Allan Cazaly wrote:
>> I question your wisdom here, (regarding going astern).
>>
>> A retired ex. working boatman once told me that if you wish to steer a nb
>> going astern, "You don't look where yoom going - you look where you been!".
>>
>> He explained that if you look astern, you cannot see how the boat is
>> lining up in relation with the canal bank and small deviations are not seen
>> before it is too late. He said that there is usually about 3% of steerage
>> available , going astern, so it is important to see the line the boat is
>> taking to keep it as near perfectly parallel with the bank (Line being being
>> taken). During the procedure one should only glance astern occasionally, to
>> make sure everything is clear and that the centre line of the canal is being
>> taken and no one is coming the other way.
>>
>> I have fond, with practice, this advice valuable. Other readers may like
>> to experiment and see just how much their "reversing" improves. ~Allan~
>>
>>
This is following the great example of the famous Charlie Atkins
(senior) who use to steer forwards by looking behind the boat, at where
he'd just been, really unnerving, when one was with him. I'd swear that
he ran on special tram lines by the precision with which maintained the
positioning of the boat, time after time after time, independent of the
boat he was steering or how loaded it was.
My point was that you stand forwards of the tiller when reversing in
case there is some unknown object in the cut which whips the tiller
round when the rudder hits the said object. I suspect it could be very
painful if your between the tiller and a hard place as you have 20 tons
of boat and a lever to multiple the force, moving it round and your body
will not stop it very well.
This scenario does not happen when your in forwards as the hull protects
the rudder from being hit by objects in the cut other than things which
get picked up by the prop, so the forces are not in the same scale, and
can be held by hand. I've never had a tiller snatched out of my hand in
forwards, reverse yes, alarmingly so.
I agreed that you should know whats happening to the front of the boat,
but you need to understand how your prop is throwing you over as well.
Constant vigilance, and happy boating
--
cheers Ian Mac
