With the orientation of my slip, the prevailing wind during the summer is usually about 45 degrees off the starboard bow. When I back out of the slip, I need to swing the stern to port and the bow to starboard which is opposite to the way the wind is pushing the boat. If I get the boat backwards to what I want, there isn't room to turn around and I have to back out of the slip area - a proposition that I find quite tricky. Other than having someone on the dock to push to bow in the right direction, does anyone have a suggestion? Bob Boller Benicia, CA
Boat handling question
- Thread starter sailingdude
- Start date
- Status
Prop walk?
My C-30 walks pretty strongly to port in reverse, so once I was clear enough on the starbord side to swing the bow, I would try putting the rudder fully to port, and then walking the stern to port with a firm burst of power. This should swing your bow through the wind. I'm no pro at this, but generally I found that the C-30 will turn pretty tightly (basically in its own length) once I got comfortable using prop walk. In fact, the boat turns better in the direction you need to go than in the other direction.
My C-30 walks pretty strongly to port in reverse, so once I was clear enough on the starbord side to swing the bow, I would try putting the rudder fully to port, and then walking the stern to port with a firm burst of power. This should swing your bow through the wind. I'm no pro at this, but generally I found that the C-30 will turn pretty tightly (basically in its own length) once I got comfortable using prop walk. In fact, the boat turns better in the direction you need to go than in the other direction.
hmmm
It sounds like the exit from your slip is downwind if backing out while swinging the stern to port forces you back down the fairway. Is that right? If you back out of the slip to starboard and let the wind blow the bow off, would you be headed in the right direction? That is the situation I was in when I had my boat in Redwood City. It took me a few weeks to figure out how to get the boat to back to starboard into the wind. Until I figured it out I had to back out to port and continue backing until I was in the main fairway to complete the turn and leave the marina. A few hours practice in open water allowed me to find the combination of rudder and reverse that allowed me to back to starboard.
It sounds like the exit from your slip is downwind if backing out while swinging the stern to port forces you back down the fairway. Is that right? If you back out of the slip to starboard and let the wind blow the bow off, would you be headed in the right direction? That is the situation I was in when I had my boat in Redwood City. It took me a few weeks to figure out how to get the boat to back to starboard into the wind. Until I figured it out I had to back out to port and continue backing until I was in the main fairway to complete the turn and leave the marina. A few hours practice in open water allowed me to find the combination of rudder and reverse that allowed me to back to starboard.
An un-elegant solution
I had the opposite problem - of swinging the bow to port, against prop walk, in order to drive down the fairway pointy-end first. I just decided to back down in reverse. After a few practises it worked great.
I had the opposite problem - of swinging the bow to port, against prop walk, in order to drive down the fairway pointy-end first. I just decided to back down in reverse. After a few practises it worked great.
exact same problem
i am in the second slip from the walkway and have the exact same problem. not enough room and the wind. i've decided to back out all the way and turn where there is enough room. the boat does that easily. i'll enjoy my sail rather than put up with the panic and frustration of trying to get the boat turned early.
i am in the second slip from the walkway and have the exact same problem. not enough room and the wind. i've decided to back out all the way and turn where there is enough room. the boat does that easily. i'll enjoy my sail rather than put up with the panic and frustration of trying to get the boat turned early.
Walk the boat out
I have this issue facing me, too. Since I usually singlehand the boat, it is even more nerve-wracking. No burst of power in reverse, while backing to port, has enabled me to get the bow to swing to starboard against the prevailing wind coming over the starboard beam. I have learned to walk the boat out of the slip, with the bowline in my right hand, and the sternline led around the aftmost dock cleat. As I pull the bowline towards me, I ease the sternline so that the boat begins to turn in the desired direction. I scramble on board and put the engine in reverse, turning the wheel gradually to complete the turn in the desired direction. Then I simply put the engine in forward. When the boat stops making sternway, I turn the wheel to starboard and give it some power to start moving forward. This works every time, unless the wind form starboard is greater than 15 knots. On those days, I take someone with me to be at the wheel while I walk the boat out.
I have this issue facing me, too. Since I usually singlehand the boat, it is even more nerve-wracking. No burst of power in reverse, while backing to port, has enabled me to get the bow to swing to starboard against the prevailing wind coming over the starboard beam. I have learned to walk the boat out of the slip, with the bowline in my right hand, and the sternline led around the aftmost dock cleat. As I pull the bowline towards me, I ease the sternline so that the boat begins to turn in the desired direction. I scramble on board and put the engine in reverse, turning the wheel gradually to complete the turn in the desired direction. Then I simply put the engine in forward. When the boat stops making sternway, I turn the wheel to starboard and give it some power to start moving forward. This works every time, unless the wind form starboard is greater than 15 knots. On those days, I take someone with me to be at the wheel while I walk the boat out.
Try this reference for spring line use
http://www.videos.sailingcourse.com/forward_spring_line.htm The main trick, it's always seemed to be to me, is to NOT have to get off the boat coming or going.
http://www.videos.sailingcourse.com/forward_spring_line.htm The main trick, it's always seemed to be to me, is to NOT have to get off the boat coming or going.
backing out
as stu says, a spring line will solve your problem. If you have a willing crew, and a roller furling headsail, send them up to the bow, unfurl the sail a few feet and have them backwind it to help get the bow around. If you're single handing, double a spring line from your boat's stern cleat around the dock cleat then back to you. As you're backing out let the spring slide out till you're ready to turn the rudder then cleat the spring. This will force the boat to pivot sharply, once the bow is through the wind, you can proceed by slipping the free end of the spring to recover the line.
as stu says, a spring line will solve your problem. If you have a willing crew, and a roller furling headsail, send them up to the bow, unfurl the sail a few feet and have them backwind it to help get the bow around. If you're single handing, double a spring line from your boat's stern cleat around the dock cleat then back to you. As you're backing out let the spring slide out till you're ready to turn the rudder then cleat the spring. This will force the boat to pivot sharply, once the bow is through the wind, you can proceed by slipping the free end of the spring to recover the line.
where is the dock?
Bob Boller doesn't say which side of the boat his dock is on. If the dock is to port, then a springline will indeed help him to turn the boat with the bow moving towards the wind as he backs out. If the dock is to starboard and there is no mooring post to port (my case), a springline won't work, as the goal is to get the bow moving to starboard, the direction the wind is coming from. Maybe Bob can help us out by a more thorough description.
Bob Boller doesn't say which side of the boat his dock is on. If the dock is to port, then a springline will indeed help him to turn the boat with the bow moving towards the wind as he backs out. If the dock is to starboard and there is no mooring post to port (my case), a springline won't work, as the goal is to get the bow moving to starboard, the direction the wind is coming from. Maybe Bob can help us out by a more thorough description.
- Status