Equipment Outfitters

Boat Drilling Circling

It may have been surprising to learn that your boat turns more efficiently in one direction than the other. You will also find that higher speeds produce different turning results. In general, the faster you go, the larger the turning circle. Unlike your car, which has good adhesion, your boat will slip sideways as it turns. At a dead stop, with the rudder hard over, a short burst of throttle will kick the stern to the side.

Preparation: The same as for Drill 1. Since this drill involves higher speeds, check to be sure that the area is clear of swimmers and other boats.

Drill: Execute a turn around the buoy at a speed 500 rpm over the idle speed. On each successive circle, increase speed by 500 rpm until you reach medium throttle. Be prepared to cross your own wake as you begin each new circle.

Conclusions: You will find that an increase in speed also increases the radius of your turn. If you have twin engines, the results of Drill 2 will be the same. In Drill 1, however, you will find your boat makes circles of equal radius in both directions. A word of caution: Sharp, high speed turns can be dangerous, so either throttle down before making a turn or make wider, more gentle turns at speed.

Boat Drilling Backing

You’ve already discovered that propeller rotation affects your boat’s turning radius in one direction more than the other. You’ll discover through this drill that your boat’s backing characteristics are also affected by the propeller’s rotation. In general, the common right-handed propeller will make your stern move to the left as you back up. This will be true regardless of engine system.

Preparation: A buoy in open water can be used for the first drill, but a more ideal situation would be to find a pier in deep water to serve as a “straight line” for the backing practice outlined in the second drill.

Drill: In open water, duplicate the turnir.g radius tests in reverse and at low speed. You will find that your powerboat will turn much more quickly in one direction. Note this fact for future maneuvers.

Drill: With the boat parallel to the pier and at a distance of at least two boat lengths from it, put the engine in reverse at idle speed. Start with the drive unit or rudder centered, as though you were proceeding straight ahead. Without turning the wheel, note that the stern will swing in one direction, usually to the left. Try the same drill at a slightly higher engine speed, and note that this increases the tendency of the stern to back to one side.

Stop, realign your boat and again put it in reverse at idle speed. This time, turn the wheel so that the boat backs up in a straight line, and note the amount of turn that is required to compensate for the natural tendency to turn left in reverse.

Boat Drilling Retrieving Objects

A basic maneuver for small powerboats is to return to a previous spot in order to retrieve something from the water. This can be as common an occurrence as picking up a waterskier or retrieving a hat that blew off. It can also be as crucial as recovering someone who fell overboard accidentally. These are simple maneuvers. Nevertheless, the precision with which they are executed is the result of practice.

Preparation: For your in-water object, use a floating life preserver or a boat fender without a line tied to it so that it won’t snag your propeller. Practice this drill in an open water area with calm winds so that the floating object won’t blow away.

Drill: Toss the cushion overboard. As soon as it hits the water, turn the boat toward the cushion. This will turn the stern away from the cushion, thus protecting it from the propeller. If there is a wind, maneuver to the cushion from downwind. This keeps the boat from being blown down on the object when you stop your engine to retrieve it. If possible, retrieve the cushion on the side nearest the skipper for best visibility.

Retrieving a Person in the Water: You may want to use a thrown line to pull them toward the boat instead of maneuvering close by and thereby risking collision. In either case, be sure that your engine is in neutral or stopped as you near the person so that the propeller is not a threat.

Practice this drill in different wind and wave conditions to determine how your boat is affected in each situation.

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• Practice Boating Drill Guide part 1
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• Hauling Out/Retrieving boat from the water by Sling
• Boat Collision, what to do?
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• Water Boat Safe Trailering
• Boat Hull Maintenance/Waxing and Painting