Rabbis day skipper skills conversion for power

[PhillM]

Today I helped my friend and pontoon neighbour, move her brothers Falcon 23 from OV to Hamble. This was the first time I have ever been on a mono. Much fun! My role was navigation and proving the confidence of knowing where we were going (I'd just spend a few hours doing the reverse journey in my mab stick and rag craft.

I'm sure (hope) we shall be doing other trips around the solent.

When we hit some decent sized waves I suggested slowing down. That seemed to work and make the boat more controllable. Boat handling in the marina seemed similar to what we raggies do - but without a keel to give stability. Small bursts of power the give direction without building too much speed, seemed the order of the day.

So my question is, what does a raggie need to know to handle a single screw mono, that they don't teach in raggie school?

Ps, I love/hate the autocorrect of raggie in the title!

 

[Bouba]

Today I helped my friend and pontoon neighbour, move her brothers Falcon 23 from OV to Hamble. This was the first time I have ever been on a mono. Much fun! My role was navigation and proving the confidence of knowing where we were going (I'd just spend a few hours doing the reverse journey in my mab stick and rag craft.

I'm sure (hope) we shall be doing other trips around the solent.

When we hit some decent sized waves I suggested slowing down. That seemed to work and make the boat more controllable. Boat handling in the marina seemed similar to what we raggies do - but without a keel to give stability. Small bursts of power the give direction without building too much speed, seemed the order of the day.

So my question is, what does a raggie need to know to handle a single screw mono, that they don't teach in raggie school?

Ps, I love/hate the autocorrect of raggie in the title!

The first question is what type of single screw, if it's on a shaft then the next question is does it have thrusters, bow and stern. If not then you must know how to prop walk to get the stern to move in the direction you want it to go.
If it's transom power, outboard or stern drive, then you need to see how she handles at slow marina speed forward and back. Every boat is different especially if the wind is blowing. On open water all motor boats handle well at speed.

 

[PhillM]

The first question is what type of single screw, if it's on a shaft then the next question is does it have thrusters, bow and stern. If not then you must know how to prop walk to get the stern to move in the direction you want it to go.
If it's transom power, outboard or stern drive, then you need to see how she handles at slow marina speed forward and back. Every boat is different especially if the wind is blowing. On open water all motor boats handle well at speed.

I think that she has an inboard petrol engine with a single leg, with one propellor. I do not think there are any thrusters. In the marina, she seems pretty responsive to short burst of power, just enough to gain directioal stability, without enduring forward movement.

 

[Bouba]

Then you're sorted, if you can handle her in a marina then you have mastered the art of motor boating. Just need to learn how to dock side on to a pontoon and of course how to leave the pontoon. As I'm sure you know come towards the pontoon at about a 30 to 60 degree angle (depending on wind etc) then put her in neutral spin the wheel full lock towards the pontoon and give a short burst of reverse and you will come gently along side. To leave turn the wheel full lock away from the pontoon and reverse out. There is no more. On open water it's like driving a car.
Remember the old adage, at slow speed a motor boat will under steer and at speed oversteer.