How to use prop walk to turn in place & Backing into a slip

I cover two topics: First using prop walk to turn a sailboat in place which is very useful when going down a dead end narrow channel.
Second, I show how to motor backward into a slip.

[@erents1]

Great analysis and solution! This is a common sense approach to backing up on a sailboat. I can’t wait to practice this technique of standing on the backside of the helm.

[@CaptLance]

This video brought back some old Navy memories of when I was running a single screw 50' liberty boat and I would always land the boat at the port side and the boat would always back to port. Thanks for the memories :)

[@gonefishing1939]

Best video ive seen so far on prop walk. Ive even made vids on this subject. 2 Things i found very useful. The way you explained how to funnel the wash with the rudder to get no real forward motion, just turning and to me the most important, Standing on the other side of the wheel. After 28 years of sailing, i never thought of this, wow, brilliant. i sold my 36 Catalina but may be looking for another sailboat one day. Im sure you have many tips while underway. id love to see more vids. thank you

[@videog7747]

Clear and concise! Thank you for your great tutorials.

[@lesliejohnson1296]

Thanks for solving my backing up problem! So easy your way! Keep up the great work!

[@dseakin]

These are both helpful things to learn to do. Thanks for an informative video.

[@lesliejohnson1296]

This is excellent advice especially in a crowed harbor!!! Thanks Captain Lang..

[@petten20233]

Got Albin Vegas 27 Not easy to turn or going backwards. Someone With some experience came and gives me some good tips specifically going backwards..or turning on places.. I am getting better and better don't forget the directions of the wind. The wind will sometimes help you a lot . Everytime I am going out I always practice here and there a bit some maneuve . Fair wind Mario

[@GulfCoastTim]

Prop walk is an absolute must know when docking or maneuvering a sailboat with an inboard.

[@raymondstewart282]

Quick and concise, well done.

[@johnparsons9084]

Got lots of “oooo’s!” and “ahhh’s!” berthing my 31 footer that loved to prop walk like crazy.

[@gaivu343]

Excellent Captain Lang 👍

[@TroyReedUTUBE]

I use this method everytime I go sailing. thanks for the tip

[@alanbrookes6637]

A bit more difficult on a windy day.

[@PaulSmithGsy]

Super video. Thank you for sharing. Nice and simple.

[@donaldmears486]

nicely done captain.

[@jamesstewart259]

Excellent tip on backing, thanks.

[@CaptainLang]

And thank you for watching and commenting.

[@B-Heff-M3]

Excellent video 👌

[@ratusbagus]

Good video. Don't think about direction of prop rotation. Just accept that the boat pushes port or starboard in reverse and use it. Bad bit. When you forgot to mention drift from tide or wind turning on the spot. That's what puts you across anchors. Yes. Keep it simple. But it has to be mentioned.

[@rickytran5216]

AWESOME!!!

[@leleetran9738]

good job !!!

[@andreaspaul9138]

Спасибо всё отлично обьяснено.

[@jamieharris8075]

The complicating facotr, of course, is cross wind. With a boat that has a long keel with cut away forefront, as soon as any wind hits the boats while you are going slow either foreward or backward, the bow wants to blow off downwind and if the wind is strong it can easily over power the effect of the rudder that has little water running over it..

[@belekas565]

Thx for video🤝🇩🇰

[@sailingsegundo4644]

If your prop walks to Port, your wheel should be hard to starboard. If you have a tiller, it should be in the direction of the prop walk . When the boat is in forward the water hitting the prop kicks the stern To port continuing the momentum of the clockwize rotation . This is Especially true a long keeled boats with the prop way back at the stern boats with sail drives that the prop is way forward have much less or no prop walk .

[@anonymous-dk1wb]

I spun in circles when i was learning this 😂

[@jroot1279]

I recognize that marina, old Harbor Island. Many years of enjoyable sailing there.

[@CaptainLang]

Close... but this is Marina Village in Mission Bay.

[@jroot1279]

@@CaptainLang Interesting, I swore that was the Sheraton in the background. I enjoyed your video!

[@CaptainLang]

@@jroot1279 Thank you...Hope to publish more videos soon.

[@homeycheese1]

Nice video, you're on my dock

[@CaptainLang]

what slip are you in?

[@paulgorman1489]

Hi Buck, thanks for your videos here, a question on this one at .55 on video. so your turning into the berth, which side is your rudder hard over to? I assumb its starboard but you didn't make it clear. Also trying to understand the effect of prob wash. prob walk and which hand the prob is. Maybe another theme for a video. It's hard to find any good videos on youyube on this topic that detail every aspect. Thanks for your time. Paul

[@CaptainLang]

In this case it is to port...remember even when you face backwards, port and starboard are on the same sides as when facing forward. All that is important to know is that you just point the ruddder in the direction you want to go. Thanks for comment and question.

[@atreyuprincipalh4043]

Wonderful techniques much appropriated.

[@afloatinawoodenboat]

Thankyou. Does a long keel boat perform differently in these circumstances?

[@CaptainLang]

Yes...A full keel may not turn at all. The prop may be much lower and may not produce enough prop walk. I suggest you test in a very large open space so if it doesn't work you are not in any danger of hitting anything.

[@gregorygorbach8350]

I had a Tayana 37, long keel, albeit modified. I heard and agree that it backed up like a drunken elephant. You could not maneuver in a fairway without using A LOT of prop walk i.e. lots of throttle to push the stern over. The one thing that you had going for you is that the boat was very heavy so did not accelerate quickly in reverse or forward.

[@TheFlyingPlectrum]

Nice video but the cut at the end is for a reason ;-)

[@CaptainLang]

Yes, I did cut early, as I revved up the motor to bring the boat to a stop the prop walk pulled the boat over to one side of the slip. This is normal and not a problem but would have required a lot of explanation in the video so I cut early.

[@perfentoo]

Standing on the opposite side of the wheel is such a simple idea that I’m ashamed I never thought of it before. Thank you.

[@scottysscandinavia5793]

I suspect at 2:00 you meant water flowing over the rudder.

[@CaptainLang]

Yes my mind went one way and my mouth the other. Because I know what I meant to say I didn't catch it when proof watching.

[@mitchellminer9597]

@@CaptainLang My mother used to say that when proofreading your own work, you should read it aloud. I don't know what you'd do for proof watching, but thanks for that term. (I followed you here from a comment you made on CruisingTheCut. I am proud of myself for noticing the error - one of you guys is a good teacher.)

[@TripleWhopperWithCheese]

My boat has a full keel. It does not go backward. It you try it will just go in circles and you have zero control.

[@CaptainLang]

This technique doesn't work on most full keel boats. However a bow thruster works charms if you're lucky enough to have one. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@Beba-qv3db]

Please dont put your hand bet. spokes. 😊 Better reach the throttle from top, over the steering wheel.

[@CaptainLang]

Absolutely! You never know when you have to make a sudden steering correction or an unseen object hits the rudder and an arm in the wheel spokes is very bad. You notice that I reach over the wheel for most of the video, I only reach between the spokes when I am demonstrating pausing in neutral between forward and reverse which I did so that you could see the action more clearly.

[@PozeraczGarnkow]

Hope you didnt kiss the dock at the end;)

[@CaptainLang]

Due to propwalk and slow speed (so no steerage) sometimes the starboard aft corner very gently "kisses" the dock...no damage except for ego.

[@stevegibson2255]

0:12 who else this looks like the opening from " Gilligan's Island" ?

[@CaptainLang]

Anyone for a 3 hour tour?

[@sailingliberator3395]

We have a tiller..full keel. Reverse is not in her vocabulary.😊

[@carlsattler9668]

@sailingliberator3395, what make/model/type of prop do you have? I have an IP31 with a 16RH13 prop and prop walk is effective (to port) but reverse thrust is disappointing. I'm actively pursuing opinions on a fixed 3-blade e.g. Michigan Wheel, Chesapeake, or Campbell Sailer to gain some maneuverability inside the harbor.

[@sailingliberator3395]

@@carlsattler9668 ours is fixed 3blade. Unsure on model but I have a picture of it while we changed our Cutlass bearing

[@gllsbcdkdmdmsjjjsbbbh]

01:21 hahahhaahh!!!! Dude your face..... HAHAHAHAH