DeeBee Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Just so i know...and your replies will be 100% appreciated... Like i posted before, i may be overthinking and worrying too much...and appear a bit panicky...But its something i have never, ever done before...and i wont practically know, until i take the helm for the first time.. I hold/ held every driving licence you could possibly have taken a test for in the UK...I took the tests, passed and worked them all...Like my brother did... But this is all new to me..and im not as young as i was then... So, id like to thank everyone who gave me advice on my other thread in the 'new members' section.. Post the links to vids and posts you think i need to read and watch...I need experienced 'Theory' before newbie 'Practical'... And any books/ maps you think i should buy...Kind of specifically North and South Broads... BTW...I've lived in Oulton Broad for the past 25yrs..and always been more 'Motorhome' owner...(and i read that's a dirty word amongst boat people ) and been on some boats..but always a passenger.. A lot of you know each other and have met up and had a laugh...and thats fun...Its an extended community of friends...and thats a nice thing in these sad times...and im hoping i can be a part of it... Thanks again... DB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 I think the first thing you will notice is how little steering lock is required when you are moving. and how much you might need when nearly stationary. As I mentioned previously a boat steers like a dumper truck, from the back, so it can depend where you are helming from as to how quickly the boat seems to react, if you are near the front nothing will seem to happen, then everything will happen way too fast, not so bad steering from the centre or rear. unlike a car there may be a dead spot in the centre position on the wheel, this can be anything up to 1/4 turn depending upon the boat (hire boats particularly) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Motorhome is certainly not a dirty word here. We have one Why not go and hire a day boat first off for a few hours or for the day? It will handle nothing like your brothers boat but it will give you a feel for "driving" something on water. The first boat we drove was a day boat and we loved it. Then we moved onto hiring bigger cruisers. The first one we hired was from Barnes Brinkcraft and was called Breakaway. It was a horrible little boat, too small for a week away really (they only hire them as day boats now), and completely impractical. But we loved it and went on to hire many more times over the years from various yards before buying our own boat. We sold our boat after 13 years earlier this year. This was Breakaway sat in the mud outside the Reedham Ferry in the little "cut out" on the front. The tide had gone out and left us high and dry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeBee Posted December 23, 2021 Author Share Posted December 23, 2021 Cal ..At least you had a pub nearby... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeBee Posted December 23, 2021 Author Share Posted December 23, 2021 Grendel...My brother said practically, the same thing as you...According from what i saw, the Maxum 2400 SCR is mid helm...Like Cal and the boat pic above.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 As Grendel says steer a bit and wait to see what happens, steer till it reacts and you will zigzag constantly as you try to correct it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 every boat is a bit different, it can take me 20 minutes to get the feel of how the steering and throttle react every time I go on a new boat to me. with the boat I use regularly (Water Rail) I find its about 2" of movement then the next 1/4 " to do the work, then back 2" and a 1/4" to correct - this is for normal straight steering, for a sharp corner it could be a half turn, or a full turn of the wheel. for slow manouvering it could be a full 2 turns depending upon throttle position etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadAmbition Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 The more water flow over the rudder, the less input you need on the helm Griff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeBee Posted December 23, 2021 Author Share Posted December 23, 2021 BroadAmbition ..I was reading about your boat..and how you restored it...good reading... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YnysMon Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 I don't think previous experience of boating is guaranteed to be a help, it just depends what type of boating. Last July we took my 89 year old father in law with us for the first time. He was the skipper of a lifeboat in the 1970s and used to man the rescue launch during sailing races in Trearddur Bay, but he still did some zig-zagging on Moonlight Shadow when he first took the helm. He'd never helmed anything that slow before. As posters above have pointed out, it takes a while for the boat to react when you turn the wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 you can still get caught out when you go on a boat that you dont know, as I found steering Dougs new boat, came to a corner, put on half a turn, nothing put on a full turn, starting to come round, at this point we were headed for the bank, I hadnt known it was 7 full turns lock to lock - water rail is just 3 turns lock to lock. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrundallNavy Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 1 hour ago, grendel said: I think the first thing you will notice is how little steering lock is required when you are moving. and how much you might need when nearly stationary. As I mentioned previously a boat steers like a dumper truck, from the back, so it can depend where you are helming from as to how quickly the boat seems to react, if you are near the front nothing will seem to happen, then everything will happen way too fast, not so bad steering from the centre or rear. unlike a car there may be a dead spot in the centre position on the wheel, this can be anything up to 1/4 turn depending upon the boat (hire boats particularly) You sure about that Peter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeBee Posted December 23, 2021 Author Share Posted December 23, 2021 YnysMon ..Yep...I think the first thing i want to learn is how fast i can stop it dead, with a touch of neutral then reverse.. (Ive been watching the vids) ..and im soon going to put it into practice in the new year.. Ive seen the vids where the person is continually making corrections in steering..He makes it look easy... Im getting a good theory from you lot...I just hope i can put it to the 'practical'... I will let all of you know how i go..From complete boat newbie...to taking it out by myself...and i hope my questions and your answers will help someone else like me.. If a 'stag party' from Essex can venture onto the Broads and survive..i reckon i will as well... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 2 minutes ago, BrundallNavy said: You sure about that Peter. ok, except your boat Doug 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 I am going to guess that on the Maxum it will only be 1 full turn lock to lock much the same as it was on our Sealine. You really didn't need to turn the wheel much at all for it to respond and steer. Took a while for us to realise that the steering wheel wasn't on straight though. :) Still miss her sometimes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeBee Posted December 23, 2021 Author Share Posted December 23, 2021 PS... Grendel ..I'll check that first thing...Hard 'Lock to Lock'...Makes sense..Good thinking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeBee Posted December 23, 2021 Author Share Posted December 23, 2021 Cal ...Looks like a Maxum...Same Helm position...Similar stern...Very similar shape (and im just going to have a read up of your Blogspot page you linked in your sig) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Bear in mind that all the vids from a hire company will be on boats with single fixed shaft and rudder, they handle quite different to outdrives. Is the maxum single or twin engine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeBee Posted December 23, 2021 Author Share Posted December 23, 2021 Smoggy... Definitely one engine...He had a new engine replacement ..5.7ltr V8 (i think) which i reckon is a bit overkill for the Broads..but it wont wear the engine out at tickover 4mph.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floydraser Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 My boat came with one of these stuck to the middle of the wheel: https://www.brianwards.co.uk/product/rudder-position-indicator/ An absolute God send for slow maneuvering near other boats where you don't have so much time to see a reaction. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeBee Posted December 23, 2021 Author Share Posted December 23, 2021 Floydraser ...Funny enough...I was looking at that, this morning...Same website..exact same thing.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Those rudder indicators look well over priced for a few bits of plastic but they do work well as long as the wheel is centred when you put it on. The internals are just as plastic except for the weight, I picked one up years ago that was part in bits in the pack for £5 so I took a chance, was a good bit of kit. On my next boat I heatshrinked a few strong magnets to the helm end of the steering cable and placed 5 reedswitches along the covering shroud and hooked up to some leds set into the bezel, two reds, yellow for centre, two greens, that worked well for less than a tenner, later rigged a dimmer for another fiver for night cruising. That engine will do better if took down to breydon now and again and given a leg stretching or out to sea, make sure you have plenty of fuel though, you'll need it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 As an alternative to the expensive rudder indicators, just make sure the drive and wheel are set centre and put a piece of tape on the steering wheel at 12 o clock to mark the centre point. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeBee Posted December 23, 2021 Author Share Posted December 23, 2021 Cal ..I'll ask my brother to do it...A bit of tape wont hurt... Good idea and it makes sense.. (and this is why i come here to ask the questions..And get told things you dont get told in the books or vids) Thankyou... DB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeBee Posted December 23, 2021 Author Share Posted December 23, 2021 PS.. Smoggy ..He takes it out on the sea as well...Breydon as well...No doubt he will take me there as well... For all i know, i could be a 'natural'...But i will keep you lot informed...might even do a vid of a real 'first timer'...Might be of use to someone else... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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