If you do, the boat will start to gain forward or astern momentum spoiling the pirouette. One mistake that is common with novices practicing this maneuver is leaving the engine in gear for longer than a second or two. It is this effect that we use to kick the stern to one side. This is because the thrust of the prop acts more on the rudder when forward is engaged but has less effect when in reverse as the propwash goes under the boat and out to the side. It is usually, depending on the boat, unnecessary to move the helm as you shift between forward and reverse. Then alternate, as the conditions warrant, between quick bursts of reverse and forward. To begin, use a quick burst of power in forward so that the water against the rudder turns the bow in the direction you want to go. To prepare for the turn, place the steering wheel either hard to port or hard to starboard depending on the direction you want your boat to rotate and how your stern swings in reverse. My boat's stern has a tendency to swing to starboard when I'm in reverse. Practice with the rudder in different positions turned to port, starboard, and straight ahead to understand how your particular boat handles, both in forward and reverse. On a calm day with little or no current and with no boats nearby, determine whether your stern normally swings to starboard or port because of prop walk when you're reversing. Using what is known as "prop walk" (something we will discuss more in a future issue), it's possible to rotate a single screw boat pretty much in its own length, handy for turning a boat should you find yourself approaching the bulkhead and a dead end - at the end of a row of slips for instance. Spinning a single engine boat is trickier for sure, but given a little practice, the right technique, and an understanding of how to utilize throttle, gears, and steering to best advantage, you can maneuver a single screw boat with confidence and gain enduring admiration from your dockmates. But what if you only have one engine and no bow and stern thrusters? Spinning an inboard-powered boat in its own length is relatively easy for those with twin engines.
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