WHAT AM I MISSING WHEN MOTORING

[apsaunders]

I know exactly what you mean. I have gotten so that I can anticipate when it going to start to swing either to port or starboard. If I do not anticipate quick enough, it is almost impossible to straighten it back up. My Admiral has given up on it entirely! Every time I put her at the controls we either end up circling to the right or to the left.

I'm going to try some of these suggestion on our 2007 26M to see if they will help. I already know I'm going to need a steering cable change. That will be a good time to tighten all the connection up too.

[45Plus+]

Installing the new steering cable was not hard but the "toothbrush" pedestal on my M was packed with other wires etc. I had to cut some of them to clear the way for the cable through the cockpit floor - and then rejoined them which was a bit of a pain. Fortunately all the gauges and instruments worked after it was all said and done.

Before I made these first changes, I had wondered whether or not I'd have to glue a skeg (or skegs) on to the bottom to get any sort of stability - I am glad it did not come to that as I am not sure what impact it would have had on sailing.

BTW, my admiral can hold the wheel while I do other things and we don't careen to far off course so that speaks to the impact of the changes made.

[OverEasy]

A little bit off the intended topic but as we motor cruise there are other things you miss when motoring like the
- time generally get to your destination
- meandering back and forth tacking up wind and upstream
- lack of maneuverability in narrow waterways and channels and streams
- complexity when docking
- being stuck when the wind fizzles
- having to shift sides with every tack

For those that love the movement of boat via wind you miss the following when motoring like
- the joy of sailing
- the thrill of executing the perfect turnabout
- the sense of accomplishment of using the wind to battle your way upstream and upwind
- the use of ancient skills that are always new each time the wind tugs
- the romance
- the silence save for the rustle of wind on fabric and gentle splash of water as you pass through

[leefrankpierce]

As I was motoring in to my slip down a channel:
It occurred to me that I was holding left on the wheel, my experience immediately told me that I had my sailing rudders down, then I remembered this conversation.
I believe prop wash will cause a right turning effect if using rudders while powering.
Leaving the center board down (swing board, whatever we call it) will also cause directional instability once I get fast enough.
I am too lazy to pull the centerboard and rudders up for my slow run up the channel, but if I will be powering for any amount of time, pulling all three up helps handling a lot.

[kurz]

for low speeds I use rudder(s) down.

So I fixe the motor in middle position and I (or the AP) just steer with the rudders.

If I need the OB to turn as well I watch to keep the OB in middle position. As in the steering system there is some play I can correct steering by just turn the wheel ab bit so that the rudders turn slightly. But the OB just remains in middle position. I like this becouse you do not need to turn the OB. Of course it works just for small course corrections...

[leefrankpierce]

for low speeds I use rudder(s) down.

So I fixe the motor in middle position and I (or the AP) just steer with the rudders.

If I need the OB to turn as well I watch to keep the OB in middle position. As in the steering system there is some play I can correct steering by just turn the wheel ab bit so that the rudders turn slightly. But the OB just remains in middle position. I like this becouse you do not need to turn the OB. Of course it works just for small course corrections...

Yes been playing with leaving the outboard locked also so that I do not have to fight the motor weight when sailing, and do not have to switch the motor from fixed to steering while out. Once I get used to the idea of steerageway, it works fine.