Hey, stupid, we're talking sailboats here - not your beloved
motor boat. Comments interspersed.


"otnmbrd" wrote in message ink.net...
There are a whole bunch of different factors involved with each type
boat, operator, and conditions (such as the folding prop issue) that
will have to be factored in, which makes trying to recommend a positive
solution to any one boat, difficult, in this medium.

Wrong. We are only talking about a sailboat here with one propeller
centered at the back of the keel forward of the rudder. Have you
ever even seen such a thing? No? I thought so.

One reason I don't like using too much power/speed astern is the strain
on steering gear ( be it tiller or pedestal) when trying to use the rudder.

Sailboats don't have big, powerful motors like the motor boats you are
used to. Their auxilliary motors won't cause damage to the rudder or
steering gear when reversing.

Something else to think about, which I frequently use (in the past on
sail and nowadays on power). If I have a right hand prop and want to
back in a particular direction, I will frequently start with a kick
ahead and hard left rudder to get the boat swinging to port, then
midships the rudder and start astern (timing is everything) and let the
prop walk stop the port hand swing of the bow while getting up sternway
so that the rudder can take over when I stop the engine so that I'm
going in the direction I want (this can be repeated).

Yeah right. Try backing out of a slip that way. You will hit one side
then the other, then back. What an idiot! Also, you will be going too
fast and be out of control.

Go back to rec.boats and STAY there.


S.Simon