Sideways movement without bow thruster - close quarter handling

BruceK

BruceK

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I've been experimenting with the technique for going sideways without a bow thruster using the following method.
example
To go to port - turn steering 45 deg starboard with starboard leg in fwd and port leg in reverse

result - no movement whatsoever even with increased power. The boat just locks in. When on legs as opposed to shafts can this technique be used and if so any ideas on where I may be going wrong?
 
Is there any other technique that would work with legs to get a similar result? Calm waters, no wind etc granted.
 
BruceK said:
I've been experimenting with the technique for going sideways without a bow thruster using the following method.
example
To go to port - turn steering 45 deg starboard with starboard leg in fwd and port leg in reverse

result - no movement whatsoever even with increased power. The boat just locks in. When on legs as opposed to shafts can this technique be used and if so any ideas on where I may be going wrong?
Click to expand...

I dunno what you're doing wrong, I just push my joystick either way :)
 
With legs:

To go into an along side berth,
Wheel hard to the pontoon
Leg closest to the pontoon into tick over reverse
Outboard leg remain in neutral

This will cause the stern of the boat to move sideways with minimal aft movement

Once you have started to move wheel hard to the opposit lock (away from pontoon) and nudge other drive into gear then out in short bursts to counteract the rear ward movement.

This will drop the stern into the pontoon. Get a line on and then Spring the bow on by centra long the steering and applying gentle power to the offside leg in forwards.

You can't get a stern drive boat to go exactly dude wise without a bow thruster - the bow will always wander. This technique will get you into a tight space and the box us then controlled with Spring lines
 
Motor against a spring line tied off to a centre cleat. Moves my deep keel pilot cutter sideways very nicely (no bow thruster, single prop/rudder etc).

Very useful maneuver for parking along side is a space which is only a couple of feet longer than the boat. And impresses the onlookers.
 
Well Bruce if you had started off with canoes you would know how to ferry glide! very easy with the current in the river.:encouragement:
 
I don't have a problem in the river. I have a problem in the marina ghetto. I wouldn't venture in at all but their fuel is cheaper than the harbour's
 
michaelchapman said:
Motor against a spring line tied off to a centre cleat. Moves my deep keel pilot cutter sideways very nicely (no bow thruster, single prop/rudder etc).

Very useful maneuver for parking along side is a space which is only a couple of feet longer than the boat. And impresses the onlookers.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I can see that working well if I have pontoon assistance :encouragement:
 
BruceK said:
Thank you. I can see that working well if I have pontoon assistance :encouragement:
Click to expand...

You can also make it work if you don't have shore help.

What I have done when trying to park along side with a gale force wind blowing from off the dock, is to back up to the bollard, (my boat will back straight in the wind if the wind is strong enough), drop a loop over the bollard, then let the wind blow me off again. Then motor against the line, steering to bring the boat parallel to the dock. A quick spurt of reverse part way through to shorten the line (without having to winch it, or any thing else which is hard work).

I can precision park in this way with 34 tons, 67 feet length over spars and a big long keel to stop me going side ways!
 
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