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timbad

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Hi to all, new to this forum stuff still finding my way around this site. Mad about boating started on the Thames moved to the coast 3 years ago with a Regal 242, then Targa 30 late last year moved up to a Princess V42, still in the learning process of a 42 footer.

Have found now need to get used to using engines & steering to move around in close spaces, anybody got any simple rules when using engines/legs & steering ??

Tim
 

SteveE

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Hi Tim,

Welcome to the forum, I found when I 1st had outdrives the easiest way to manouver the boat was wheel amid ships and just use each engine. That served me well and now on shafts it is even better.

Playing arround in the channel in Port Solent (where I could not hit anything) helped me understand the movment of the boat and how each engine turned the boat both on forward and reverse throttle.

Hope this helps.

Steve
 

smileygirl

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Hi Tim

I agree with Steve, wheel in the middle and just the throttles back and forth. The trick is to tack it all real slow - avoid the urge to rush things., watch how the wind blows and all will be well.

cheers
Kevin
 

crewejd

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Using outdrives myself, I think the best advice I had, was to set the wheel the way you want to go, then use the opposite engine to go there. There is a useful exception to this, in that to lift off a pontoon, helming away from the pontoon, and engaging reverse on the engine furthest from the pontoon, lifts me off nicely! Beware the wind, and temptations of bowthrusters my friend. Both can let you down at the wrong time and get you in a right old pickle!
Best of luck with your flash new boat!
 

timbad

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Hi Moley,

Had a play in Portsmouth harbour this morning, your advice served well now feel a lot happier & straight in my mind!! No stopping us now (apart from force 8s & spring tides!)
Thanks

Tim
 

hlb

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I've seen some pretty bad boat handling in my time, most think it's like driving a car, but then keep looking for the hand brake! Watchen one guy in Falmouth use about fifty yards of pontoon as a runway to get off it. With his daughter, or maybe floozy, trying to fender off, nearly loosing her arms.

Best things I find about a boat rather than car, is first it has a rounded pointy bit. Tuther thing is, it slides sideways easy. But the best is, you can have fenders on a boat but not on a car for some reason. Most seem to liken fenders to rubbing strips on cars, or bumpers, and ropes like handbrakes. But they should be used also proactively. How many times do you see a boat trying to get out of a berth forwards and stuffing it's vulnerable back corner or bathing platform into the pontoon or worse still. My boat!!

Big round fender on the bow side. Forwads on outer, reverse on inner and the boat comes out sideways, resting on the big fender. Reverse away.
 
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