Mike,
It seems your 26 has different gearing/gear ratio for the steering on mine, or your turn stops are set much further out than mine. I checked today and from center to full stop in either direction is just under one full turn so slightly less than two turns stop to stop. I have a Turk’s head to mark dead ahead and two different colours of handlebar wrap around the wheel. Between the Turk’s head and two colours I generally know where the rudder is.
Mark Powers
After the chain jumped off the sprocket I checked out my steering geometry. Reverse engineering it, it seemed like the system was set up for one turn of the wheel maximum (without the chain jumping off the sprocket) and that equals 45° rudder angle.
The original stops were somewhat flimsy cables. Fortunately the failure occurred as we were backing out of the dock and the self launching fenders saved the day.
Mike Jennings.
NS30 005 Chancy.
Port Moody, BC.
Hi Mark,
Very interesting. It must be the stops set differently. I definitely have 1.5 rotations either way of dead center.
I do appreciate the acute turning radius when approaching a mooring ball at slow speeds, with Master and Commander at the bow.
Cheers,
Mike and Ashley Read
NautiGirl N26C
Bath, Ontario / Ventura, California
Hi Mike
It’s time to offer my comment on the concern raised. Along with Al (who has already commented) and Bert (who has a 22 with outboard) we are Mike’s slip mates in Bath. Purrfection our 26U came with a 2 bladed Perfect Pitch composite prop. Maneuvering in the harbor was a challenging exercise. Fortunately before fall haul that first year out the composite prop disintegrated and is on the bottom at our former club.
After a winter of research I purchased a 3 bladed feathering prop. Now reverse and forward maneuvers are more instantaneous. Yes knowing the precise location of the rudder would be nice but the feathering prop has vastly improved the flow over the rudder, thus control. It has been 12 years now and I can truly say the 3 bladed feathering prop purchase has been one of the best safety improvements we have made. Just ask my first mate.
Also I must admit we are fair weather sailors and are located in a very protected harbor so docking and departing have become predictable. If we are wind challenged we just back all the way out of our aisle.
Happy New Year
Ted Eedson
Purrfection 26U #232
Sailing out of Loyalist Cove Marina, Lake Ontario at Bath.
One thing that has not been mentioned here is that not all of our boats are thesame. This is partly due to the model, although hull forms are similar, but also the engine and very much the propeller. My ancient 30 has a smallish Volvo with a sail drive and a folding prop. The result is the boat reacts differently than even a newer 30 with more power, a shaft drive, and a fixed or feathering prop. I guess what I am saying is that every boat has its own strengths and challenges. A very useful skill, that requires prop walk is practicing turning while the boat stays pretty much fixed in place. This only works in one direction because you use prop walk and that only works in one direction. With my boat I can turn to the left by turning the wheel far to the left and goosing the power in forward for only about two seconds. Slow throttle for two seconds before switching gears - be nice to your transmission. Then switch to reverse and goose again for two seconds or so. Rinse and repeat and the boat will turn on the spot. I have found it works best if the wheel is not right against the stop, perhaps one spoke off the stop. No specific evidence, but I think when the wheel is hard owner the water flow over the rudder stalls.
The OP should practice away from the dock (do it near a nav buoy so you can see how you are doing) and figure out which direction you can go. If this is wrong direction your only choice is to change docks if possible, from say facing east to facing west.
Bruce Clark
Nonsuch 30, ’Nonsuch’
Whitby YC, Lake Ontario
Well Said Bruce.
I was glad to hear about the other Nonsuch sailors in the OPs marina, he is lucky to have the benefit of their experience to help him sort out any boat issues.
I admit to trying my share of gizmos over the years that promised to solve problems. None of them provided as much lasting value as the things I learned from other sailors, or taught myself out on the water.
Great to have a group like this to bounce ideas around.
Mascouche has a Turk’s head to mark the centre position of the wheel. I too check the rudder before leaving a tricky dock that has a floating dock with moorings a few feet behind my dock. The photo just shows the Turks head in the 1 o’clock position. Jorgen Moller owner of Pondus #33 appears happy at the helm.
It is not onerous to visibly check the position of the rudder since it is visible when looking over the counter.
John Newell
Mascouche NS26 C1
Toronto
Sorry, I do not have a close up of the Turk’s Head.
Here’s how the Davis Indicator is mounted on Felix. I don’t know if the “adapter” was purchased or hobbled together. It appears to be made of HDPE.
I just happened to remember this thread when on the boat yesterday so snapped a few pics…
Eric Larsen
S/V Felix 1981 30C #115
Olympia, WA
AAAAh, Thank you!
Finally someone who has used one!
Hi Erik,
Do you find it useful?
Cheers,
Mike and Ashley Read
NautiGirl N26C
Bath, Ontario / Ventura, California
Yes, I find it helpful. While I’m used to a helm without that information, having it makes knowing rudder position a one-glance operation.
I don’t know of a downside to it!
