LarryM
Guru
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2011
- Messages
- 1,069
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Pelago
- Vessel Make
- Wellcraft 3300 Coastal
Since we are confessing, I pulled a bone-headed stunt last year. One windy day with a boat full of guests, I backed Boomarang out of her slip, port rudder and prop walk as usual. Shifted to forward, gave it a good dose of power while turning the wheel to starboard to line up with the fairway. The boat moved forward but turned sharply back to port, right at my neighbor's transom. Hard astern and the stern swung to port. Now stopped, with the wind pinning us against the transoms of two boats, guests fending us off, I discovered the A/P was engaged. No steering at all. The rudder was turned to port the whole time.
The following month I installed a bow thruster and made sure I double-checked the status of the A/P before moving the gear lever.
To this day, I don't think any of my guests believe my explaination . . . . . they are convinced I was just being a wingnut.
Never say never, but I don't think I will be repeating that little maneouver again any time soon.
The following month I installed a bow thruster and made sure I double-checked the status of the A/P before moving the gear lever.
To this day, I don't think any of my guests believe my explaination . . . . . they are convinced I was just being a wingnut.
Never say never, but I don't think I will be repeating that little maneouver again any time soon.