Motoring with just the rudders?

[Mr Seas]

Mr Seas, Blake, hails out of Southern Utah near Zion National Park. Our Boat is called Mrs Seas.

[Russ]

I was wondering what it would be like if I centered and fix the OB, then under low power, just steered with the rudders .

Yes, this is what I do all the time.

I only connect the motor to steering when docking. Then I use the BWY quick connect and attach the motor centered once I clear the marina.
Of course high speeds you need to pull all fins up and reconnect motor.

This works well for sailing as I can then tilt motor up with sails or drop it when under power.
Yes, if you need a tight turn, you'll want to drop a board to give some grab, then pull it back up. If you have a really tight turn (like in a marina) you'll need to reconnect the motor.

--Russ

[Neo]

Thanks Russ

[DaveC426913]

In my experience, motoring w/o the C/B makes for very wide turns.
It would be OK in open water, but I've had some major sphinctorial puckering in the harbor when forgetting to drop the C/B.

[sailboatmike]

In my experience, motoring w/o the C/B makes for very wide turns.
It would be OK in open water, but I've had some major sphinctorial puckering in the harbor when forgetting to drop the C/B.

I know what you mean, when that channel marker is coming up rapidly and your just skating across the water instead of turning away from it, a highly puckering moment

[dlandersson]

Yeah, that sums it up nicely

In my experience, motoring w/o the C/B makes for very wide turns.
It would be OK in open water, but I've had some major sphinctorial puckering in the harbor when forgetting to drop the C/B.

[Russ]

That's interesting.

The M does turn wider without board, but not like what you X owners are describing. I've found myself in the marina with poor turning and realized I forgot the board down.

Can't you drop your centerboard just a few inches to get a good bite? The M's dagger needs to go down much more to achieve the same surface bite.

I have dropped the dagger a bit at certain speeds to avoid the motoring "wobble/zig zag".

--Russ

[Tomfoolery]

Can't you drop your centerboard just a few inches to get a good bite? The M's dagger needs to go down much more to achieve the same surface bite.

The has that long swing CB, which makes a pretty effective 'skiff keel' with only a little showing.

I have dropped the dagger a bit at certain speeds to avoid the motoring "wobble/zig zag".

I can't speak to the behavior at just under hull speed, but my wanders all over the place without some CB, even if it's only shallow. And one rudder at least. But then, I hardly ever open it up these days, so I rarely move without boards down.

[DaveC426913]

Can't you drop your centerboard just a few inches to get a good bite?

A little or a lot'l. As long as you remember to put some down.

I've got a few dock-splinters in my prow from Launch Day, forgetting to lower the C/B (after six months on-the-hard).

[ EDIT ]: My boat has. Not me personally. I have no dock splinters in my prow. And I sure don't leave it on-the-hard long enough that I forget how to use it.

[Neo]

[ EDIT ]: My boat has. Not me personally. I have no dock splinters in my prow. And I sure don't leave it on-the-hard long enough that I forget how to use it.

Careful ... you could be banned from this site. ... Small fonts won't protect you

[MisfitSailers]

I wish I'd read this sooner. Lawd, we were wobbling all over in the marina this past weekend trying to get her docked. Pretty sure I had at least 3 heart attacks and 2 panic attacks trying to get her into the slip. Getting work done on the trailer (tandem axle here we come!) so needed somewhere to store her for the next 2 weeks. Decided we'd try a marina so we can still take her out.

[March]

Also, be careful not to drop the centerboard too soon! My untrained first-mate dropped it while we were still floating above the trailer (I was looking the other way, stupid me, trying to steer backwards). The board snagged the cross beam of the trailer, I gave it more power do move away and... we leaped up a foot, disengaged, but nicked the centerboard badly. I was able to fix it with fiberglass, but what a hassle. Good thing it didn't crack the boot.

Always make sure the board is fully retracted when on or above the trailer--

[Russ]

We've been in a bad drought this summer. Lake levels are way down.
There was only 2 feet of water in our slip and we had to pull the boat.

So for the first time, I could NOT put any fins down and it was windy.

I learned this boat really will float in 2 feet of water although the wind blew me aground. A boat pole got me floating again. I kept the ballast in and was able to get the boat onto the trailer.

These are amazing boats. Only one other sailboat in the marina, another Mac.

[Highlander]

Russ said
We've been in a bad drought this summer. Lake levels are way down.
That,s the worse excuse I have ever heard !
Did ur local Beer store run out of product
Git yer trk run too the next town buy a trk load of Beer
Dump yer ballast
Buy the biggest beer coolers u can find & load up that boat
Hold a flotilla of beer haulers out on the lake
Lock down all heads
Now just watch the waters rise
Geeze us old fellows gotta tell u all
U never heard of catch & release !
Just Sayin That,s All

J

[OverEasy]

As my kids would say “ Eeewwwiiieeee”…….