I sometimes find myself having to dock my 26X in very low tide and have to raise the swing keel. If it is windy the boat seems almost too light to control. We have hit the dock and bumped other boats several times. What are we doing wrong?
Help! What are we doing wrong?
- Thread starter ikipupule
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Trying to dock with the swing keel up. If it is all the way up, you don't have much lateral resistance. So, you have two problems. First, you will tend to go whichever way the wind blows you. The only thing you really have to resist this is the rudder and the motor. That means that all of your resistance to lateral movement is in the back of the boat. That means that the whole front of the boat is at the mercy of the wind. This is a problem because the mast, which catches a lot of wind, is way forward of the rudder.
The second problem is related. The boat likes to pivot around the keel. This is what gives you controlled turns. The keel gives you some bite around the center of the boat, around which the boat pivots. Without this, you are almost a jet ski. The rudder gives you some control, but you really need to turn your outboard to push the stern in the direction it needs to go.
My advice would be to put the keel as far down as you safely can. Even just a little bit of keel will help. You really don't need much, but your boat will handle better with it down, in particular when navigating tight spaces. Also, turn your outboard with your rudder to give you more directional control.
Here's another thing that kind of sucks. The faster you go, the more control you will have, in particular when dealing with side winds. But, of course, slower is safer.
I navigate the locks regularly where you don't have a lot of maneuvering space and you don't really get do-overs. I have found that, in particular in side winds, that it is best to steer right up with a little bit of speed rather than to approach tentatively. This keeps the boat tracking in the intended direction better with less side-slipping.
I second the comments by Faris - you need a little bit of keel down to have good control - I have experienced this when launching in a narrow space and trying to get a quick turn - have to have the keel. Of course, it doesn't have to be down all the way.
The second thing about docking in a cross-wind that worked for me was to maintain sufficient speed. Keels and rudders only really work when they have water flowing over them. Don't be afraid to approach with enough speed to maintain control and then put the motor in reverse and rev it to stop your forward progress as you reach the dock.
The second thing about docking in a cross-wind that worked for me was to maintain sufficient speed. Keels and rudders only really work when they have water flowing over them. Don't be afraid to approach with enough speed to maintain control and then put the motor in reverse and rev it to stop your forward progress as you reach the dock.
Don't be afraid to approach with enough speed to maintain control and then put the motor in reverse and rev it to stop your forward progress as you reach the dock.
Ha ha that always attracts a lot of attention. Maybe it is better to silently run into things (JK
)
Ha ha that always attracts a lot of attention. Maybe it is better to silently run into things (JK
)
I agree with needing speed to actually turn the boat. and a little centerboard is required.
Also use large fenders and drive the boat into the fenders and the dock. oversize fenders allow you to do this.
Also use large fenders and drive the boat into the fenders and the dock. oversize fenders allow you to do this.
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