Dealing with Prop Walk and Undock in Tight Spaces

Docking and undocking are always challenging for newbie sailors like us. New marina, crowded marina, narrow fairway, stern first approach are always concerns in the back of our minds. It’s worthwhile to practice different docking techniques whenever we have chance. Today’s video is the part one of two parts to show you step by step how I learned to handle prop walk when in reverse. There are many ways to do it, the following techniques are what we felt comfortable with and so far working for us. Only through lots of on the water practice, you can truly find the best way for yourselves.
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Sailboat - Beneteau Oceanis 31
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Videos were shot by GoPRO HERO 9
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Background music is from Artlist
Sensation created by Gray North
Evolve created by Lavandou
Autumn in Paris created by Jan Baars
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#sailing #sailinglife #goldengatebridge #sanfrancisco #bayarea #PropWalk #Docking #unDocking

[@JheregJAB]

One of the things I noticed is that you were putting the boat in reverse, and then leaving it there. Unless you have wind or current from the stern, I find it much easier to reverse with "bursts" of reverse only. Get the boat moving, back into neutral, then coast backward. That way prop walk disappears and the rudder has better control. I've done one boat where the trick was longer, low rpm bursts because at higher rpm the prop walk was so bad it was like a stern thruster. In another boat, it was better to do a shorter, higher-rpm burst to put a good bit of energy in then back to neutral to maximize time without prop walk. Its important to recognize that a boat is not a car, and the gear of the transmission and the movement of the boat do not always have to be perfectly aligned. This is a great learning video and full of good information. Thanks for sharing!

[@novaturient-sailing]

These are great suggestions. I used to keep throttle in gear longer with low rpm either forward or reverse. Usually its cross wind in the marina from starboard to port all day. Now I like to feather it like you suggest, alternate between forward/reverse and neutral unless too much wind or current. Thanks

[@ushi120]

When you want to dock out of your berth in reverse, you have to distinguish 3x different situation. A) no wind or current B) little wind or current C) a lot of wind or current A) the propwalk has the main influence, turn the stern with the propwalk, the same direction. B) I always recommend steering backwards against the wind. The bow will be pushed into the right position by the wind and mooring out will be much more relaxed for you. The influence of the propwalk is less then the wind. C) If the wind is blowing over 20 knots, steering backwards against the wind is the way to go. Additionally I would use a springline on the midship-cleat on the windward side, as a fixed pivot point for the boat. With the springline midships the wind force is then irrelevant. Greetings from Germany

[@novaturient-sailing]

Very useful suggestions.

[@dotted8]

Great tutorial! Thank you so much for putting this together.

[@marcrodriguez2884]

Thanks for posting. Great techniques, but couldn’t you have just backed out of the slip and all the way out of the marina to where you get more room to maneuver?

[@novaturient-sailing]

That definitely could work. Just my marina doesn’t allow boats reverse out of gate or even dock stern first.

[@steveglenn9217]

Excellent explanations in the video. Side-by-side video was very well done.

[@novaturient-sailing]

Thanks.

[@fawcettmajors8272]

Thanks for this video!

[@EdwardSeatonSailings]

another great video! I'm up in Bodega Bay. Hit me up if you ever need crew. I'm fixing up a 32 Ericson. I mainly go out solo, and I'm just starting. I find it very helpful to remain on the dock for as long as possible, like standing on the dock, muscling the boat out by hanging onto the lifelines and shrouds, and then hopping on at the very last second. So far I have not missed. This makes it so I don't have to use the R at all, which is basically useless on my boat anyways. Love the videos. I appreciate the perspective.

[@novaturient-sailing]

Thanks. I heard that Ericsons were well built and sail well. Good luck with your project.

[@lindsayben100]

Your boat is a Beneteau 34? Ah wait 31. I have a 34, great fun.

[@MattO109]

Great video!

[@novaturient-sailing]

Thanks for watching. Glad it helps.

[@MattO109]

@@novaturient-sailing I started sailing a year ago too! Love watching your journeys and videos!

[@andyl8025]

Nice explanations! The side-by-side views were very helpful. When you give the short burst (before shifting to neutral), is your wheel in the centre or to starboard?

[@novaturient-sailing]

I left the wheel all the way to the starboard before giving it a short burst. I tried the wheel in the center, but prop walk (to the port) was too much to overcome in the narrow fairway. For some boats, rudder hard right or left could stall the boat, so you may need to adjust it.

[@stancxx]

Is this a boat from Modern Sailing?

[@novaturient-sailing]

It is.

[@stancxx]

@@novaturient-sailing Thanks. Which boat is this? Seems to have a strong prop walk you already turned the wheel all the way.

[@novaturient-sailing]

I think it’s ‘Fiore Italia’. Direct shaft drive. Prop walk is strong but it’s easy to steer in reverse once it gains the steerage.

[@ushi120]

Learn how to wear your life-west! This is by far too loosely.