Sorry. Kinda long

John Cassara wrote:
If you are moving astern, fast enough to have steering with your rudder
(even on a sailboat) you are probably moving astern too fast


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That's what everyone always says right up until I put the boat right
where I want it, the first time. (sailboats only please, big rudder,
big keel, etc.)



This is simply not true. The problem with backing single screw or
non-counter rotating twins is often interprted as have the ability to turn
only one way or the boat won't go straight back. This is caused by Prop
Walk. To gain or maintane stearage when backing your drive line must be in
neutral. Don't try to power backwards instead think of the power as a push.
Short spurts of power in reverse then retuning to neutral and glideing on
the push will give you control in either direction. Try it the next time
your on the boat.

John

One quick point before the main thrust .... There are very few twin
screw inboards that are not "counter rotating", and the term "counter
rotating" does not tell you what you need to know, because twin screw
with "inboard turning", generally handle totally differently than twin
screw with "outboard turning" props (both are "counter rotating").

To the main thrust .....

Overall, I don't disagree with what you're saying, but the speed you
will need to use, will vary greatly between various power boats, sail
boats, and powerboats/sailboats and this can cause problems.
For powerboats, because of various rudder sizes and shapes, you may get
good steering at slow speeds, to, no steering at any speeds.
When I go aboard a single screw powerboat, I'll know what direction the
prop turns (let's say right hand) and what to expect there, but I won't
generally know what kind of rudder power I might have, so, to begin with
the rudder stays midships or hard left (G sometimes I have a feeling)
so that when backing, a kick astern turns my stern to port and a kick
ahead (with the hard left) turns my stern to stbd. Once I figure out the
rudder power astern, I can alter this to suit the boat, which could, and
has, easily concurred with what you say above.
On a sailboat, I normally figure I will have reasonably good rudder
power, and one thing I seriously look at is ... tiller or pedestal steering.
G My Contessa had tiller steering. Get that boat moving astern and you
almost immediately had steering, but get it moving too fast and it took
two men and a boy to hold the tiller so as to not "over steer", i.e.,
very little rudder for big results ..... pedestal steering tends to
alleviate this... at least, that's MY experience.
All this brings up a point. Steering astern, tends to be different than
steering ahead. In many cases, if you have enough stern way to steer,
you can easily get to a point where more than minimum rudder will give a
strong shear which may be hard to correct or counter (phew, I'll use my
Contessa as a prime example) and simply shifting the rudder may not be
sufficient to counter this shear or turning rate fast enough to solve
the problem, without the use of the engine..... hence, keep the speed
down to a point where you can easily use kicks ahead (with
rudder)/astern, to steer.
Once again, boats vary, operators vary, conditions vary. My main point
is that you need to learn your boat, your own, and the conditions
variables . Use what works for you, but make sure you have a Plan B,C,
etc., and don't be afraid to experiment.

otn