[Public-list] how do you back this darn thing up?

[EddieDiver at aol.com]

When going forward, the prop and it's wash are going past the rudder and thus 
allows the rudder to have control.

When reversing, the rudder is in front of the prop and the prop was is almost 
negated by the amount of water going forward past the rudder. One loses 
control. You need "twice" much water going across the rudder in reverse to contol. 
I presume you find the aft of the boat wants to go to starboard. 

If you want to go to port: With boat stopped or almost no forward motion, put 
the rudder over to the direction you want to go. Gun the engine/prop in 
reverse to 1) get a lot of water passing across the rudder and 2) to have the 
thrust of the prop start turning the boat BEFORE the boat actually starts moving 
backward. Once the aft of he boat is slightly moving backward and to port, 
lessen rudder angle to have boat go to where you want it.

Without wind, my students can back the boat for about 50 feet this way. Good 
luck. Ed. Schroeder #303 Emotional Rescue

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