Touche's slip is to port when approaching. I approach slowly about a half boat length off the piling line. I've already looked at the windexes of the stationary boats to determine the wind. I've looked at the water on the pilings for any current.
When Touche's shrouds are about center of the slip next to me, I shift to reverse and turn the bow away from the slip. With the rudder still hard to starboard, the boat still has a bit of forward way. As the boat begins to gather sternway, I ease the rudder and the throttle. Prop walk is pulling the boat past the starboard bow piling and into the slip. Once clear of the starboard bow piling, I use the rudder and throttle to back fully into the slip. Once in, a bit of forward thrust stops the boat. Easy. However, the caveat to "easy" is I've been doing it for 17 years. The first few tries were ugly. It does take a lot of practice to achieve a smooth stern in docking. For those who master it, it's a source of pride. I think I'm the only guy on my pier that can do it smoothly. And...on occasion, I do completely bungle a docking. BTW, Touche' has a Martec 2 blade folder. My neighbor does things a bit differently. He motors well past his slip then backs up and swings into his slip using the rudder. More of a brute force approach rather than finesse. On a few occasions I've had the opportunity to watch the weigh ins at a couple of fishing tournaments. The skill of the charter captains is phenomenal. They come into a harbor, motor to the center of a fairway, use the two engines to spin the boat's stern into the fairway, back directly down the fairway in what seems an impossibly straight line, stop within a gnat's whisker of the bulkhead, then gently place the boat's stern against the bulkhead and keep it there with a bit of reverse. The crew offloads the catches for weighing, the crowd roars with each weight announcement. Then, as quickly as it came, the boat is gone. Amazing seamanship. Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 mandeville, LA On Wed, Oct 26, 2016 at 3:16 PM, Chuck S via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com > wrote: > FWIW, I heard it explained that propwalk originates because the shaft is > at an angle to horizontal. The more angle the more prop walk. Also, more > surface area of the prop causes more prop walk. Sail drives have the least > prop walk because their shaft is horizontal, not at an angle. Power boats > with outboards have very little propwalk. Powerboats with inboards and > angled shafts have the most prop walk as their props are huge, too. > > Propwalk is not a problem but a sideways thrust that if used wisely, can > be very helpful at times. > > When docking stern first, I get the boat moving where I want it and shift > into neutral. I leave the throttle at idle and shift into reverse just long > enough to keep her moving. To slow or to stop, I place the shifter into > foreward only long enough to stop. Impulse power vs warp power. > > Chuck Scheaffer > Resolute 1990 C&C 34R > > On October 26, 2016 at 1:20 AM Jeremy Ralph via CnC-List < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > I had issues with my 2 blade Martec though not as bad as you describe. I > would open with a clunk, sometimes stick when opening, and have some bad > vibrations. A surveyor informed me it should be be rebuilt, which is in the > works. I replaced it with a 3 blade Campbell Sailer prop, which I'm > happy with, although reversing with the Martec had way less prop walk. > > >> Hey guys, with all of the discussion on props it reminded me that I'm >> having an issue with my 2 blade folding prop. Pretty sure it's the Martec >> that you all are mentioning. >> I continue to have issues with one blade not opening after we've been out >> sailing. Once we drop the sails and go to engage the engine and prop it >> fails to open one side and I get severe vibrations. Is this a normal thing >> with these props? It truly makes me want to just get a fixed prop. >> Unfortunately that's not in the budget right now though. >> So far I've tried: >> - to come to a complete stop and try again >> - Kick it into reverse and then back to forward >> - short kick to full throttle. >> >> The last time we were out nothing worked. We ended up limping along back >> to >> our slip. Afterwards I checked it by rotating it from the inside and it >> sounded like both blades would open when it was facing down because I >> heard >> the clunk. >> Occasionally it will open but it's not a first time thing. On departure >> from the slip I don't have any issues, it's only when trying to reengage >> the motor after a sail. It's really frustratin > > _______________________________________________ > > This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you > wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > All Contributions are greatly appreciated! > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you > wish to make a contribution to offset our costs, please go to: > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > > All Contributions are greatly appreciated! > >
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