Catboat Forum

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Posted By: Carl, Horizon Cat/Picnic Cat, Central Texas
Date: 6/25/08 9:32a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Com-Pac Sun Cat (Bob)

I saw a tee shirt recently somewhere - 'Wind, the free fun fuel for your boat!'

For just bopping along, I imagine steering with the boat's rudder with the motor dead ahead will work best. The rudder has good authority with a little water flow.
You'll probably notice a pull one way or the other. Likely you have little to no prop walk, but if the motor is pushing off-center you'll get a tendency to turn. Just bump the motor tiller a little in the direction you're having to push the boat tiller. If you're pushing the tiller to starboard (helming to port) push the motor tiller a bit to starboard.
On our Picnic Cat, I've found a use for the motor a little off plumb. If I've got the mast down to get under a bridge it really cuts visibility. So, if I'm standing on the port side of the cockpit I will keep the motor tiller a little to port (turning the boat to starboard).
That way I can steer with my knee against the boat's tiller. The off-center push from the motor keeps the boat tiller against my knee. Push farther, and I turn to port. Ease my knee off the tiller, the boat wanders to starboard from the motor push.
Or I can stand defiantly on the quarterdeck, hands clasped behind my back with a flinty gaze over the horizon as my boat seems to steer herself.
I don't often do that, though. That's about the time a sea gull will poop on me, or some other return to reality will crop up. Sigh.

Messages In This Thread

Com-Pac Sun Cat -- Bob -- 6/25/08 6:14a.m.

Steering -- Tom Ray -- 6/25/08 6:27a.m.

Nice article about docking -- Carl, Horizon Cat/Picnic Cat, Central Texas -- 6/25/08 9:53a.m.

Prop walk -- Dick Herman, Muddy Duck -- 6/25/08 10:19a.m.

Only part you are doing wrong is... -- John- Suncat "Wanderer" in Ontario Canada -- 6/25/08 10:38a.m.

From a jet jocky, that rings true -- Carl, Horizon Cat/Picnic Cat, Central Texas -- 6/25/08 11:43a.m.

I get it -- Dick Herman, Muddy Duck -- 6/25/08 6:28p.m.

And God bless 'em, all that have our backs. -- Carl, Horizon Cat/Picnic Cat, Central Texas -- 6/26/08 6:49a.m.

Someone take away Carl's P key -- Tom Ray -- 6/26/08 4:11a.m.

You make my rotors turn and burn folks -- Greg Miller -- 6/26/08 11:15a.m.

Helicoptors don't "fly"... -- Jim B., Yellowstone -- 6/26/08 3:56p.m.

Whop, Whop, Whop -- Dick Herman, Muddy Duck -- 6/27/08 8:12a.m.

Rudder and motor together -- Jim B., Yellowstone -- 6/25/08 6:54a.m.

steering\engine -- johnny walker -- 6/25/08 7:26a.m.

Welcome to the sailing community! -- Carl, Horizon Cat/Picnic Cat, Central Texas -- 6/25/08 9:32a.m.

Thanks! -- Bob -- 6/26/08 7:21a.m.

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