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

Wed May 11 14:16:26 PDT 2005

When the afternoon breeze picks up, it blows at 90 degrees to the path into 
or out of our slip.  If there is much wind (say 12 knots or more), the bow 
wants to blow down wind regardless of the rudder angle, until the boat gets 
a good head of steam.  In winds over 20 knots, the bow blows down wind, 
period.   We dock bow in, but we have very little water behind us so backing 
out can still be a challenge.  I try to line up the boat at an angle within 
the slip to help, and I have lines run to the outer pilings that I can use 
to pull the boat one way or the other.  I also gun the motor until the boat 
gets moving well.  Finally, I try to plan so that if the bow blows the 
"wrong" way, I can circle around with hitting anything & still get out.

Of course, if there is an audience, you are dead meat no matter what.

Docking bow-in is a lot easier if you have a finger pier to access the boat 
with.

David Swanson
Strayaway Child
Alberg 30 #229

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Schueler" <jschueler at familyempowerment.org>
To: <cbcurrier at spinrx.com>; "'Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all'" 
<public-list at alberg30.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 1:39 PM
Subject: RE: [Public-list] how do you back this darn thing up?

> 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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