My solution for propwalk when backing out
- Thread starter danstanford
- Start date
I have the opposite problem: coming into the dock. I'm port-to and in a slip that is at the beginning of a restriction where the marina turns back into a narrow river. Current at flood and ebb can be a problem. I go in bow first, and I need to have a little more way on than I would if there were no current, so when I burst in reverse to stop the boat, the starboard walk takes me away from the dock. Of course, my dock-jumpers don't like it when their jump goes from 12 inches to 36 inches! My solution so far is to rig a spring that goes from about the same position as my primary winch, that goes around the aft dock cleat and stops the boat. I can then go hard to starboard with a little forward thrust to keep the boat parallel to the dock. I don't like it, though! I feel like I'm putting all my eggs in one basket. If that line fails, or the person on the dock misses getting it on the cleat, I'm mounting the dock!
At our marina here in GA, we've been hit twice while in our slip, once by unknown (Highly suspected though) and once witnessed firsthand. Both vessels were trying to dock stern first in a stiff cross breeze. Almost hit by a vessel docked at the pier behind us, also while he was trying to back stern first into a stiff breeze. None knew anything of using a spring line.
If you turn the helm so that your stern is swinging to port when you put her in astern, it will all even out and you won't have so much prop walk to stb. Remember, your boat turns around the center.
That all assumes you have enough way on to make the rudder bite. Trust me, turning to starboard (making the stern swing to port) is my first defence against starboard walk. Unfortunately, for the rudder to produce more force to port than the prop is pushing the stern to starboard, the boat would have to moving toward a pretty stationary dock much faster anyone feels comfortable with. I have a LOT of walk, even with a Max Prop.
My Cat 30 walks hard to stbd if I put it in reverse at a standstill. I've learned to get some reverse headway going with a push-off from the dock, with the rudder centered,then jumping aboard, and putting in reverse. Once it's in motion it will go where you point the rudder. I usually sail alone, and find this easy to do. Having the boat in motion is the key.
I almost envy the guys whose boats walk to starboard. I deal with port walk, which makes for some fun trying to parallel park at my seawall. It does become somewhat automatic after awhile when you learn how the boat responds.
Have you tried getting that headway with a burst of reverse from your engine, rather than physically pushing the boat? I've found that a jolt of high-rev engine for two or three seconds, then return to neutral, will give you the aft motion without the accompanying prop walk of keeping the prop moving at slower revs. Repeated bursts of reverse and coasting can continue your motion. It does take some practice if you have a split transmission / throttle levers like we have in the older Cats.
That is exactly the point of the post initiating this thread. Giving her enough to get going is made much easier by simply using that line around the cleat and back to my hand. I am in easy control of the angle of the boat and how much speed I get because I am the one letting go the line. I no longer need to give her that big push from the dock and then race back to the wheel in the tight quarters I have. When I tried a big shot of power she moved some amount to port initially and then I was having to deal with the angle right away....perhaps with more room it would be better. Our last slip had tons of room in the pen and once out into the fairway so I didn't have to worry. The difference of 8' between boats and 3' seems enormous!
Dan: Do a forum search for "prop walk" and you'll find more info on the subject than you'll know what to do with. Do another search for "prop walk is your friend on the sail trim forum" and you'll find info as to how I used prop walk to my advantage. At my dock I needed the stern to turn to starboard in the slipway. The first step is obvious -- rudder is centered and engine in slow reverse. The second step is not so obvious -- once about 3/4 of the boat is out of the slip I put the engine in forward. Sounds weird but the stern slowly turns to starboard.
While you're doing forum searches, check out another one -- it's called "back & fill". Actually, it's in the same thread on prop walk. My slipway was very narrow and if I got caught there I had one chance to get it right. Using prop walk I could almost turn the boat on a dime.
That is a basic no-brainer. However, starboard tie up allows the boat to face the channel entrance and prevailing wind direction. The boat sets better with the bow facing out, and when departing, I don't need to make a 180 in the fairway.
Docking into the wind is easier, dead slow approach at a 45 degree angle, grab the after spring and swing in. Piece of cake unless the crew misses the spring line.
What has worked well for me on several boats is simply put the boat in reverse at idle speed and allow it to build up speed and gently take you out of the slip. When you gun a boat you get prop walk which overcomes lateral resistance. I've done this successfully on full keel and fin keel boats. Do not turn the rudder until you get up some speed, do not give it any throttle whetsoever.
Also, prop walk can be very handy when mooring on a side tie with somewhat limited room for your boat. Get the bow into almost the dock, helm over, kick it in reverse to slow momentum, prop walk will suck the stern into the dock. Takes a bit of practice and remembering which way your prop walk turns the stern but works.
I've never used stern lines on the dock unless backing area was only a boat length plus.
Also, prop walk can be very handy when mooring on a side tie with somewhat limited room for your boat. Get the bow into almost the dock, helm over, kick it in reverse to slow momentum, prop walk will suck the stern into the dock. Takes a bit of practice and remembering which way your prop walk turns the stern but works.
I've never used stern lines on the dock unless backing area was only a boat length plus.
All boats are different - if I just pop my boat into reverse at idle, I'll rub against the left side of the slip with the anchor getting close to the boat on the slip to my right. That'll go on 'till I get out, then I'll pivot until my port transom eventually hits another boat slipped to the left of me. If I gun the hell out of it I can get 1-2kts of speed in reverse (to get steerage) and I can back all the way out of the fairway to the channel. Or I use the long spring like I previously described and I look like a pro.
What I (and my crew when I have crew) don't do is jump aboard or off. If I was singlehanding, and missed the jump, what would I do then? Watching the boat drift over to the other dock would not be pleasant. Nor are the injuries that can happen jumping off. Nor would I like to manhandle a 30' boat out of a slip only to have a wind gust at the wrong time mess the whole thing up.
OTOH, Since my fuel fill and pumpout are on the port side, I can basically move my boat almost directly sideways to get to the fuel dock. Most of the time
I've had a few that were less than perfect. And a back and fill is a piece of cake on my boat. A4 with a indigo prop, no real idea why it's got so much prop walk, but I've learned to deal with it. Worst time is stopping to pull up a mooring, I usually have to pop it back in fwd to push the stern to starboard again after slowing in reverse.
What I (and my crew when I have crew) don't do is jump aboard or off. If I was singlehanding, and missed the jump, what would I do then? Watching the boat drift over to the other dock would not be pleasant. Nor are the injuries that can happen jumping off. Nor would I like to manhandle a 30' boat out of a slip only to have a wind gust at the wrong time mess the whole thing up.
OTOH, Since my fuel fill and pumpout are on the port side, I can basically move my boat almost directly sideways to get to the fuel dock. Most of the time
I've had a few that were less than perfect. And a back and fill is a piece of cake on my boat. A4 with a indigo prop, no real idea why it's got so much prop walk, but I've learned to deal with it. Worst time is stopping to pull up a mooring, I usually have to pop it back in fwd to push the stern to starboard again after slowing in reverse.