| Handling a boat under motor in a tight situation -- | | | | take advantage of prop walk. |
| usually in a marina or when undergoing a test for a | | | | Practise using prop walk |
| qualification -- can be a daunting and embarrassing | | | | Let's practise this feature of boat handling in a good |
| experience, especially for the novice. | | | | clear space. These instructions are for the more |
| When you see somebody try to leave a crowded | | | | common propeller. |
| marina or anchorage you will soon be able to tell | | | | |
| whether they have mastered the art. | | | | 1. Bring the boat to a stop head to wind. |
| The novice backs and fills, blocking the fairway, and | | | | 2. Start turning to starboard by giving the boat a short |
| more often than not has to make a crewman | | | | burst in forward gear with the helm hard over, but not |
| scamper forward to push off from a pylon or, worse | | | | so hard that the rudder stalls. Keep the helm there |
| still, another boat. The trained sailor will back out, then | | | | throughout the rest of the turn. |
| swing to the heading wanted in one swift movement, | | | | 3. As the boat starts to swing to starboard, put the |
| the boat looking as though it is pivoting on its stern. | | | | engine into neutral. |
| It is not only at close quarters that this skill is useful to | | | | 4. Now give the engine a burst in reverse gear. The |
| have. When towing a boat by the alongside method, | | | | boat will start to swing harder. |
| the ability to move through crowded moorings or | | | | 5. As it starts to move astern, go to neutral again until |
| alongside a jetty is paramount. There is no difficulty in | | | | the propeller stops. |
| the open sea as you have all the space in the world to | | | | 6. Give another burst of power forward, keeping the |
| play with. | | | | helm over. The rate of turn will accelerate because |
| The technique I have mentioned above is called prop | | | | the last manoeuvre deflects water over the rudder. |
| walk or the paddle wheel effect. | | | | 7. Keep up these alternating bursts until the vessel is |
| Determine whether your boat has a right-handed or | | | | pointing in the direction you need. |
| left-handed propeller | | | | You will soon learn to counteract the swing just before |
| Before utilising prop walk you need to know whether | | | | you come on to the required heading. When you first |
| your boat has a right-handed or left-handed propeller. | | | | do this in a crowded anchorage or marina you will be |
| The former, viewed from astern, would rotate | | | | immediately noticed as a competent skipper. In fact, |
| clockwise and is more common. | | | | one of the many tests a would-be yachtmaster has to |
| Tie your boat alongside a wharf or jetty. Make sure it | | | | undergo is to turn a yacht heading directly into the wind |
| is secure with bow and stern lines and fore and aft | | | | 180° so that it is stern to the wind, in its own |
| springs. Keep the helm amidships, change gear to | | | | length. This manoeuvre is known as a pivot turn. |
| reverse and give it a sharp burst on the accelerator. If | | | | One final word of warning. Even if your own boat has |
| the stern is kicked to port, you have a right-handed | | | | a right-handed propeller, you should be aware that |
| propeller. You can check this by looking at the churned | | | | some others don't. You may find yourself asked to |
| up water under the boat. | | | | helm one and wonder why the boat doesn't turn |
| If your boat's stern should kick to starboard when in | | | | 'properly' despite your years of practice and |
| reverse you will know that you're one of a very small | | | | experience. Now you will know what to do. |
| group of people who must make your turn to port to | | | | |