the outer engine to drive it.
 
MapisM said:
Actually the OP video boat is outdrive powered, and while by and large what you are saying is still true, it does make a difference.
Of course it also depends on the specific boat, but generally speaking twin engine boats on outdrives aren't as maneuverable as those on shafts.
With some of them, using the wheel for directional thrust is almost essential.
Click to expand...

I have no experience of shafts but it's interesting to note from the video that when using the joystick on this outdrive boat, the boat is moving almost parallel to the pontoon with virtually no forward or aft movement (so pretty much perfectly sideways). Of course a human could replicate this but as Jon points out, the input required to the wheel and particularly engine / gearbox is considerable. Therefore his lock to lock with (single) forward and aft throttle technique, accepting that this is a little forward and aft movement, works very well.
 
Yes with big pitched props a quick “ tickle “ and the stern jolts 1/2 M to the side .
I find it use full sometimes lining up to berth and getting off fuel pontoons .

Vectoring thrust is a handy feature in theory with out drives ( had one for 9 Y ) but tbo hardly used it .

As NB infered in the Med the really cool guys don,t touch the wheel - irrespective of what they are helming - you always looks a bit silly imho - “ rat wheeling like mad “ on a busy fuel pontoon in the Med ,while the other guys just cruise in and bring the boat to a halt 10 cm parallel to the dock .

Also JM touched up the clanking sound of the G box .
Sometimes with a twin big OB rib ( same effect as a twin sterndrive ) as well as hear the significant clank you can see the jolt of the one in R as it tries to kick up - and the revving up .

Not in absolute terms NOT convinced moving it sideways is a common usefull tool anyhow .
In that vid there seemed enough room for a none sideways in / out any how .

It’s really for rare occasions and folks who are new ish / inexperienced imho should master the dead ahead - no wheel technique with Outdrives 1st—- if you start off “ rat wheeling “ you will never get it !

Anyhow soon be the start of another season -not long now

Hark the sound if fibreglass and concrete :cool::cool::cool:
 
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petem said:
Sorry, but in the case of outdrive boats, to effectively move the boat sideways (with minimal forward or aft movement), it is absolutely essential (and elementary when you think about it) to point the drive in the direction that you want to move the stern take and apply forward or astern power to the outer engine to drive it.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Yes, I understood that the stendrives and my answer and 10 years of experience with the Duoprop stendives and 38 feet flybridge obey the skipper as a coefficient. At a time when the boat was new I did like your video and I thought boat handling was more difficult to spin the wheel and the bow moves blindfold vs horse straight and gears.

Pleace, when you next have the opportunity, try and compare which style to suit you when I quit roulette my run started running doging boat like pro.
NBS
 
NBs said:
Hi,

Yes, I understood that the stendrives and my answer and 10 years of experience with the Duoprop stendives and 38 feet flybridge obey the skipper as a coefficient. At a time when the boat was new I did like your video and I thought boat handling was more difficult to spin the wheel and the bow moves blindfold vs horse straight and gears.

Pleace, when you next have the opportunity, try and compare which style to suit you when I quit roulette my run started running doging boat like pro.
NBS
Click to expand...

Must be boat specific because like you I started out wheel centred thumb technique after disastrous meanderings trying to use both. Maybe this is taught because it can be counter intuitive to the beginner. However as my proficiency increases, and by no means a master yet, I do find that on occasion when warranted a judicious turn of the wheel without going OTT just helps tighten things up nicely.
 
BruceK said:
Must be boat specific because like you I started out wheel centred thumb technique after disastrous meanderings trying to use both. Maybe this is taught because it can be counter intuitive to the beginner. However as my proficiency increases, and by no means a master yet, I do find that on occasion when warranted a judicious turn of the wheel without going OTT just helps tighten things up nicely.
Click to expand...
g

I agree, you need to take into account what works for your boat.
One thing I would add is, take your time to see what has happened when you apply a change before making the next.
Once some astern propulsion has been put in look at the water and at any shore transits to see that you are moving astern.
Use as little power as necessary for each manoeuvre, thus preventing, for example, the boat lurching forward necessitating a big astern input etc, etc.
Practice on your own boat as others will handle differently. I must admit to not being a big fan of big rudder movements back and forth as in video, but maybe that boat needs it.
Don't forget the natural elements of wind and tide can be used to your advantage.
 
Thread title is rubbish...:encouragement:

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Should be. "How to move a boat sideways WHEN YOU WANT TO"

They all go sideways when you don't.:D:D

Being serious. Small, unhurried movements are very apparent when you see an expert like JM doing it. Or rather, the absence of big, rushed movements.

In gear. Out of gear.

Foot on the ball. Then play it.
 
MapisM said:
Actually the OP video boat is outdrive powered, and while by and large what you are saying is still true, it does make a difference.
Of course it also depends on the specific boat, but generally speaking twin engine boats on outdrives aren't as maneuverable as those on shafts.
With some of them, using the wheel for directional thrust is almost essential.
Click to expand...

Noooooo! Maybe it does depend on the boat but there is no way my twin shaft driven boat will go sideways unless there is no wind. Nudging starboard forward alternating with port in reverse with the wheel centered is not enough to bring the stern to starboard and get in to our alongside berth.

It was possible with my old twin engined stern drive boat as vectored thrusts give you greater control over the movement of your boat, especially onto the wind.

I'm always happy when we have an ebb or flood and we can gently ferry glide in. If not we just motor in at the shallowest angle we can and SWMBO lassoes the pontoon cleat from the bow (or the stern pontoon cleat from the cockpit if we are reversing - much preferred) and we bring the stern in with the outside engine.
 
East Cardinal said:
Practice on your own boat as others will handle differently. I must admit to not being a big fan of big rudder movements back and forth as in video, but maybe that boat needs it.
Click to expand...

The boat in the video has stern drives so will not 'paddle wheel' as a shaft drive boat would. The only way to make the stern move (crab) sideways is to point the drives in the direction that you want the stern to go.

As for 'the pros don't use stern drives or any helm', I couldn't give a toss! The only thing that matters is to me is that I manoeuvre my boat safely and enjoy myself!
 
P You are wrong there as twin engined sterndrive boats with single props do have the paddle wheel effect,
Its the duo-props that don't paddlewheel.
It is more effective on shaft drive boats though as the props are further forward that provided they are not either side of a large keel!
 
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Well it was a top video anyway, and sterling advice from Jon.

Pete, you're spot on with stern drive handling on twin outdrives and needing helm.

Had the pleasure of a days tuition yesterday with Mendez Marine and was lucky enough to have the man himself doing the tuition. Jon was superb, and has now given me the confidence to helm my newly acquired T40! He even had my wife taking the boat up the marina and turning it around, which is something I never thought she would do!

I had the misfortune of being given poor advice when my T40 was delivered by being told to use central helm and the sticks which is why I was not confident with what I was doing. It was yesterdays tuition with Jon that showed me just how manoeuvrable my boat is with my stern thrusting outdrives. Absolutely brilliant stuff and 10/10 to Jon and Mendez Marine.
 
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