Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

90
Part 2: The Basics of Operation
Boat Bytes
Every docking situation can be different, but in general it’s best to work into the
wind when possible—that gives you a natural brake if things don’t line up just
right. Going with a strong wind can make the job twice as difficult because the
boat will move toward the dock—and other boats—even when you don’t do
anything.
Practice, Practice, Practice
It’s best to learn the basics in a quiet backwater where forces of wind and tide are minimal.
Go slowly at first as you study what happens when you apply a short burst of power
in forward, and then reverse.
As you’ll notice, a single-engined boat does not simply go straight ahead or straight back
in this situation. The torque of the prop makes it walk sideways a little, the stern kicking
slightly right (with right-hand or clockwise rotation, as most motors have) and the bow
left when you go ahead. It’s exactly the opposite when you put it in reverse.
You can use this tendency in your favor. If you need to ease the bow left, giving a quick
burst of forward without turning the wheel will often be all that’s needed. If you need to
make the bow go right, a burst of reverse may accomplish it—again, without turning the
wheel at all. (This is particularly true on large props with cupped blades, which tend to
“paddlewheel” sideways more than other prop designs.)
However, if you want to back up straight with a single-engine rig, the paddlewheel effect
can be a problem, particularly in reverse where the rudder doesn’t help much. You may
have to give lots of starboard rudder, or in outboards and stern drives, turn the lower unit
a bit to starboard, to make the boat back straight.
Avoiding Slip-Ups
Twin-engine steering around the docks is usually accomplished with the wheel straight
ahead—if you want to go ahead left, you put the starboard motor into gear for a few seconds,
and right, the port motor. It’s much more effective than using the wheel or rudder.
With one engine, it’s more difficult—you have to turn the wheel and be quick with the
gear shifting. Again, be aware that the prop can walk your stern sideways a little if you use
short bursts in either forward or reverse.
When going into a slip you should have one crewperson on the bow and one at the stern.
If you only have one other person aboard, put him on the stern to start. As you back in,
the crewperson should pick up one of the bow lines off the post (a boathook helps!) and
walk forward.