How do you drive a boat?

dairyman · Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 9

hey guys, I need a little help. No I don't reall need to know how to drive a boat completely but my girlfriends family traded in their ol' bayliner and purchased an '04 Centurion Avalanche. A sick boat if I may say so. Now i've had plenty of experience driving the bayliner, i could dock it like a pro. With the Centurion though i'm having a bit of trouble going in reverse because its V drive so you guys know how the prop and rutter are set up. I have tried backing up slow, and fast, and moving the steering wheel all around but i swear the rutter seems to have little to no effect on the direction the boat wants to back up. If anyone has a little tip for me or anything it would be much appreciated. Thanks guys.

Latah

DavidHoff · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 12:29 pm Post subject:

I am pretty sure that the rudder has no effect in reverse on any inboard boat. If I'm correct it would only reverse in one direction. I think it just takes practice and getting used to it.

SupraBoarder · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 1:40 pm Post subject:

yup... there's just about nothing you can do but get used to it. once you do, it's easy as pie.

krbaugh · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 758 City: Edwardsville

You can back up in any direction you want as long as it is to the right. This is normal or inboards/V drives unless you are in a CC then thye back to the left

DJew Jake · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 2:20 pm Post subject:

Your pro will either pull right or left normally it would be right so come into the dock on like a 20 degrree angle to dock on the right side then throw her in reverse and the boat will suck itself into the dock, reverse if it pulls left.

Johnny5 · Criminal Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 82

there seems to be lots of posts to the effect that tournament boats are hard to handle at docks. Which is just inexperience.
And if you really want to master it then go and practice.
yes it is embarassing to admit that you need to practice however like trailering just swallow it up and go put some time in getting used to how this boat handles.
I can spin my DD in at the dock and have it drift up to the dock gentle as can be... but, I used to come in not knowing what I was doing and really just hoping for the best, thank goodness for lots of friends to catch me, then I saw a friend bring in his to the same dock just perfect so I asked him and he gave me some pointers; like come in in such a way that you don't have to reverse, I now always come in on the right side so that if I need to back up (someone in front does something scary or I overshoot) then the boat sucks up nice to the dock.
So long story short; ask the GF's dad if you can practice as it handles differently and don't want to mess up the new ride, who would refuse that?
Good luck and enjoy the new pull.

1time17 · Posted: Jun 13, 2004 4:01 pm Post subject:

thats how it is they only turn one direction

wesgardner · Posted: Jun 14, 2004 9:22 am Post subject:

Hey dairyman,

Yep, that's "prop walk" due to the rotation of the propeller - obviously on an I/O you can "aim" the thing, not so on an inboard boat - this is true for all inboards, not just ski boats - obviously larger boats with dual engines have it easier with the ability to put one in forward and one in reverse...as others have posted, just practice your "back and fill" technique, you'll get it....but you're correct, the rudder has such a small surface area it has virtually no effect unless water is moving past it fairly quickly....

Wes

GYMBOARDER · Outlaw Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 123 City: Fresno

Your just going to have to get use to it. I have an 02 avalanche but before that I have a DD calabria. Your just going to have to practice a lot. Once you learn how the boat operates it will become second nature. Good luck with the boat. I think is a great boat.

wkbrdr82 · Newbie Joined: 03 Sep 2003 Posts: 31

took me a couple trys to get the speed right and everything and timing for when to throw it into reverse to suck it up into the dock

Stephan · Guest

Another way I practice is when I'm pulling riders. My goal is overall complete control & when someone falls I try and line them up perfectly behind the boat & have my coast pull the rope just tight so we can go. Remeber it's a boat, you can always go faster but it's a real pain to make it go slower, so just go slow. The rudder is only effective when water is forced past it by the prop(look at the thing it's offset to one side so it gets a good bite w/ no cavitation effect coming off the prop.

ssrgeoff · Addict Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 582 City: So Cal

It always seems windy at the end of the day when I go out so I let the wind do some of the work. Depends on wind direction and which way the dock sits. Next time look at the current and see if it can work in your favor. It consistantly changes so always be on alert.

If there is no wind, I try to not get into a spot that I know will be difficult. My boat so far has backed up rather straight unless of wind. Like everyone else says, practice makes perfect. Or close too.....

dairyman · Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 9

Thanks for all the info guys. Yeah i kind of figured there wasn't a whole lot i could do but i had to ask. And don't worry i plan to practice more than you know. Thanks again guys and if you're ever headed to central oregon then message me if you wanna get a tow.

Latah

roundbaywakeboard · Posted: Jun 14, 2004 9:07 pm Post subject:

well well well! It seems that my Boston Whaler and it's 175 Johnson outboard have the upperhand in backward handling over all of your wakeboard boats! Well see who wins at the Van's National "wakeboard behind the boat going boackward" contest!