Long Keeler going astern

[TonyBuckley]

There is this external mounted thruster http://www.yachtthruster.com/advantages which claims to have less than 0.05% loss in power, the same as a folding propellor according to their tests. Of course being external it has aesthetic as well as potential failure from collision risks. Its worth a consideration if you are going down this road.

Yeh, not sure I like the idea of something that is basically a hook bolted through the hull in that position. And pricing is not clear but did see one post that suggested $6k USD - if it were £1k (ish) I would be so tempted! Impressive videos.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

The galvanised bucket statement was made to deter anyone from trying a plastic one, which could well be too weak. I imagine that my rubber one with the steel handle would work well, although your sinking comment is well made. I emphasise that I have never tried the method myself but I have seen others use it with considerable success. Only over the bow though, never seen it attempted over the side.

As you suggested Vyv, I have tried the bucket from the bow in astern and it works very well.

As mentioned, there are other things you can do with a bucket.

John Goode sailing guru, who used to write in PBO , suggested using one for propulsion after losing the engine and using in tight spaces, say, in a marina. You stand in the bow and throw it forward and pull yourself along. It does actually work. When I used the bucket near the stern of the boat under power there is always the worry of getting things round the prop.

It is for this reason that I would suggested Vyv's rubber bucket and metal handle for starters. My own experiments have shown that if you get the 'release point' wrong you could throw it towards or into a fellow sailor's boat. Or get caught in rigging and it bites you back.

One shudders at the potential of getting a galvanised bucket wrong. Using a bucket on the spinnaker pole as a means of steering was another use I read somewhere.

Generally, I am finding it easier just to back into the berth . Weather permitting. The forwards and backwards shuffling gets you there in the end plus an extendible boat-hook. It also seems easier to motor out again forwards if things start to go wrong.

You do have less privacy in the berth but you get to know more people.

It's a nice feeling knowing that it will easy going out.

 

[Nina Lucia]

Thanks,
I had an opportunity to meet the guy that use to own Nortshore ( Vancouver builder in Chichester) and he said that he was reversing Vancouver 27 in figure of 8 between piles to show to new owners that is possible to reverse any directions with some practice. Trouble is, we never spend enough time practicing that...
Always in rush to cast off and go forward, than when we get some difficult berth in marina............

Lovely boat.

I think I get more prop wash off the rudder than yourself .

Just some feedback. I tried trailing a builder's bucket from the port aft side, going astern, in the hope of springing the bow to starboard.

Result. The bucket filled with water nicely but quickly made it's way to the boat's waterline near the bow with no noticeable benefit.

There was some benefit in chucking the bucket as far as I could and then man hauling the line . I ended up getting very wet in the cockpit.