going astern from a marina berth

R

rickdoody05

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May 2, 2005
2
Hi my Father has an AlbinVega on a marina berth, we find when we've to
reverse the boat out of the berth the steering is very poor. There are
quite a lot of expensive boats in berths beside us so practicing
coming in and out is a bit risky.

I just wondering is there any good advice for reversing an Albin Vega.
Also someone down on the marina mentioned using a bow thruster to get
better maneuverability, if anyone has done this for an Albin Vega I'd
really appreciate getting the details of how one goes about it.
 
S

stevebirch2002

.
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
Hi

Two ways:

1. Practise, practice, practice......

2. There is a Help Rudder that can be fitted. this is a balanced spade rudder system that is situated aft of the prop and incorporating two quadrants so that both rudders are used at the same time. This enables the Vega to be driven almost like a car. Quite a few Vegas in Holland and Germany have this sytem as they use the canals much of the time. The system costs about £1000 and takes two days to fit by an experienced fibre-glass man.

I suggest you use Item 1 and if in doiubt then push the Vega out and control her with warps..

Kind Regards


Steve Birch
 
V

vedel173210

.
Oct 30, 2019
27
Hi,

My method:

1. Let the engine run for a while until it is at the right temperature.
2. Kick the throttle control astern.
3. Let the Vega gain speed (keep the rudder straight).
4.Put the throttle back to neutral.
5. Steer into the direction you want.

Works fine with my Vega.

I'm not used to write these instructions in English, sorry, hope you'll understand.

Kind regards,

Flor OYEN

rickdoody05 schreef:
 
S

stevebirch2002

.
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
Hi Garry

I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I usually have no problem reversing my Vega. In the first couple of years it was a bit of a challenge! Went sailing the weekend and backed out twice from very tight pontoon berths against a strong tidal flow, first time single-handed, and didnt touch another boat! Must admit I do have the Beta with a fixed prop that gives you some oomphh when you need it! Wind plays a big part and if there is no current then the aft end will try and weathercock into the wind but use this as an aid and I always remember what I was taught in the Army - The six P's PLANNING AND PREPARATION PREVENTS PISS POOR PERFORMACE

On one of the Dutch IFR's they had a reversing contest round a slalom of buoys and the Dutch won hands down... They managed to put about twenty people on one Vega and then went from side to side to turn the Vega very, very quickly. Hats off they were the best.

Spring makes me happy...... Sailiung has started again in the UK.

Regards toall

Steve Birch
 
G

garryms82

.
Oct 31, 2019
51
I guess it's not *that* bad... my Albin is the 82 MS which has a great deal
of windage. It IS a challenge to reverse in a desired direction. I have
found the best method is short blips on the throttle. HOWEVER as you
pointed out add current and wind and all bets are off. I get lots of
practice with the current part... my slip is right next to the BC Ferries
dock. I get to experiment several times a day in 3 knots of prop wash.|Garry|
Albin 82MS
@ Horseshoe Bay

(next time you take the Bowen Island or Langdale Ferry... that's me on the
outside slip at Sewells merrily bobbing away.
At 09:44 AM 5/3/05 +0100, you wrote:
 
W

wxt8981

.
Oct 31, 2019
562
I guess I give my 5 cents worth about reversing out from
the slip. My Vega is in a narrow channel, I can't turn
around once I'm out of the slip and face the wrong
direction. And that's quite often the case- the wind
catches me, or the current flows in the wrong direction.
So- then I sit in the middle of the channel with little
room for and aft. Big deal! Just be patient and the boat
will turn eventually, many times with the stern facing the
way I'm supposed to go.Little bursts with the prop help,
and if I face the right way out, I've got it made. But if I
have to go astern (about 500 feet where I find more room),
I go astern. Just remember you need a little more speed
going astern to have the boat under control. Stay in the
middle of the channel as close as possible. And if the boat
doesn't want to cooperate... stop, and with small bursts of
the prop, I get the boat facing the right direction again.
Eventually I make it, and once in the larger channel, all
problems are gone. I've been in that marina for about 25
years and never hit another boat. Practice... and you
proudly say: I made it again....:)

Wilhelm, V-257
 
T

towlerg

.
Mar 27, 2001
121
I guess I'm stating the obvious as usual but it's important to
appreciate that on an inboard engined Vega the prop is above the
rudder so therefore there isn't any propwash over the rudder either
forward or in reverse. So disregard any non-Vega books or articles on
the subject. The trick appears to be either to have 20 dutch guys
running about on deck or to get water flow over the rudder (note
Steve's comments about backing into a tidal flow). So my best advice
is, lots of welly both in forward and reverse, and if you have
expensive boats around you, use rope to prevent a disaster.
Once you have water flowing over the rudder in reverse you'll be
surprised just how much pull there is on the rudder.

All that to one side, once you start sailing the Vega you'll realise
what a great and forgiving boat a Vega is. Happy sailing.

George Towler "Vista" 1043
 
S

stevebirch2002

.
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
HI All

Further to the reversing saga.... How often does the Vega go backwards under power? Hopefully 99.999% you are going forward and 99% of this is under sail!!

Steve B
 
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