steering in reverse

[IainW]

When you reverse a NB, i understand the tiller can't really do much.

 

When you put into 'forwards' (sorry) to use the tiller to steer, does the boat actually have to go forwards for the steering to work or is the water getting forced over the rudder enough?

 

I've read a few threads in this section but any other advice would be appreciated...

[Boat&Bikes]

Water over the rudder effects the steering and your boat will turn,how much depends on various things.

 

 

Ian.

[steelaway]

When you reverse a NB, i understand the tiller can't really do much.

 

When you put into 'forwards' (sorry) to use the tiller to steer, does the boat actually have to go forwards for the steering to work or is the water getting forced over the rudder enough?

 

I've read a few threads in this section but any other advice would be appreciated...

 

Ohboy - You are on your own with this one

 

If you find the secret of steering in reverse let me know!

Actually it is possible sometimes, but with my present boat its a bit of a lottery, I could reverse almost perfectly in with my old Liverpool boat but not this one.

 

Good luck learning

 

Alex

[Guest]

When you reverse a NB, i understand the tiller can't really do much.

 

When you put into 'forwards' (sorry) to use the tiller to steer, does the boat actually have to go forwards for the steering to work or is the water getting forced over the rudder enough?

 

I've read a few threads in this section but any other advice would be appreciated...

 

Set the direction you want the stern of your boat to go in whilst going forard', then reverse, correct by going forwards if needed, keep repeating and you will be fine...

[jelunga]

I use two techniques. Reverse quite strongly and use the rudder about 20 deg either side. Steers the stern sometimes.

 

Other technique is to use the rudder and forward engine and adjust tiller at about 70 deg to use as a thruster.

Works on my boat. BUT different swims/ rhdder sizes/ props may not work the sane way.

So experiment and see what works fur you and your boat. I do not believe there is a hard and fast ruje

 

I use two techniques. Reverse quite strongly and use the rudder about 20 deg either side. Steers the stern sometimes.

 

Other technique is to use the rudder and forward engine and adjust tiller at about 70 deg to use as a thruster.

Works on my boat. BUT different swims/ rhdder sizes/ props may not work the sane way.

So experiment and see what works fur you and your boat. I do not believe there is a hard and fast ruje

[GSer]

Having reversed a few boats in singles and pairs the one thing that seems to work for me is speed, if i faff about and take my time it often goes wrong, so now i just get on with it, get the boat lined up and in the middle of the channel and let it rip, keep an eye on the bow, the second it starts to deviate from your chosen path correct it with the rudder, as long as there is enough water flowing across the rudder and you don't allow the bow to step out of line, with practice it should work. All boats are different so practice is important to develpe a technique that works for you and your boat.

 

Big snags with applying speed is that you can't really allow the rudder to reach full lock, as it nears full lock the water pressure starts to pull the tiller round to its stop, this can go very wrong, anything from trying to pull the steerer off the counter to just scrubbing off too much speed.

 

If the boat gets near the shallows shelves it will start to try and climb the shelf, clever buggers will know why, but all you need to know is that the boat will be attracted to shallow water so try and keep to the middle where possible.

 

Practice helps alot (as does a bow thruster), it will never go well if you have an audience so you may as well smile and get on with it anyway, if nobodies around to watch it will probably go wrong anyway so you may as well smile and get on with it.

 

This is all just my opinion and i'm sure others will disagree with bits of it, but it works for me

[Keeping Up]

When you reverse a NB, i understand the tiller can't really do much.

 

When you put into 'forwards' (sorry) to use the tiller to steer, does the boat actually have to go forwards for the steering to work or is the water getting forced over the rudder enough?

 

I've read a few threads in this section but any other advice would be appreciated...

 

To answer your question as directly as possible, no it doesn't have to go forwards, the water forced over the rudder is enough (unless you are seriously swinging off course)

[Pretty Funked Up]

When going backwards the rudder still has some affect, but not much

You can feel where its most effective (angle) from the amount it 'pulls' on your arm.

That said its a fine art and not one I've mastered at all. Sometimes I nail it perfectly, others... well... they go wrong

Edited March 1, 2012 by Pretty Funked Up

[Radiomariner]

Having reversed a few boats in singles and pairs the one thing that seems to work for me is speed, if i faff about and take my time it often goes wrong, so now i just get on with it, get the boat lined up and in the middle of the channel and let it rip, keep an eye on the bow, the second it starts to deviate from your chosen path correct it with the rudder,....

 

Keeping an eye on the bow is important. It is very easy to look aft in the direction of travel and believe that you are doing OK when in fact your bow is about to swipe the boats you thought you had already passed! I know, from experience, that the bow does not always follow the stern when in reverse.

 

Someone explained this to me that this is because the prop is forcing water under the boat and the boat will lift away in the best direction to accommodate it. Which direction and how much depends not only on the shape of the hull but on the profile of the bottom of the cut and whether the boat is on an even keel. Now, I am not certain if that is correct but that bit about even keel makes me think that it may be possible to steer the trailing bow a bit by moving ballast (bodies) from side to side. If anybody tries this I'd be interested to know the outcome.

 

Edited to add: - My boat is moored at Linslade by Wyvern Boats please do not experiment on that stretch.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Radiomariner

[Grace and Favour]

Edited to add: - My boat is moored at Linslade by Wyvern Boats please do not experiment on that stretch.

 

I trust it's Pepper's Paw at Linslade - and not the craft featured in your avatar??

[alan_fincher]

I thought it was popularly known that a narrow boat will generally reverse in precisely the way you want it to, provided nobody, absolutely nobody, is watching.

 

Your ability to reverse as intended is in some strange way inversely related to the size of the audience.

 

At a large festival or boat show, the tiller somehow no longer in any way controls what the rudder, and hence the boat will do.

 

This is a fundamental law, and no amount of skill will change it.

[Radiomariner]

I trust it's Pepper's Paw at Linslade - and not the craft featured in your avatar??

 

Correct. The Avatar is a picture of the "Northwest Seaeagle" the last 'ship' I sailed on before retirement in 2002. I think with all those bluddy Wyvern boats there would be no room for the Seaeagle!

 

I thought it was popularly known that a narrow boat will generally reverse in precisely the way you want it to, provided nobody, absolutely nobody, is watching.

 

Your ability to reverse as intended is in some strange way inversely related to the size of the audience.

 

At a large festival or boat show, the tiller somehow no longer in any way controls what the rudder, and hence the boat will do.

 

This is a fundamental law, and no amount of skill will change it.

 

That of course is very true. A very prominent factor I forgot to mention

[john6767]

Usually you find the tiller does do a bit, and watching the bow is the key. Don't let it come far off line, as soon as it starts to swing use the tiller at the point of most resistance to correct it. If the bow gets too far off line, into neutral, straighten the tiller, into forwards, and tiller over to the side to correct the swing. You will still be going backwards but the jet of water over the rudder will push the rear round and correct the swing. Then back to neutral straighten the tiller and into reverse again using the tiller to correct the bow swing.

 

Works every time for me when there is no one watching

[Athy]

Something which I have read, but never tried, is that if you suspend a weight such as a full bucket of water from the bow it will help you reverse in the direction you want. Has anyone tried this, and if so, with what success?

[system 4-50]

Something which I have read, but never tried, is that if you suspend a weight such as a full bucket of water from the bow it will help you reverse in the direction you want. Has anyone tried this, and if so, with what success?

 

It is a standard technique on sailing boats to keep the boat in line with the tide (and not the wind) to trail a bucket as a drag over the stern. It is not the weight but the drag that does the business. It should have a similar effect on a narrowboat but only if the speed of the boat is high enough.

[jelunga]

Something which I have read, but never tried, is that if you suspend a weight such as a full bucket of water from the bow it will help you reverse in the direction you want. Has anyone tried this, and if so, with what success?

Works as a sea anchor. I did try it once asking SWMBO to tie a rope round her waist and jump in but this was not sucessful. I am sure it would have worked if my instructions were followed but all that happened was a load moaning /growling noise from the front of the boat followed by a loud slapping noise. I then felt a strange warming sensation with a swelling on the left side of my head, accompanied by the most wonderful sight of shooting stars during daylight I have ever seen.

I abandoned this option for future use.

[Guest]

Set the direction you want the stern of your boat to go in whilst going forard', then reverse, correct by going forwards if needed, keep repeating and you will be fine...

Reluctant though I am to post these days, that is how I have reversed my two narrowboats for several years. I have no doubt there are different/better ways, but it works very well for me, especially as I often reverse a long way into or out of my mooring.

 

Something which I have read, but never tried, is that if you suspend a weight such as a full bucket of water from the bow it will help you reverse in the direction you want. Has anyone tried this, and if so, with what success?

I understand a car tyre has a similar effect.

Edited March 2, 2012 by Guest

[alan_fincher]

.............but all that happened was a load moaning /growling noise from the front of the boat followed by a loud slapping noise.

 

You could achieve a load moaning/growling noise from the front of the boat,(but avoid the loud slapping noise), by the simple expedient of fitting a bow thruster.

[Keeping Up]

I always reckon it's a waste of your valuable time trying to steer in reverse; use your time profitably in thinking up your excuses why you wanted to be in such an odd place. Things like "yes you're right, you can see the spire of the church from this reed-bed".

[Mac of Cygnet]

Reluctant though I am to post these days,

 

That's a pity. Why?

[Guest]

Reluctant though I am to post these days, that is how I have reversed my two narrowboats for several years. I have no doubt there are different/better ways, but it works very well for me, especially as I often reverse a long way into or out of my mooring.

 

It works for us - we do have to make corrections though as I say if wanting to go in an exact straight line because in reverse 'The Dog House' has a slight tendency for the stern to creep to port, which of course can be used to your advantage if that is where you want the stern to be.....

 

 

 

 

..

Edited March 2, 2012 by MJG

[Naughty Cal]

<Phylis sits quietly wondering what all this fuss about reversing is for>

[Guest]

It works for us - we do have to make corrections though as I say if wanting to go in an exact straight line because in reverse 'The Dog House' has a slight tendency for the stern to creep to port, which of course can be used to your advantage if that is where you want the stern to be.....

 

 

 

 

..

My boat pulls slightly to starboard, which as you say can be used to advantage. Always something of a lottery though

 

<Phylis sits quietly wondering what all this fuss about reversing is for>

Well yes, I know what you mean! Our Dolphin and Dawncraft cruisers (especially the Dolphin) would reverse much like a car.

[Naughty Cal]

Well yes, I know what you mean! Our Dolphin and Dawncraft cruisers (especially the Dolphin) would reverse much like a car.

 

The only problem we have in reverse is if we have built up a bit too much speed the water can lap up over the bathing platform and give your passengers wet feet

[Guest]

That's a pity. Why?

I am tired of some of the High-horse attitudes (your good self definitely NOT included )

 

The only problem we have in reverse is if we have built up a bit too much speed the water can lap up over the bathing platform and give your passengers wet feet

Reminds me of a Mk1 Ford Escort I once owned. If I went through a puddle too quickly the passengers got wet feet in that too. I would insist my girlfriend wore wellies when I took her out in it (though that was more of a fetish on my part )

Edited March 2, 2012 by Guest