Stearing under power

[Dave Daniels]

We just bought a used 26X and can't maintain a straight course under low power. Conditions are ballast full, rudders and center board up and no sails raised. We're motoring down the South River to get to a point to hoist the sails. Our track looks like the historic drunken sailor. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[Bill]

Steering under low power

At slow speeds, under low engine power, you'll need to lower a rudder and a few inches of center board to maintain control. Just don't forget to clean her up if you decide to motor faster than a crawl.

 

[Kevin Barry]

Control

You should be able to maintain a fairly good course with just the engine...assuming you have a high hp job (50?), unless the currents are strong. But as Bill says, use a rudder and a let out a couple inches of centerboard, and you should be able to dance around with no prob! Kevin

 

[Ron Tanis]

steering under power in shoal water

Where water depth permits by all means do your under 6 mph motoring with at least one rudder full down and cb line let out a few inches at least.For less water depth (3 feet near my slip, about 2 feet in it), I piggybacked a 2 foot draw, homemade, shoal rudder on the pivot axis of one of the stock rudders by substituting a longer pivot bolt.Down the stock rudder in deeper water and the shoal rudder in thin water, for good steering control wherever you can motor.Ron.....ronacarme@netzero.net