How To Steer a Sailboat in Reverse: Tiller and Outboard Motor

Most newbie Sailors pretty quickly get comfortable at the tiller when the sails are up, but ask them to get in and out of a slip...well, it causes some people high anxiety.
This quick tutorial/demonstration of how I approach understanding how the tiller/rudder works in reverse will hopefully give you a simple trick to get you safely in or out of your slip.
For the full description visit my blog at www.boatluv.com
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[@SOLDOZER]

That was really clear. Im sure there's some sailing instructor somewhere that would make it a lot more complicated.

[@TheDesertSailor]

I am glad it helped!

[@Sabhail_ar_Alba]

That's the exact same situation I had the other day only the outboard tiller had swung the opposite way to the boat tiller so the boat barely turned and instead found myself going towards an expensive yacht. Not a good experience - thanks for showing me how.

[@obiwanfisher537]

Nice video, dont know how I ended up here exactly. Probably just clicked because of your hat. It is a nice hat! Happy sailing and save passage!

[@TheDesertSailor]

I love hats! I lost my favorite signature yellow hat that I wear in many of my summer videos!

[@scomo532]

This is good advice if your OB is mounted in a well such as is the case here. However, I have found that when my OB was secured to the boat on a transom OB mount, it was easier to maneuver the boat by steering her with the OB while holding the tiller amidships. That way you can use the thrust of the OB to quickly and accurately pivot the boat. Once you get use to it, you can use a combination of OB and tiller to maneuver the boat and impress yourself and others with your boat handling skills.

[@TheDesertSailor]

It's so true! Sometimes one is hanging way over the transom! And gear shifting and steering is easier done with anchored tiller and moving outboard directly. Whatever works! Sometimes I use both in parallel in really tight turns.

[@kent831]

Thank you, Naomi, for an excellent video. I am learning to back my 1965 Pearson Ariel 26 after adding a transom-mounted outboard when the inboard engine died. I'm finding that backing out steering with the outboard, then after the sometimes tricky transition from reverse to stop to forward, switching to the tiller seems to give the most predictable result with the full keel Ariel. I also appreciate the comments. It's comforting to know there are so many of us learning how to get along with our boats.

[@TheDesertSailor]

It's all about finding what works for you! Thanks for the comment!

[@hollyaltson3318]

Very nice! Super straight foward and clear. Thanks for the very helpful video.

[@TheDesertSailor]

I am so glad you found it helpful!

[@cseguin]

Thanks for that - a very handy way of remembering the backwardness of tiller steering.

[@TheDesertSailor]

Glad it helped!

[@j.d.3875]

real time explanation is the best, thank you, you are so charming

[@TheDesertSailor]

That's sweet! Glad it helped!

[@ContrarianCorsetry]

Thanks! I've now moved my boat (a '69 Coronado 25 also) three times into three different slips and I still need a lot of practice. Today I had "too much help" from both a dock and "crew" source and I ended up getting overwhelmed and panicked. Good reminder that sometimes you just need to go do things quietly and alone 10-20 times before you do it in front of an audience! Thanks again, your instructions were very clear and the boat I needed to see it done on.

[@TheDesertSailor]

I am so happy the video helped. You take command with confident, patience and grace, and others won't have an opportunity to gives their 2 cents!

[@michaelrobbins5302]

I just had a nightmare time trying to pull a boat out of a slip. This video has given me the motivation to try again.

[@TheDesertSailor]

I am glad it inspired you to try again. Practive makes perfect. And don't forget to account for wind and current!

[@ocxb]

Good job with the explanation on reversing, I have a narrow slipway and usually unfavorable wind so I have to back out at full throttle then go into forward with a blast of the throttle to prop wash the stern around and swing the bow to starboard, sound difficult but it’s easy to figure out after you’ve done it a few times.

[@TheDesertSailor]

When the prop is forward of the rudder and one is dealing with prop walk, I agree it's a whole other ball of wax...I will one day make a video of that too!! My prop is aft of the rudder so I get control of direction immediately when in reverse!

[@ocxb]

The Desert Sailor we have the same boat ⛵️

[@kujon1968]

@@TheDesertSailor Thank you and I look forward to the other video! I have my prop forward of the rudder with prop walk to port. Had a terrible docking experience as a new sailor when we missed our slip and had to reverse out of the narrow alley...being new I was afraid to go fast so I never got the speed up to have good control...nightmare of lots of blasts of reverse then panicking with prop walk so going back to forward...ugh! And never knowing where to point my tiller...all the other instructions have a wheel so thank you thank you !

[@jonhering5660]

well done..such a simple explanation!

[@TheDesertSailor]

Thanks for watching!

[@ozidude7615]

Nice presentation.

[@TheDesertSailor]

Thanks! I appreciate your comment.

[@lucaguarro6116]

Helpful video. Thanks

[@TheDesertSailor]

So glad it helped!

[@guyprevost5316]

thanks, a big help!

[@TheDesertSailor]

I am so glad!

[@ivanbuldo7676]

Orsum vid thanks 😊

[@yetivanmarshall1473]

Thank you, very scary thing as an older new sailor.

[@TheDesertSailor]

Practice with someone competent and your confidence will grow each time you push your limits. Breath and keep a cool head and know how much sail to put up according to the conditions at hand.

[@aloefrancisco5326]

Thanksssss 😅

[@uthewallstreetbetsgod4714]

Awesome Sauce!

[@TheDesertSailor]

Thanks!

[@dmzflightmedic]

Good job, that’s how I do it but I have a forward control

[@TheDesertSailor]

Good for you! Thanks for watching!

[@jamesconlon7045]

Thanks for the video. I have been to Lake Mead many times but have never sailed there. I have purchased a Capri 14.2 to learn to sail with my daughter. Do have any recommendation for launch ramps and area to sail a 14 ft dingy sailboat at Lake Mead. One thing I have learned about that lake is to always check wind conditions before going out on Lake Mead. It can get real bad really fast out there.

[@TheDesertSailor]

Boat ramps are near the Marinas or further into the park. depending on your vehicle you can also just drive it down to the PWC beach to the left of the Marinas. You may want to checkout my video on "How to Check Weather for Lake Mead"!

[@edwardsparanormal]

My son has a boat like yours but his issue is parking the boat into a slip or his slip. He goes in circles and spends nearly 20 minutes every time he comes back from a day of sailing to try and park it. Do you have a video for that I can get to him?

[@TheDesertSailor]

Interesting. I have read many comments about this same issue! Some people do not have a keen spatial awareness or relative determination of distance and timing. Just observe how many people cannot parallel park their vehicles! But with practice! One MUST remember a sailboat turns differently than a power boat so that may be the issue. That and not controlling speed or understanding the wind's and/or current's effect on the boat!

[@scpHincha]

Hello there! Great simple video 🤗. Out of curiosity oh much does your boat weight and what's the horsepower in your engine? Kind regards and good luck with the channel!

[@TheDesertSailor]

The engine is 7.5 hp and the boat is 4500 lbs.

[@mapleleaf1819]

Thank you! Do you use your tiller the to enter the slip also? I have been having a little trouble coming back into the slip. Trying to use the tiller and outboard at the same time has been a little challenging for me. I have a high freeboard on my Balboa and it is difficult to see where I am going when I am at the outboard. Is it just a matter of finessing between the outboard bursts and shifting while using the tiller for steerage?

[@TheDesertSailor]

It is a matter of inertia vs momentum and if you have enough! So yes outboard bursts are needed to counter-act any currents or winds if you need the extra boost to get into your slip. I do use the tiller to get into the slip, but I am usually in neutral way before I get there and coast in. "Stopping" her forward motion by putting the outboard in reverse is not practical on my boat, so I use a "break-line" that I have prepared on the dock. As I come in, very slowly, I am able to get that line and loop it on the winch and that stops the boat, like a leash on a dog. Keep practicing and you'll just get the feel of where your bow is in relation to your slip even if you can't see it. It can be nerve wracking, though, for sure!

[@tatiaxyt8564]

I also struggle with managing the outboard and tiller at the same time, it feels like too many things to manage at once when I'm also trying really hard not to hit my neighbor's boat!

[@TheDesertSailor]

@@tatiaxyt8564 ​ I choose to keep the outboard straight and use the boat tiller mainly. BUT! if I need that extra OMG-I-need-to-avoid-a-collision-quickly then I use the outboard "tiller" in tandem with the boat tiller for quicker moves!

[@tatiaxyt8564]

@@TheDesertSailor Our outboard is fixed so it can't be used to steer. I'm struggling with steering the boat's tiller while trying to switch gears or adjust the speed.

[@JohnCornellier]

Might want to mention prop walk.

[@TheDesertSailor]

Not a ton with this little motor. Much more on my diesel and deep heavy keel. Biggest issue is when the engine kicks up when put into reverse gear.