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What the heck is going on here?

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Capt Bill11, Feb 5, 2016.

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  1. Capt Bill11

    Capt Bill11 Senior Member

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    I think I know what's going on but I was wondering what you all think the issue is here.

    We were coming in to Harbour Island the other day and this large steel trawler was following us in. Now I know the vessels name and manufacturer but I'm not going to post it.

    The boat exhibited the steering behavior you see in the videos the whole way into HI and it was not as you can also see a rough day.

    In fact I didn't get a chance to catch some of the more extreme course changes and extreme listing it was doing as it turned back and forth in our wake. When our pilot finally asked the skipper if he was having steering issues he said "No this boats always been hard to steer". To say the least.

    When I spoke to the pilot again two days later after he'd lead the boat back out, he said the skipper stated the same thing. But the boat steered a bit better as they where using the autopilot.

    I can't even imagine what it's like to ride on it hour after hour slewing back and forth while tilting from side to side. Nor can I imagine how hard the autopilot must be working trying to keep the thing in a straight line.

    After what I witnessed I'd have handed the thing back to the builder and told them to call me when they've fixed or return my money if they can't.

    What do you folks think?




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  2. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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  3. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Capt Bill11; Pictures did not come thru.
  4. German Yachting

    German Yachting Senior Member

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    Gotta click on them. They are videos
  5. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Keeps going to a photobucket site, blank screen. When I click on the screen, it ask me to register.

    Naw..
  6. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Just got raided with a bunch of s^* from a buzzchannel..
    Thx.
  7. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    Yeah those links are a mess.
  8. RER

    RER Senior Member

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  9. Capt Bill11

    Capt Bill11 Senior Member

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    Hmm... It should just go to my Photobucket. That's the way it's worked in the past. Sorry if this is not what is happening.
  10. Capt Bill11

    Capt Bill11 Senior Member

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    It was the most amazing thing to watch this boat try to steer a straight line. I would just shoot over in one direction and the heel way over as the driver corrected towards the other direction.

    The more I watched it the more it appeared to me that the CG was way off and it looked like it was bow steering.
  11. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    Your link worked fine for me.
    It mist be exhausting to pilot that boat.
  12. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    I have had young nieces and nephews aboard who wanted to "drive " the boat, so on the long channel ride to and from my slip, I put them on my lap. I suggest that they follow the boat ahead, and very often they piloted with the same look that trawler's giving us. Cant' keep those tiny hand from turning the wheel. So maybe??
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2016
  13. RT46

    RT46 Senior Member

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    I have engaged the auto pilot and let special guest take the helm under direct supervision.

    Ive only been caught once or twice adjusting course on the dial.
  14. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    Same here but with with a Robertson pendant. My 7 yr old nephew thought he was the MAN driving the boat as I stood behind him. :rolleyes:
  15. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    My last boat (RENA) was very difficult to steer in shallow water (less than 20') unless you slowed down to around 10-11kts. Anything more than that, and she would steer by the bow rather than the rudders.
  16. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Any idea why, Ken? Rudder size or shape or location? Effect of hull on water? It's not something I would have thought would have existed.
  17. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    I believe it was a combination of original hull shape (suction) and the 15' extension that was added behind the running gear. The boat would just dig down in the bow, creating a huge bow wave. I could tell how deep the water was on Yellow Bank just based on the attitude of the boat! But slowing down slightly made all the difference needed to track.
  18. Capt Bill11

    Capt Bill11 Senior Member

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    This boat seemed to steer the same whether fast or slow. Shallow or deeper. And as I said, the skipper said, with out any sarcasm or humor in his voice, that it just steered badly. And he repeated that a couple of days later from what I was told.

    This would not be the place you would allow a child or inexperienced person to man the helm. In some sections of the passage if you vear off towards one side or the other you could hit something.
  19. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    A lot of times on larger yachts, if you have a deep draft and not a lot of water 2-5' under the keel, and you're pushing hull speed, they'll suck bottom and I've had them do instant 60 degree turns when it was calm.....bring back the throttles quite a bit and they steer right back.
  20. Liberty

    Liberty Senior Member

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    60 degrees? Ouch!