On Tue, Mar 10, 2009 at 10:51 PM, Dave Wedd <[email protected]> wrote: <snip> > Now, which side? I expect it depends on the direction of rotation of > the prop on the motor (towing) boat. I seem to remember that the > Narrow Boat Trust put the butty on the starboard (right) side. Does > that help to cancel out the sideways effect when reversing to stop?
In your Thames case, which ever side is quickest to reach. The Narrow Boat Trust put the butty on the starboard side so that when passing other boats the motor is kept in the deeper water. The butty is put on the other side when mooring if the towpath is on the left. You are right though, in that putting the unpowered boat on the opposite side to the way the stern travels in reverse due to the paddlewheel effect would help, which I guess is why most motor boats (well GU boats anyway) pull to the left... is that a right handed prop? Mike -- Michael Askin http://shoestring_DOT_zapto_DOT_org/
