NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Wind & Current Navigation
From: Joe Kliment
Date: 2003 Apr 17, 15:29 -0400
From: Joe Kliment
Date: 2003 Apr 17, 15:29 -0400
Dan, As an ASA instructor I teach the "standing turn" method of maneuvering a boat and also teach students to back into a slip. The standing turn takes advantage of prop walk along with hard over rudder to facilitate turning the boat in a tight circle which is beneficial in confined areas. For a vessel with a right handed prop, all turns are clockwise to take advantage of port prop walk in reverse. To make a turn the helmsman executes right rudder and applies forward power to start turn. If there is wind pass the bow of the boat thru the wind then reverse and apply power keeping the rudder right. Now prop walk takes over pulling the port quarter over and keeping the turn going. To keep turn tight, alternate between forward and reverse always keeping the rudder over. The standing turn lends itself nicely to backing into a slip. Depending on wind and current, the helmsman slows to a position at right angles to the slip, applies right rudder and comes to a complete stop generally facing away from the slip. By alternating forward and reverse and holding right rudder, the boat is backed into the slip. With heavy winds or current this method lends itself nicely to warping off the pilings if necessary. I have used the standing turn in all kinds of wind and current conditions and find more positive control especially in confined areas. I agree with the other comments that current is the predominant factor affecting a boat's maneuvering ability. Capt Joe Kliment Middletown, De. W3HZM