Twin sterndrive Close quarters technique

The problem is not going forward but going astern. I had a S37 once which wanted to go its own way going astern whatever I did with the wheel and throttles and the thruster was effing useless because it was too small. Eventually perfected a technique of going astern but using short bursts of forward thrust/steering on one or other engine to correct any unwanted drift. But really you have to find an empty part of the marina to practice with her and see how she behaves. The good thing about Med mooring is that you only have to get the back end between the 2 adjacent boats and the rest is easy
 
Very true. By clicking in and out of gear alternate forward/astern you can virtually 'walk' a shaft drive boat sideways. Worked fine on our semi-displacement boat with the occaisional use of the other engine. Never touch the wheel.
 
Having gone from shafts to outdrives, use steer and gear,
Fine using engines only ,with helm neutral, on shafts, but ignore HLB when he says not to use helm on outdrives, as I pressume you have duoprops, there is no prop kick to help the turn, as there is with shafts.
As you mentioned turn wheel then put outside engine only into then out of gear, don't need any rev's going forward, although with duoprops may need a little when in reverse. or to hold it in gear a little longer.
Would only use the bow thruster if absolutely neccessary rather than as an aid to close quarter manouvering, as most electric bow thrusters will trip out after couple mins continuous operation
 
Re: Twin stern drive Close quarters technique

NO, your safe , I agree with what you said, LOL

on the out drive boat the legs are close together and normally have due props, so there is little prop wash on one engine only, the turn is caused by the position, off centre of the drive, so to make a turn they really need some help from the helm. there pivot point is further forward than the shaft drive so have a bit more stern swing, this is what catches peeps out, in reverse this moves further back so you have more of a bow swing.

the out side engine on a turn will give a more powerful turn than using the inside engine if the helm is used.
when ever you do a turn using helm over and outside engine forward you will get a forward creeping turn ie not on the spot, to help this you can use the inside engine in reverse, but keep the revs down, this will make the boat almost turn in its own length.
If you have started the boat on a turn and she is swinging past the point you want her to, use the engine you used to make the turn, in the opposite direction, ie if froward use , use that engine in reverse to stop the swing, but be careful this can make her start to move sideways a bit, so ahead on both will stop this.

I hope this makes sense. and if you do not agree, that is your prerogative, this is just what I have found to happen on most of the boats I have been on.

but hay we are all different. LOL /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Wheel, wheel, whats that!! Once went from Stourport up the Severn to Swansea with broken wheel. Hardly ever used it since. Either auto or engines from the marina door.

Nearly always have to back out of marina with one engine forwards to counteract wind and keep straight, just a case of increasing, decreasing revs on one ort uther. I'd go bloody daft if steering to contend with as well. Funnily tho. With the barge, I dont mind using it's one engine and wheel. Having said that, it takes about an hour and a half to get the barge to do what MF does in about ten seconds!!
 
Mike got to agree with your theory a little , however from owning 2 single leg boats / 1 dual leg with 290 dp’s and now shaft driven 43 foot ish boat tall and wide which catches the smallest breeze, I used her without thrusters happily for most of this year, but copping with 4 locks each time you need to go on a short trip is a real bind, when you are crammed into locks between 18 other boats of all sizes, this is not always fun, when its wet and windy this sometimes got the better of the crew and me on some occasions.
I then decided to fit bow and stern thrusters, did this myself apart from the B/T laminating, total cost around £3500, it was worth every penny no swearing from Swimbo any more, berths that were not available to me before are now,
while I am here I would like to take some worries away from forumites who were considering thrusters but maybe put off now
1/ modern Bow Stern thrusters have a pause between directional switching modes to protect the motors, and cannot be switched immediately from one direction to the other until the motor has completely stopped .
2/ if you are using the thrusters for more than ½ a min continuously you are should not be boating
3/ if the supply conductor to the BT is getting hot, then the joker who connected this should be made to walk the plank, he/she has connected the thrusters up with string and not cable with sufficient current carrying capacity, I would be worried about the rest of the condition of the boats wiring,
 
1/ Can only fit in gaps longer than boat (obvious) 6inch back and front will do. Bt wont help. It's going back and forth thats the problem and only engines will stop that.

2/ Dont think I'd get 30 seconds all year. OK wiring might be crap!!

3/ How the hell did Nelson go on!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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