marina steering with fixed engine

[restless]

A quick question...
I'm thinking of putting a q-disconnect on my nissan 50 steering link.
No big deal.
What lazy bones is thinking, is if I come into a marina, do I actually need to hook the engine back up? In theory, the 26x has 2 rudders at <6Kt, hence should work fine like most keel boats. Or the 26C.. just drop the centered engine and come in on straight thrust.
If there is a heap of tide and wind I guess I'll hook the thing up. just wondering if anyone has any experience of this.
Cheers.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

My Marina slip is very well wind protected. But, sometimes, I need the engine thrust along with use of the rudders all in the same position to control my Mac X. As recent as last weekend, with very high winds, I had to thrust into a directional reverse in order to back up & reset the boat, and make another attempt into my permanent slip. I dont think I wouldve been able to dock my "X" without engine help connected with the rudders. The "X" is tuff to manuever, comparible to the former classics (C & D models) -- with heavy contrary winds.

If winds are silent, the X handles well...with or without ballast when docking.

[c130king]

I like having the extra contol of having motor connected. Directional thrust and a third rudder so to speak. And I normally do a quick burst of high-speed motoring to empty the ballast and the motor is connected for that so I just leave it connected.

But I almost alway sail with motor disconnected for ease of steering and less stress on my steering system and autopilot.

But to each their own.


Cheers,
Jim

[Retcoastie]

The engine provides more directional control than the rudders at very low speeds. That prop can push the stern all the way around in a circle in just over a boat length by using forward and reverse and turning. The rudders need motion thru the water to be effective.

[Catigale]

The Mac is under-ruddered for a boat of its size and windage. Moreover, the twin rudders are out of the wake of the prop (unlike most keelboats) so there is no stream over them other than the motion of the boat....below 4 kts the boat will wallow like a scow without engine motion imhe.

[fishheadbarandgrill]

I forgot to put the fins down once pulling out of a slip. Big mistake. Rudders are worthless unless there is water flowing over them. So within a marina where you are at bare steerage, you need the thrust vectoring of the outboard.

Bob

[jschrade]

I forgot to hook it back up once coming into the dock but had the daggerboard down and both rudders. I didn't notice until putting everything away, it motors and you don't have to be moving much to steer. I go in and out of idle and it worked great.

Jim

[yukonbob]

love the quick disconnect. forgot to attach the engine putting in last weekend and with the tide out and only 50 ft to move around in and 40mph winds it only took 2 seconds (literally) to reconnect.

[restless]

Thanks all.. useful info if a little mixed.

I'm working on zero slop and full swing of the motor. This involves moving the drag link on the engine about 4" forward, to underneath the engine itself. odd to explain, but suffice to say it swings with the rudders from lock to (engine)lock, some extra 30 deg per side from what it did before.
However, with the engine up, when turning full lock to port, the geometry gets a little vague and I can see a little strain in the sytem. Nothing hydraulic steering and ball joints throughout can't cope with, just inelegant to my sense of engineering.
I'll re-check when the set up is fully tuned, and may incorporate a Q-D.
Thanks again

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

I forgot to put the fins down once pulling out of a slip. Big mistake. Rudders are worthless unless there is water flowing over them. So within a marina where you are at bare steerage, you need the thrust vectoring of the outboard.

Bob

I once forgot to drop the centerboard when backing out of my slip, and when we attemped to throttle forward during a cross wind ...(I learned quick) ! The Mac will slide sideways like a leaf on water in a breeze.

I need all the fins, engine, and centerboard available -- especially when single handling this boat.

[dennisneal]

Around here, marina channels and slips are never quite wide enough, especially when the wind is blowing. A 26M has a lot of freeboard and, since its a relatively light weight boat, it can be pushed around by a cross wind. I use all of the steering help available: the motor as well as both rudders and the dagger board fully down. Even so, I still run into trouble occasionally and need the help of a boat hook.

[bscott]

My Power Thruster seems to handle slow speed maneuvers very well.

Bob

[Wrudd3]

Bob,

Speaking of power thursters and steering, I have a question about when rudders are up and ballast is out.
When I do a turn at 12-14 kts with the power thuster mounted I notice the boat seems to heel into the turn more that an enging with the thrusters. Did you notice that after you put the thuster on your motor?
I assume it is the thruster cutting into the turn rather than the motor slipping sideways some when the thruster plates are not attached.

Will

[bscott]

Hi Will,
I don't remember any turning difference at that speed but I don't execute tight turns with my . I run my cb line about 4-6 inches out giving me some keel to stabilize the trim. I did notice that I do not need to power trim the engine IN as much as before which gets me up on plane faster--I think it lifts the stern as my prop wake is flatter than before.

Since I run at 8,300' altitude, I only get 16.5 knts top speed Deduct 1.5 knts for full ballast.

Bob