Walking sideways.....

[Pascal]

I ve tried it and no matter what I wasn't able to get it to walk sideways.

And even if this work in calm weather, you re not goimg to move the boat agaisnt a 10 or 15kts breeze so while a nice trick I don't find it very useful.

When pinned agaisnt a dock by wind, the easier and safest way to get off is to kick the stern away by pivoting the bow off a piling and when at a safe angle (at least 30 degree, more if it's blowing) back out.

With twins you dotn need a spring line, just out the rudders hard over towards the dock, dockside engine in reverse, offside in forward and the stern will kick out.

 

[krush]

With twins you dotn need a spring line, just out the rudders hard over towards the dock, dockside engine in reverse, offside in forward and the stern will kick out.

Isn't that pretty darn close to what the original poster was describing?

 

[oscarvan]

With twins you dotn need a spring line, just out the rudders hard over towards the dock, dockside engine in reverse, offside in forward and the stern will kick out.

Have to think about that one.....

Which leads me to another question.... rudders amidships, one screw forward, one reverse..... where is the pivot point? (Again on a 53)

 

[Freeebird]

Have to think about that one.....

Which leads me to another question.... rudders amidships, one screw forward, one reverse..... where is the pivot point? (Again on a 53)

The middle.

I always leave my rudders amidship when docking... except when I do it with one engine.

 

[Freeebird]

Isn't that pretty darn close to what the original poster was describing?

Nope. Pascal is using just the one engine to pull the stern off the dock. Not sure why he wants to use rudder, but to each his own. Depending on how tight the spot is, I come off the dock with just the one engine that's dockside, then bump the other into forward to change the angle.

 

[Pascal]

Because having rudders hard over helps forcing the stern off the dock as the prop wash of the forward engine creates side pressure

Using the other engine (dockside) in reverse prevents the boat from moving forward as the stern kicks out

This way you can get off a side to dock with almost no space on either side of the boat

 

[bobk]

I've tried side walking my 48MY which has a large keel, but also larger than typical rudders for slow speed running. It will go sideways, but not well and not into any kind of breeze. Pascal's method of getting off a dock also works very well. I use it often.

Bobk

 

[Freeebird]

Because having rudders hard over helps forcing the stern off the dock as the prop wash of the forward engine creates side pressure

Using the other engine (dockside) in reverse prevents the boat from moving forward as the stern kicks out

This way you can get off a side to dock with almost no space on either side of the boat

If you're pivoting off a piling, I just can't see it making any difference. Obviously nothing wrong with it, and it may be technically the "right" way to do it, but it's just one less thing to have your hands on in close quarters IMO.

 

[Pascal]

It helps

Just like using the rudders when turning the boat around helps too. I Ve done a test where I added rudders while doing my a 360 and the rate of turn increased with rudders. Is it needed? Nope does it help? Yes

 

[SKYCHENEY]

It helps

Just like using the rudders when turning the boat around helps too. I Ve done a test where I added rudders while doing my a 360 and the rate of turn increased with rudders. Is it needed? Nope does it help? Yes

You are correct. I've done exactly as you described in a tight spot and it helps.

 

[Dreamboat]

The only way I can walk mine sideways is with the bow thruster, but I guess that's cheating.
If I want to walk left then stbd engine reverse, port engine forward and thruster to port, rudders centered. It'll move off the dock while staying parallel to it.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The only way I can walk mine sideways is with the bow thruster, but I guess that's cheating.
If I want to walk left then stbd engine reverse, port engine forward and thruster to port, rudders centered. It'll move off the dock while staying parallel to it.

Now try the opposite: Stbd fwd, port reverse, but with rudder hard to stbd and no thruster. In theory, that should have the same effect.

But, as noted, either the small rudders, or the keel, or both, seem to make it less effective.

 

[rsmith]

The middle.

I always leave my rudders amidship when docking... except when I do it with one engine.

Actually it's forward of center that's why the stern swings more than the bow. Using the rudders in the direction of turn will increase the turn rate but it will give you some forward movement. It helps in a hi wind or current senario. A little juice on the throttles dosent hurt either. You can walk these boats sideways with a little current against you if you. Picture the keel like an aircraft wing which ever angle of attack the keel is to the current it will push the boat that way.

 

[q240z]

I always leave my rudders amidship when docking... except when I do it with one engine.

Translation: Freebird always uses his rudders when docking.

I've spent quite a bit of time trying to walk every Chris Craft I've owned...doesn't work. It just pivots and/or moves back and forth at different rates depending on rudder angle and RPM. And when I looked at youtube videos of walking, it sure looked like all of the boats had thrusters...and that's cheating.

 

[Boatsb]

I just let momentum do its thing. Hit the dock hard enough to bounce in the intended direction. Like shooting pool only harder to use English.


BUT seriously . Our boats don't have enough rudder to walk.

 

[krush]

I just let momentum do its thing. Hit the dock hard enough to bounce in the intended direction. Like shooting pool only harder to use English.


BUT seriously . Our boats don't have enough rudder to walk.

What if you feed it more beer?

 

[Boatsb]

What if you feed it more beer?

Everyone needs more beer.