Learning Boat Handling Puerto Rico

By Edna Booker


It comes as a shock to amateurs in boat operations to learn that the skills learned in automobile operation have minimal application in maneuvering a boat. They are usually inured to feeling the back end of their vehicle following diligently the front part tracks in cutting corners. In vessel operations, this is not the case. Actually the fulcrum point is way back on the third quadrant of the yacht. The stern in turn knocks repeatedly into the pier as the operator is turning the steering wheel towards the sea. This makes pulling from the dock a frustrating ordeal in skillful boat handling Puerto Rico.

Backing back is a piece of cake when dealing with a vessel having an engine which is outboard. All you have to do is turn the steering wheel or even push the controls. The propeller in turn will move from one side to the other and pulls along the stern in the preferred direction. Care is to be taken though on the speed you work the stern at because you are doing the pushing contrary to water direction by the flat surface of a transom.

An outboard/inboard levers in a similar manner to the outboard but its outdrive unit is obscured from the sight of the helmsman. Thus, accurate maneuvering has a lot to do with observation of how the boat reacts rather than watching how the outboard changes position. The transom is usually placed higher for this kind of a vessel and thus the risks of submerging while the boat moves astern is minimal.

After you have wrapped you finger around how the controls feel and their tightness, backing an inboard boat with two engines skillfully becomes easy. Both rudders are put in a straightforward position and left at it. To come back to a conventional line, both engines are put in reverse applying the same throttle force on each of them. To slowly back into the port, starboard engine throttle is increased while port side throttle is decreased. Turning quickly requires putting of an engine of port side at a neutral.

It is more stressing when backing boats that have one engine. One need to practice more to become perfect in this. It stresses because it has only one propeller which contributes to a paddle wheel effect. Once the propeller fans inside the water, the stern is also pulled in the same direction. This becomes difficult and dangerous.

So if your vessel has a one engine outboard, you need to study more and also practice a lot. You need to become used to backing when in tight spots. If you are not experienced, you will only change your plans to move ahead and this may inconvenience you and others.

If you are looking for perfection in the stern forward movements, practice in a calm day with little boat traffic in the ocean or lake. Halt the movement and then throw a thing that floats well in water. Then do practice taking it back to the boat. Soon you will find yourself comfortable controlling vessel movements and also its reactions to forces of wind and waves.

Lastly, you need to note that backing in shallow areas of the water body is dangerous. You may strike the rocks underneath. There are other people who could be snorkeling inside the waters. If you suspect that there is something or someone underneath, shut down the engines.




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