prop walk

[Faster]

I'm with you there, Dad.... nothing like coming into the dock at an angle and reversing to a stop and pulling the boat around to lie perfectly parallel to the slip and stepping (not jumping) off to secure the lines. Of course that works best with a port tie (for us) but you can certainly make good use of the phenomenon.
However I think a prerequisite for this sentiment is having a boat that behaves well in reverse - and certainly not all boats do!

[sailingdog]

Whether you want prop walk on your boat has a lot to do with the specific boat. Many boats are all but unmanueverable in reverse due to prop/keel/propwalk issues. With some boats, the prop walk is very useful, and can contribute to the ability to safely maneuver in tight quarters. On other boats, it just contributes to making the boat a menace in tight quarters.

[imiloa1]

Here's a resource that you might like to take a look at regarding prop walk and maneuvering in tight quarters. If you ever get a chance to see Captain Jack in person at an area boat show by all means do so - he does some great presentations and you will learn something.

http://www.quantumsails.com/pdf/maneuvering.pdf

[sailingdog]

Thanks for the link...do you think you could use a bigger font for it though, I am having trouble reading it.

[Cruisingdad]

Nice link. I do like that part about, "Always dock into the wind..."

Don't know about you guys, but the wind is never blowing out of my slip!!! The tide is always coming in with the wind off the beam!! My suggestion (that actually works, but a little mean) is call the docmaster and tell him you need help getting in. You are a new boater. Does not work as well after the first few times, then you have to come up with:

1) My steerage is out.
2) My throttle is stuck in full speed.

or, if the wind is really bad and the tide is horrible...

3) MY WIFE IS DRIVING!!

The final suggestion will get most of the marina hopping!!

PS I really got in trouble for that one!! Don't you hate it when the wife is staring over your sholder?

[pigslo]

The only time I have trouble is when 5 people show up to help you and all want to yell commands from the dock when all I really need is to have one person hand me one line.

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by pigslo

The only time I have trouble is when 5 people show up to help you and all want to yell commands from the dock when all I really need is to have one person hand me one line.

Ain't that the truth...

[seabreeze_97]

The ironic thing to me, is that we had the same problem with our 17ft bassboat when I was a kid. Opposite parameters. Small boat, biiiiiiiigg engine. You'd think you could sling that thing anywhere just with the throttle, but reverse to starboard? Forget it, unless one used the same technique mentioned here. Hard over with power, it'd back a straight line. Low-speed forward directional control wasn't too hot either, so we had to use the forward-neutral power pulses with steering to handle that.....guess that was considered trolling motor territory. Really it was a comp. for the early fast bassboats. It was knife-edged sharp at speed, but fairly wallowed at idle. Always a bit of a heart-pounder landing on a non-drive-on trailer with river current, soggy steering, maybe some wind (didn't take much with that lightweight), always a crowd.

[seabreeze_97]

Waitaminit! imiloa1? Captain Jack......Klang? Wasn't Capt. Klang a Klingon?!?!?

[astraeus]

Originally Posted by pigslo

The only time I have trouble is when 5 people show up to help you and all want to yell commands from the dock when all I really need is to have one person hand me one line.

I've always wondered if they show up to help, or to see a show