Maybe on a motorboat, a straight line course is desirable but,
on a sailboat, it is often better to not overcorrect or try to
maintain a straight course as the excessive rudder movement
results in slower overall speeds. Using an autopilot and setting
the mainsail to luff before the headsail does allows the autopilot
to not strain and the boat to wander a bit but the speed stays
up better than trying to fight with the rudder to keep on a
straight line.

You should really try sailing sometime. It might open your eyes
and make being on the water enjoyable instead of a chore.

CN


"otnmbrd" wrote in message ink.net...
G Think I've run across one or two vessel's with autopilot.
Problem is, an autopilot can only react, it can't anticipate.
Only a good helmsman can anticipate what a boat is going to do and react first.
I've seen very few autopilots that can maintain a straight line on a course recorder, for any length of time, whereas I 've seen a
few helmsmen who could.

otn

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message ...


Ever hear of an autopilot? I rarely waste my time steering my boat.
The autopilot does it almost as well.
CN

"otnmbrd" wrote in message ink.net...

Interesting post.
There's an old adage ..... the best helmsman is the laziest guy on the boat.
Reason?
Generally he will figure out how to do the least amount of work to keep the boat on course, realizing that if he keeps the boat
on course, he doesn't have to work ...... BG

otn

Capt. Neal® wrote:
Maybe on a motorboat, a straight line course is desirable but,
on a sailboat, it is often better to not overcorrect or try to
maintain a straight course as the excessive rudder movement
results in slower overall speeds. Using an autopilot and setting
the mainsail to luff before the headsail does allows the autopilot
to not strain and the boat to wander a bit but the speed stays
up better than trying to fight with the rudder to keep on a
straight line.

You should really try sailing sometime. It might open your eyes
and make being on the water enjoyable instead of a chore.

CN


BG From the above, it's obvious to me you are not a good helmsman and
did not understand the comment about "laziness".
It doesn't matter whether it's a sailboat or a motorboat, maintaining a
straight-line course CAN give you a better turn of speed, but it does
NOT require "excessive" rudder to do so as much as it requires
"anticipation".
The idea, is NOT to fight with the rudder, it is to USE the rudder and
ANTICIPATE.
As for sailing, I still have more time under sail than you will probably
ever have, but this is not a sail/motorboat question, it's a steering
question and obviously YOU don't understand that.

otn

On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 23:18:30 -0500, Capt. Neal®
wrote this crap:



Ever hear of an autopilot? I rarely waste my time steering my boat.
The autopilot does it almost as well.


My favorite autopilot is a blonde.




Pathetic Earthlings! No one can save you now!

Bwahahaha.... Neal is such an idiot. Can't even keep his little boat on a
straight course...

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"otnmbrd" wrote in message
k.net...
Capt. Neal® wrote:
Maybe on a motorboat, a straight line course is desirable but,
on a sailboat, it is often better to not overcorrect or try to
maintain a straight course as the excessive rudder movement
results in slower overall speeds. Using an autopilot and setting
the mainsail to luff before the headsail does allows the autopilot
to not strain and the boat to wander a bit but the speed stays
up better than trying to fight with the rudder to keep on a
straight line.

You should really try sailing sometime. It might open your eyes
and make being on the water enjoyable instead of a chore.

CN


BG From the above, it's obvious to me you are not a good helmsman and
did not understand the comment about "laziness".
It doesn't matter whether it's a sailboat or a motorboat, maintaining a
straight-line course CAN give you a better turn of speed, but it does NOT
require "excessive" rudder to do so as much as it requires "anticipation".
The idea, is NOT to fight with the rudder, it is to USE the rudder and
ANTICIPATE.
As for sailing, I still have more time under sail than you will probably
ever have, but this is not a sail/motorboat question, it's a steering
question and obviously YOU don't understand that.

otn

"JG" wrote:
Bwahahaha.... Neal is such an idiot. Can't even keep his little boat on a
straight course...

Sure he can...and he did.

LP

You're a liar. Neal is an idiot. I take that back. You're not a liar. You're
just another idiot.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Lady Pilot" wrote in message
news:j1bVd.104$Ru.30@okepread06...

"JG" wrote:
Bwahahaha.... Neal is such an idiot. Can't even keep his little boat on a
straight course...

Sure he can...and he did.

LP