Letting go of wheel

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by Paul_S

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

If you've not read the Millie MAIB report now would be the time to do so.

Originally Posted by willk

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

Yip if you are going to hot-swap you really need to make sure there is no risk that some fat barsteward bumps the wheel while trying to fit his fat thighs over the seat...

Originally Posted by willk

I'll admit to doing "live" helm changes, and only ever in calm water at reduced speeds.

so have I. Although I never have in the car! Why do I feel the need on a boat!!

Originally Posted by willk

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

Or none!

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??

Thats the best scenario. The worst is they either forget to swap and new helm goes over the side while being an ar$£ and the old helm has to get back to the throttle to grapple control. Or both have disconnected themselves for the hot swap and it goes t!t$ up and both end up over the side.

[Last Tango]

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

If you've not read the Millie MAIB report now would be the time to do so.

That boat "hooked out". Design fault, over-powered? (even though it was within manufacturer's claimed max limited).
There was no suggestion that changing over helm was the cause. The boat shouldn't have done that.

[Paul_S]

I'd thought the Milly incident was that the boat hooked as they were banking too hard. My only concern (and it is a concern) is that my boat might hook when driving straight over flatish clamish water.

[willk]

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Yip if you are going to hot-swap..... Although I never have in the car! Why do I feel the need on a boat!!

Clearly you've never driven "up to Croker" with three car loads of lads from Mullingar!

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Paul_S

My only concern (and it is a concern) is that my boat might hook when driving straight over flatish clamish water.

I doubt it very much. The folks on this thread are either frightened of the day they never saw or they've got feckin twitchy boats! On a calm day I frequently let the boat run with my hands off the wheel and give it a wee tweak occasionally to bring it back on line. Plainly in a twisty turny sea it'll twist and turn according to the wave forces but the steering has a big mechanical advantage, cable or hydraulic, and it is not likely to do anything suddenly. Hooking is a different phenomenon and a boat can do that despite the helm hanging onto the wheel and it usually happens when there is some form of instability - possibly travelling very fast with the hull on the edge of it's performance or a very out of balance boat such as a load of divers at the stern and no weight in the bow.

[Last Tango]

Originally Posted by jwalker

The folks on this thread are either frightened of the day they never saw or they've got feckin twitchy boats! On a calm day I frequently let the boat run with my hands off the wheel and give it a wee tweak occasionally to bring it back on line.

+1