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

Wed May 11 10:39:57 PDT 2005

Thanks C.B. I'll try that next time. I did try to position the stern in
the area that I wanted but, due to the wind that day, I was just blown
away each time. I kept wishing for just a few moments of calm but it
always came up again as I neared the pilings. Typical, I suppose, for
the first time having to do this.

Thanks again,

James

-----Original Message-----
From: public-list-bounces at alberg30.org
[mailto:public-list-bounces at alberg30.org] On Behalf Of C.B. Currier
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 12:06 PM
To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
Subject: Re: [Public-list] how do you back this darn thing up?

This is not rocket scient but it might be a bit of magic...

Due to the size of the propeller / aperature in the hull plus rudder
configuration the boat does not do well in a constant reverse drive.
That is it has that prop walk or tendency to move to port or starboard
without your help.

So ... to properly back an A 30 - Put the back of the boat where you
would
like to start. Shift into reverse gear with lots of power for a few
seconds to get the boat moving in reverse. At the same time use the
extreme angles on hte rudder to encourage the hull to start in the
direction you wish to go. Once you have a little velocity cut the motor
back to neutral. Now work the boat in the direction you want to go. Once
you feel you have lost some of that inertia hit the reverse hard again
with power. now you should have a little more success since th boat is
already moing in the direction you wnat to go. But do not leave it in
gear
too long. Cut it again & let the inertia help with the rudder to get you
in the right direction. By this point you should have a good deal of
inertia & direction. Now slow it down with a little forward and you
shuld
be there.

If backing up an alley do the same thing but with more time between
reverse power...

This works very nicely for me. Hope it does for you too.

Good Luck & remember practice practice practice

-- 
C.B. Currier
Infinity # 57
Daybreak #458

Dave Terrell said:
> I understand and can say from experience that getting an Alberg to
steer
> well in reverse is a common problem. I end up dealing with this as a
> sometimes frustrating learning experience.
>
> Why to you have to back in? I have a slip and go in bow first. I back
out.
> I have the good fortune of having a slip that favors the use of the
left
> prop walk of the propeller, but that does not always help in certain
> winds. In that case I use a line attached to the dock to pull the
stern so
> that the bow heads down the fairway to the bay and  not up the fairway
> toward the wall. Sometimes that happens and then backing and filling
> usually gets me out of a jam. My experience suggests that backing out
> rather than backing is gives the helmsperson more control over the
> situation. I use a bridle to help with getting into the slip with
> reasonable grace.
>
>
> I do have a three questions/suggestiions that might help even if you
have
> to back into your slip.
>
> 1. Can you approach the slip in a way that takes advantage of the prop
> walk? If as you back into the slip, the slip is on your port side,
this
> should be possible. If I have this correct, prop walk will tend to put
the
> boat to port. As you put the tiller to starboard, this will help get
you
> going in the direction that will help.If I have the facts exactly
opposite
> of reality, I hope someone on the list will straighten it out. I am
sure
> the principle is correct even if the data is a little mixed up. I
think
> both principle and data are correct, but... I have to make an effort
to
> clear this up in my mind each spring.
>
> 2. I  have found that putting some  power on in reverse helps the boat
go
> where you want it to go better. If you have too little power on, it is
> hard to steer any course. On occassion, I found that the boat went
quite
> straight in reverse with lots of power on. Powering up a bit should
help.
>
> 3. Could you use an inverted version of backing and filling to control
the
> process of backing into the dock? I am not sure I can describe this,
but I
> am sure others can.
>
> 4. Can you set up a line on a piling that you could grab as you come
in
> and help control the process?
>
> 5. With some analysis, can you pinpoint what worked when you got in
the
> slip correctly? And what did not work when you had to try again? Since
I
> do not back in I have no clues on this from personal experience, but
think
> this might be a helpful line of thinking to pursue.
>
> One caveat - I sail in the great lakes where current and tide are not
an
> issue. I do not know how current or tide might complicate this
process.
>
> i hope I have been helpful because I have experienced this frustration
> myself in different situtations.
>
>
>>>> jschueler at familyempowerment.org 05/11/05 10:13 AM >>>
> Hello all.
>
> Having sailed my Alberg last year I am fairly familiar with the
problems
> that seem to exist when attempting to steer a short course in reverse.
> It doesn't appear that it responds well to the rudder, at best; at
> worst, there have been times when I've had the boat headed in the
> opposite direction to that which I was steering (in reverse). My
problem
> is this: I am not at a mooring this year as I was last year. I now
have
> to back the boat into a rather narrow slot between two pilings which
> puts the stern to the dock and enables us to get off. However, it's
> tough to say the least. I tried 6 times yesterday before I was able to
> get it into the slip. I'd put it in reverse and the boat would just
back
> up in any direction it wanted, no matter that I was guiding it with
the
> rudder. A whole season of this is going to be a pain in the neck. Any
> advice?
>
> James Schueler
> 'Oddyseus' #170
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