Letting go of wheel

Paul_S · 25 November 2016, 07:24

OK, probably a dumb question, but not the dumbest I have asked

What should happen if you let go of the wheel. My boat tracks in a reasonably straight line, but some research online suggests I am moments from steering torque taking over, slamming the motor to port, which in turn will turn the boat hard to starboard.

Now I am not suggesting I let go and go make a cup of tea, but what about helm changes etc.

Pikey Dave · 25 November 2016, 07:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_S

OK, probably a dumb question, but not the dumbest I have asked

What should happen if you let go of the wheel. My boat tracks in a reasonably straight line, but some research online suggests I am moments from steering torque taking over, slamming the motor to port, which in turn will turn the boat hard to starboard.

Now I am not suggesting I let go and go make a cup of tea, but what about helm changes etc.

Cable or hydraulic ?? Chalk & cheese

jeffstevens763@g · 25 November 2016, 07:49

only needs a wave to change the direction of the boat, personnally i never let go one hand on the throttle one on the wheel stop to change drivers, as dave says cable different from hydraulic more play in cable OMO

Mextli · 25 November 2016, 08:06

On flat sea when I let go of my SR4s steering wheel it wilk keep going on in a straight line. As soon as there js a bit of movement in the water it will slowly start to go off course.

Havent yet tried it in big waves for obvious reasons.

Pikey Dave · 25 November 2016, 08:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mextli

....... it wilk keep going on in a straight line.

That'd be a first[emoji23]

Properly functioning Hydraulic steering will stay where you put it, if the valves are leaking in the helm it will creep to Stbd. Cable depends on the actual make, some claim to be NFB, No Feed Back. This will reduce the tendency to creep, but it will still do so, just not as dramatically. With normal cable steering, just don't let go[emoji15]

willk · 25 November 2016, 08:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_S

...but what about helm changes etc.

IMO, possibly the WORST time to have no hands on the wheel!

I'll admit to doing "live" helm changes, and only ever in calm water at reduced speeds. The swap follows the same pattern every time - agree swap, power back, exiting helm holds wheel and steps away from the throttle/seat - replacement immediately steps in behind them and says "my boat" at the point they are about to take control - outgoing helm releases grip on wheel. Generally I just stop the boat for helm changes - and always stop with less experienced drivers.

Damn sure I wouldn't want two people grappling for control if there was a sudden change in circumstances

Paul_S · 25 November 2016, 08:53

It has hydraulic steering.

Pikey Dave · 25 November 2016, 08:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_S

It has hydraulic steering.

In which case, assuming its working properly, there should be no drama if you let go. It's still not something I'd want to do at speed or in the rough though.

Paul_S · 25 November 2016, 09:30

Like I said, it tracks straight...just worried about it suddenly veering over.

Ribtec1 · 25 November 2016, 10:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

IMO, possibly the WORST time to have no hands on the wheel!

I'll admit to doing "live" helm changes, and only ever in calm water at reduced speeds. The swap follows the same pattern every time - agree swap, power back, exiting helm holds wheel and steps away from the throttle/seat - replacement immediately steps in behind them and says "my boat" at the point they are about to take control - outgoing helm releases grip on wheel. Generally I just stop the boat for helm changes - and always stop with less experienced drivers.

Damn sure I wouldn't want two people grappling for control if there was a sudden change in circumstances

Surely this method will give the new driver all sorts of problems as you have just walked away with the kill cord and the new driver will be wondering why he can't get the boat to go??

willk · 25 November 2016, 16:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ribtec1

Surely this method will give the new driver all sorts of problems as you have just walked away with the kill cord and the new driver will be wondering why he can't get the boat to go??

I deliberately left the bit about what I do with killcords out of the explanation on account of how it would upset some of the more delicate snowflakes in the audience...

Pikey Dave · 25 November 2016, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

I deliberately left the bit about what I do with killcords out of the explanation on account of how it would upset some of the more delicate snowflakes in the audience...

We never bother with the kill cord thingy, it just gets in the way.

willk · 25 November 2016, 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

We never bother with the kill cord thingy, it just gets in the way.

*faints*

69cmw · 25 November 2016, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

We never bother with the kill cord thingy, it just gets in the way.

What's a kill cord anyway? [emoji848]

Pikey Dave · 25 November 2016, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69cmw

What's a kill cord anyway? [emoji848]

You're just being silly now[emoji57]

spartacus · 26 November 2016, 11:38

Can't think of a situation where it's imperative to let go of the steering wheel, certainly at speed. Okay there might be one or two such as a lumpy following sea in worsening conditions where you don't want to be swamped or take a wave beam on. Otherwise reduce the throttle to trolling, hand over the helm position, swap over and tighten killcord, etc. It's not 24 hours Le Mans!

Paul_S · 26 November 2016, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartacus

Can't think of a situation where it's imperative to let go of the steering wheel, certainly at speed. Okay there might be one or two such as a lumpy following sea in worsening conditions where you don't want to be swamped or take a wave beam on. Otherwise reduce the throttle to trolling, hand over the helm position, swap over and tighten killcord, etc. It's not 24 hours Le Mans!

Honestly, the thread was less about what is imperative and more about what would be the result of doing so.

paintman · 26 November 2016, 19:12

Probably much the same as doing it in a car. 999,999 times out of a million absolutely nothing untoward will happen. But as with much else involving showing off or taking pointless risks it will likely wind up biting you in the arse.

Paul_S · 27 November 2016, 09:25

It is still a little hard to pull out the fact from the opinion, much as it was via Google searches.

I sail my sailboat via a tillerpilot 99% of the time, under sail or motoring ahead. I am almost always single handed and it makes life much easier.

I had looked into an auto pilot for the powerboat, there is a nice Lowrance one that ties into my chartplotter...but honestly at ~£1,500 it seemed a bit (lot) excessive for my needs.

I just wanted to be able to let go of the wheel for a less than a minute at any one time and know the outboard will for the most part hold it's position and not slam over from one side to the other.

Last Tango · 27 November 2016, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_S

the outboard will for the most part hold it's position and not slam over from one side to the other.

If it's properly functioning hydraulic steering, it will hold it's position...

(and you might be surprised how far it will keep going in a dead straight line if it's calm.)