Rescue boat handling lrg

© Grunt Productions 2007
BOAT HANDLINGBOAT HANDLING
A brief by Lance GrindleyA brief by Lance Grindley

Boat HandlingBoat Handling

Boat HandlingBoat Handling
1. Discovering the relationship between the
laws of physics and boat behavior can be
perplexing.
2. No two boats respond the same, even under
identical circumstances.
3. Successful boat handling requires Practice,
Practice and More Practice.

HelmsmanshipHelmsmanship
1. It cannot be mastered from a book or in a
classroom.
2. It involves your “reaction - response” to the
entire boat and its total environment including
the weather.
3. You must attain the basics of “performance”
from “hands on” experience in order to fully
understand and master the “helm”.

Secrets of Good HelmsmanshipSecrets of Good Helmsmanship
1. KNOW YOUR BOAT
2. Take it easy on another boat, until you “get
the feel” and KNOW THEIR BOAT
3. Practice, practice and practice some more.

TerminologyTerminology

Terminology 1Terminology 1
1. INBOARD: Engine mounted within the hull.
Fixed directions of thrust ahead and astern.
Steering generally uses rudder
2. OUTBOARD: Engine mounted on the transom
and detachable.Thrusts ahead and astern,
but whole engine can be moved to steer.
3. I/O: Combination of inboard and outboard.
4. THRUST: Force moving the boat through the
water, gained by a propeller or water jet.

1. PROPELLER: A “screw” which, when rotating.
draws in water from ahead and pushes it out
astern.
2. WATER JET: A screw inside a housing that
sucks water from under the vessel, and
pushes water out of a nozzle on the transom
to propel. Steering is achieved by turning the
nozzle, slowing or going astern is by moving a
bucket down in front of the nozzle to redirect
the flow.

1. SINGLE SCREW: Boat with one propeller.
2. TWIN SCREW: Boat with two propellers.

1. STEERING: Accomplished by changing
direction of thrust, whether by:
1 using rudder on inboard engine.
2.changing direction of propeller thrust on
outboards or inboard/outboards.
3.changing direction of nozzles and buckets on
water jets.

• PORT - left side of the boat looking forward.
• STARBOARD - right side of the boat looking
forward.
• REMEMBER: PORT and STARBOARD
sides are fixed, no matter which heading you
have.

1. MAKING HEADWAY: Going forward in the
water
2. MAKING STERNWAY: When backing down.
3. TURNING TO PORT: Bow is moving to the
left.
4. TURNING TO STARBOARD: The bow
moves to the right.

1. RIGHT HAND PROPELLER: Screws through
the water in a clockwise rotation, looking at
the transom from the stern.
2. LEFT HAND PROPELLER: Screws through
the water in an anti-clockwise rotation,
looking from aft.
3. Most single engine boats have RIGHT HAND
props on them.

1. TWIN ENGINED: Usually have counter-
rotating props to offset torque with RIGHT
HAND propeller on starboard side, LEFT
HAND propeller on port side.

Suction Screw CurrentSuction Screw Current
1. SUCTION: Incoming water current FROM
forward of the propeller
2. DISCHARGE: Outgoing current aft of the
propeller
3. RUDDER(S) are placed in the center of the
DISCHARGE flow and the current of water
rushing by produces a pressure on the rudder
blade which controls the direction of the boat
moving in the water.

Suction Screw CurrentSuction Screw Current
1. NOTE: RUDDER(S) are ONLY EFFECTIVE,
when the boat moves through the water.

PropellersPropellers
1. RIGHT-HANDED: View
from stern. Propeller is
turning CLOCKWISE
(NOTE OUTSIDE TIP AT
TOP)
2. LEFT-HANDED: Turning
COUNTER-CLOCKWISE.

Transverse ThrustTransverse Thrust
•When moving forward:
RIGHT HAND propellers produce greater thrust
to starboard at the stern
and
LEFT HAND propellers produce greater thrust to
port at the stern.
•All propellers rely on smooth flow of water for
max efficiency.

•When moving astern:
RIGHT HAND propellers produce greater thrust
to port at the stern
and
LEFT HAND propellers produce greater thrust to
starboard at the stern.
This fact can be used in maneuvering on and off
docks,

1. This called transverse thrust or the paddle
wheel effect.

1. In a right handed
propeller, moving ahead,
torque will move the stern
to the right.
2. Visualize the direction of
movement of the top of
the prop for direction of
movement of stern.

Transverse Thrust
Green spot is centre
of rotation for this
maneuver

1. This transverse thrust may be used to best
effect when docking, to bring the stern
alongside.

Handling CharacteristicsHandling Characteristics
1. HEAVY BUILT: Displacement, load carrying
hulls. Stable. Slower.
2. LIGHTER BUILT: Planing; Sport hulls.
Shallower draft. Much faster. Less stable.
3. BOTH: Handle completely differently,
especially in heavy weather
4. PLANING hulls revert to displacement hulls
at low speeds.

HandlingHandling
1. ALL HULLS are affected by WIND and
CURRENT.
2. HIGH BOWS: Tend to fall off the wind NO
MATTER what is done to prevent it,
especially at low speeds.
3. CURRENT: Biggest reaction factor in all
hull types.
4. DISPLACEMENT HULL: Current greatest
affecting factor

HandlingHandling
1. The more structure above the water, the
more effect from wind.
2. The deeper the draft, the more effect from
current.
3. Effect of current is greater than effect of
wind on displacement hulls.
4. Effect of wind greater than current on
planing hulls.

Mooring LinesMooring Lines
1. BOW LINE: Stops the bow from moving aft
2. BOW BREAST: Stops the bow from moving
outward from the dock.
3. AFTER BOW SPRING: Stops the boat from
moving forward
4. FOREWARD QUARTER SPRING: Stops
the boat from moving back

Mooring LinesMooring Lines
1.1. AFTER BREAST: Stops the stern from moving outAFTER BREAST: Stops the stern from moving out
from the dockfrom the dock
2.2. STERN LINE: Stops the stern from moving forwardSTERN LINE: Stops the stern from moving forward

Maneuvering On/Off DocksManeuvering On/Off Docks

Springing or Warping onto a Dock 1Springing or Warping onto a Dock 1
1.1. To get alongside starboard to, bend a mooring line to aTo get alongside starboard to, bend a mooring line to a
bow cleat. When close to the dock, pass it to a personbow cleat. When close to the dock, pass it to a person
on the dock from the starboard bow to secure it to aon the dock from the starboard bow to secure it to a
cleat or bit on the dock.cleat or bit on the dock.
2.2. Shorten the line on the boat side to suit and cleat it off.Shorten the line on the boat side to suit and cleat it off.
3.3. Put the rudder to PORT and give the engine moderatePut the rudder to PORT and give the engine moderate
power AHEAD.power AHEAD.

Springing or Warping onto a Dock 2Springing or Warping onto a Dock 2
1. The left rudder will swing the bow out.
2. The power will move the boat ahead until it is
stopped by the mooring line
3. The shortened mooring line will force the hull
into the dock and stop it’s forward motion.

Take It...

Without Wind Or CurrentWithout Wind Or Current
 Approach the dock at a very slight angle (10 to 20Approach the dock at a very slight angle (10 to 20
degrees)degrees)
 When the bow is close to dock, shift into reverse toWhen the bow is close to dock, shift into reverse to
slow headwayslow headway
 Ease into the landingEase into the landing

Wind or Current off DockWind or Current off Dock
 Approach the dock slowly at a fairly sharp angleApproach the dock slowly at a fairly sharp angle
(about 45 degrees)(about 45 degrees)
 At the dock, shift into neutral and secure a bow lineAt the dock, shift into neutral and secure a bow line
 Turn hard in the direction away from the dockTurn hard in the direction away from the dock
 Slowly go forward against the bow lineSlowly go forward against the bow line
 The stern will move toward the dockThe stern will move toward the dock

Into the Wind or CurrentInto the Wind or Current
 Approach the dock at a slight angleApproach the dock at a slight angle
(20 to 30 degrees)(20 to 30 degrees)
 When the boat is close to the dock, turn the boat soWhen the boat is close to the dock, turn the boat so
that it is parallel to the dockthat it is parallel to the dock
 Put the bow line over firstPut the bow line over first
 The stern will then swing into the dockThe stern will then swing into the dock

With Wind or Current AsternWith Wind or Current Astern
 Approach the dock at a slight angleApproach the dock at a slight angle
 When the bow is close, use reverse to slow headwayWhen the bow is close, use reverse to slow headway
 Make fast the stern lineMake fast the stern line
 Make fast the bowlineMake fast the bowline
 THIS APPROACH IS VERY DIFFICULT ANDTHIS APPROACH IS VERY DIFFICULT AND
SHOULD BE AVOIDEDSHOULD BE AVOIDED
 Be ready to use reverse gear at all timesBe ready to use reverse gear at all times

Try to avoid if possible

Wind or Current on to the DockWind or Current on to the Dock
 Approach parallel to the dockApproach parallel to the dock
 Shift into neutralShift into neutral
 Let the wind and the current carryLet the wind and the current carry
the boat into the dockthe boat into the dock

Springing Or Warping Out 1Springing Or Warping Out 1
Port Side ToPort Side To
1. Let go all lines except short forward spring,
well cleated.
2. Port rudder to swing the stern away from the
dock.
3. Low power to move the boat’s stern out from
the dock.

Springing Or Warping Out 2Springing Or Warping Out 2
Port Side ToPort Side To
4. Short spring will stop the outward motion, and
swing the hull on the forward cleat to a
position bringing the stern off the dock.
5. Let go the forward spring line.
6. Go astern to depart the dock.

Turning Around 1Turning Around 1
1. The vessel can be turned around in a
confined space by using transverse thrust to
its maximum.
2. The sticks can be split, one engine going
ahead, the other astern.

Turning Around 2Turning Around 2
3. The vessel will start turning around the centre
of rotation.
4. There can be drift ahead or astern, which may
be minimized by increasing the rpm on the
astern engine or ahead engine respectively.

Turning Around
Green spot is centre
of rotation for this
maneuver

Now….Now….
1. Go out and practice, on your own vessel

Rescue boat handling lrg

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