Moving sidways with a twin I/O - Crab Walking

[r.j.dawg]

Is it possible to move a twin I/O sideways. The reason I am asking is an old salt at our marina was telling me that if I did this and that the boat would walk it self sideways to our pumpout dock.

Now if I understood him right, he said if I want to move to starboard, I should turn the steering full to starboard, port engine control forward and starboard engine in reverse. Reverse if I want to move to port.

Does this seem right? I just can't picture this in my head.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Moving sidways with a twin I/O - Crab Walking

It will actually move more angular than sideways, but it can seem like it's a perfect 90? movement if you get the benefit of the proper wind and current.

All things being perfect, we'll assume no wind and no current. You'll get the idea with I/O's, but it's more drastic when using inboards because the rudders will swing more than the I/O's do.

If you want to move to starboard, turn the wheel to starboard. Put the port engine in reverse and the stbd engine forward. Conversely, you can put the wheel to full port, port engine forward and stbd engine reverse and get similar movements. Which way you use will depend on the wind and current.

This works best in bigger boats (~40') because you get better control with the prop gripping the water than you do with smaller boats.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Moving sidways with a twin I/O - Crab Walking

Look at the levers they should be the arms are on the outside. When you move a lever being port or starboard the boat will tend to move the boat the way the handle is pointed. i.e Starboard in F would tend to move the boat more bow to port, Starboard in R stern to port, and so on with either lever. You combine and alternate to Crab Walk and use the helm fine tune it.
Basically the handles show you how the boat will move.

 

[bgc]

Re: Moving sidways with a twin I/O - Crab Walking

good video of a captain doing this.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Moving sidways with a twin I/O - Crab Walking

^^^ That's not the same. He's using thrusters. You can hear them churning at 2:10.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: Moving sidways with a twin I/O - Crab Walking

Thanks for all the replys. I guess I'll just have to find myself a quiet piece of lake and experiment this weekend.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Moving sidways with a twin I/O - Crab Walking

Good luck with it. I've never tried it in practice. I usually put the boat at a 30-45 degree angle where I want to go and walk her in side ways that way. My slip requires it getting in and out. Just a bump in and out gets the momentum right, then when im getting lined up I spin her back and back down in. So far so good!

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Moving sidways with a twin I/O - Crab Walking

Thanks for all the replys. I guess I'll just have to find myself a quiet piece of lake and experiment this weekend.

Don't turn the wheel. When you get ready just make sure the wheel is straight.

When backing into a slip you need to go just past the slip and start your backing. Don't give it any throttle. Just engage the transmissions. I/o's pivot closer to the stern then v drives. V drives pivot more to the center of the boat.Remember the parenthesis theory. ( ). Port shifter in reverse and stbd shifter in forward makes the bow go to port. Just the opposite whit the shifters reversed. Port forward stbd reverse make bow go to stbd. Of course wind and current will play a lot in how you need to approach the slip.

 

[Chip Chester]

Re: Moving sidways with a twin I/O - Crab Walking

OP, if you trust him, invite him aboard to show you. Find a quiet place away from expensive shiny things, and have him tutor you a bit. It could save hours of frustrating bashi.... er, fun. I learn a lot by watching old guys. (Even if you learn not to listen to what he has to say!)

Chip