backs like a pig
Generally, whenever this discussion arises we all tend to discuss or
think of our own boat and/or situation rather than talking about it in
a "generic" sense.
Forgetting wind and current for the moment. All propellor driven boats
will have prop walk to some degree, from hardly noticeable to "wowser"
and that difference will include two of the same type being totally
different due to how they are loaded with gear, fuel, people, etc..
If you have wind and current to consider, learn your boats "walking"
characteristics without wind and current first, then learn it with wind
and current, as sometimes one factor will totally negate the other.
Take, for instance, a single screw right hand prop docking stbd side
too (probably the toughest maneuver for this boat). No wind or
current.... use your prop walk to STOP your stern swinging into the
dock.
Now, same setup but port side too..... use your propwalk to START or
make your stern swing into the dock.
Since most boats will want to back into a wind or current you will have
to learn at what point of wind speed or current velocity and from what
directions will your boat be under the control of one factor (propwalk,
wind, current) or combination.
Obviously, no two conditions are the same and no one answer fits all.
I'd hate to tell you how many times I've started backing down expecting
my stern to go to port, only to find out that today it would rather go
to stbd.... and then after the fact, tried to figure out why.
Shen
|