Slow Moving Problem

[shirehorse]

This may have been answered before and if so please feel free to abuse me many do something to do with being a plumber, my query when trolling in the harbour i find it very difficult to go in a straight line it will first drift one way then the other is this normal,do i have a problem, or does the boat have a problem as allways appriciate any reply IAN.

[jyasaki]

It is pretty normal for a lot of small boats.

I *think* it comes down to overcorrecting: A boat doesn't react immediately to steering input (especially at slow speeds), and most people will crank in too much correction before the boat reacts. That sets it off in the other direction, and the problem is repeated.

Try allowing the boat to drift wherever it's going, give a slight correction, and wait and see where it wants to go then.

jky

[two stroke mick]

Use more power the boat has insufficent forward movement to allow for proper control

TSM

[BassBoy]

The more water the boat displaces, the better the straight line tracking should be.
Try more gear/people/dog/tackle etc near the stern!

Tight lines
BB

[Chris]

Originally Posted by shirehorse

feel free to abuse me many do something to do with being a plumber

I am more than happy to come and see if I can fix the problem. The call out charge is £50 I probably won't do anything to fix it and I may well piss in your handbasin.

[Hightower]

Very common on RIBs at low speed as already mentioned and on BWM's it's more likely than most. A drop down temporary rudder might well help a little.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by BassBoy

Try more gear/people/dog/tackle etc near the stern! Tight lines BB

and adjusting the trim on the engine.

Pete

[Poly]

is this problem helped by small bursts of higher throttle rather than a continuous low throttle?

[shirehorse]

Yes if i up the revs it improves alot , what do BWMs have different to other ribs and i will ignore the dig.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by shirehorse

Yes if i up the revs it improves alot , what do BWMs have different to other ribs and i will ignore the dig.

Wasn't a dig! I had a Deepsea 17 a few years ago and was a great little boat, but compaired to other makes of that size I've driven, slow speed manouvering wasn't the greatest. I just figured that it was the bow design that was different and was probably the reason for it. I could be wrong but am confident that handling was definatly more hard work at 5-10 knotts than others.

[Stoo]

Do you happen to be leaving the pub when this occurs?

[shirehorse]

That is the impression i leave, the dig comment was aimed at Chris he has had a bad encounter as his replys to me always highlight my trade. The only rib i have had is my BWM so i have no experiance with other ribs and at 19 stone what more ballast could i need.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by shirehorse

at 19 stone what more ballast could i need.

Some one heavier than me then , I'm getting to like you

[shirehorse]

I don,t know why people call the BWM mine is great fun when the waves get really big and she feels so safe, Maybe Hightower you and i should meet in the bow of my boat and put BassBoy,s theory to the test.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by shirehorse

I don,t know why people call the BWM mine is great fun when the waves get really big and she feels so safe, Maybe Hightower you and i should meet in the bow of my boat and put BassBoy,s theory to the test.

Yeh, go for it Don't forget mine was much smaller than yours at just 17', I have been in a 6m Porter RIB which I believe is a BWM hull, but didn't really put it though it's paces.

[Tim M]

I've got a Porters 6.5 and it fantastic in the rough! I prefer it to my Solent 7m

[shirehorse]

Tim M do you find your Porters 6.5 has this problem with the steering at slow speed, i am still not sure what is different about this hull to cause the problem.

[Tim M]

It is twitchy at slow speed, but then I find most RIBs and small boats are. Its certainly no worse than anything else I have driven.

[jwalker]

In addition to it being something you learn to do, certain gearbox x-sections are better than others at guiding the boat.

[shirehorse]

It is good to know i do not have a faulty boat just a small boat anomally, I must say i have learn to stear the boat by not turning as hard as the boat suggests and waiting for the reaction this seems to stop alot of the zig zagging.