Mastering The Art Of Single-Engine Boat Sideways Walking

Walking a boat sideways is a useful skill for any boater to have, especially when faced with crowded parking at a fuel dock or marina. While twin-engine boats can be walked sideways, it is a more challenging prospect for single-engine boats. Propeller walk, the tendency of a single-engine boat to shear sideways in the direction in which its propeller turns, is a phenomenon well-known to boaters. This occurs due to the asymmetric disc effect, where the centre of thrust of the propeller is displaced relative to the direction in which it turns. To counteract this effect, most multi-engine boats are equipped with counter-rotating propellers. However, with a single-engine boat, there are techniques and considerations to keep in mind for achieving a successful sideways walk.

Understand the asymmetric disc effect

The asymmetric disc effect is a phenomenon that occurs when the propellers of a boat are placed in a certain way relative to each other and interact with the water in a specific manner. This effect can be utilised to move a boat sideways, which is also known as "walking" a boat.

The asymmetric disc effect is the result of the interaction between the propellers and the water when one engine is in forward gear and the other is in reverse. In this situation, both propellers turn in the same direction, and this action pushes the propellers' hub, shaft and effectively, the entire boat in the direction the propellers turn. This is in contrast to counter-rotating propellers, where one propeller turns clockwise and the other counterclockwise when both engines are in forward gear, counteracting the asymmetric disc effect.

The asymmetric disc effect is more pronounced in boats with inboard motors or inboard-outboard engines with propellers that turn inboard towards the centre line of the vessel. In these cases, when one engine is placed in reverse, both propellers will turn in the direction of the propeller in reverse, dragging the boat in that direction. Boats with outboard motors or inboard-outboard engines with propellers that turn outboard will tend to twist rather than walk.

To walk a twin-engine boat to the starboard side, the steering wheel should be turned to port, with the starboard engine in reverse and the port engine in forward. The fuel dock, in this case, is assumed to be off the starboard side. The process can be reversed to walk the boat to the port side. It is important to note that walking a boat requires careful adjustments and practice, especially in close quarters.

Learn how to use a boat throttle

Learning how to use a boat throttle is a simple process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

First, locate the throttle. On most boats, the throttle consists of one or two levers connected to the engine by cables. On smaller outboard motors, the throttle is controlled by twisting the hand grip on the engine's tiller arm.

If your boat has two throttle levers, start with the throttle in the middle (neutral) position, with the lever arm straight up. The engine should be idling with the transmission in neutral. Pull the right lever all the way down. This lever controls your speed.

Now, to move forward, push the left lever forward to shift into forward gear. The further you push the lever, the faster you will go. To slow down or stop, pull the lever back.

To move in reverse, pull the left lever back to shift into reverse gear. The further back you pull the lever, the faster you will go in reverse. Push the lever back to the middle position to stop the boat.

If your boat has a single throttle lever, start with the throttle in the middle (neutral) position. Slowly push the lever forward to engage the forward gear. The further you push the lever, the faster you will go. To slow down or stop, pull the lever back.

To engage reverse gear, slowly pull the lever back. The further back you pull the lever, the faster you will go. Push the lever back to the middle position to stop the boat.

On a smaller outboard motor with a tiller arm, line up the arrow on the throttle to the "Shift" marking. Twist the hand grip to control the throttle – twisting forward will speed up the boat, while twisting in the other direction will slow it down.

Finally, remember to always bring the engine to an idle before shifting gears.

Turn the steering wheel hard over

Turning the steering wheel hard over is a crucial step in walking a single-engine boat sideways. This technique is also known as "prop walking" and is a useful skill for boaters to have, especially when encountering crowded parking at fuel docks or other facilities.

To execute this manoeuvre, the first step is to turn the steering wheel hard over, or "lock the wheel over", in the opposite direction of your intended sideways movement. For example, if you want to walk your boat to starboard, you would turn the steering wheel hard to port. This initial step sets the direction for the rest of the process.

Next, you would place both engines in gear, with the engine closer to your destination in reverse, and the other in forward. Using the previous example, if your fuel dock is off the starboard side and you want to move to starboard, you would put the starboard engine in reverse and the port engine in forward. You would then give both engines enough power to start the movement.

As your boat begins to move, the stern will likely lead the rest of the boat towards the pier or dock. At this point, you would need to adjust your steering wheel slightly towards the direction of the pier to straighten out your boat. Once your boat is parallel to the pier, you would turn the wheel hard over again in the opposite direction of the pier to continue the sideways movement.

It is important to note that this technique may require some practice and fine-tuning to master. Boat handling skills vary depending on the specific boat and its characteristics, such as hull shape, rudder size, and propeller configuration. It is recommended to practice in a calm and open area to get a feel for how your boat responds to the steering wheel and engine adjustments.

Place both engines in gear

To walk a twin-engine boat sideways, you must place both engines in gear. The engine that is closer to your destination should be put in reverse, while the other should be put in forward. For instance, if the fuel dock is off your starboard side and you want to walk to starboard, turn the steering wheel to port. Put your starboard engine in reverse and your port engine in forward. Give both engines enough power to start moving.

The stern will likely lead the boat towards the pier, so ease your wheel slightly until the boat straightens out. Once the boat is parallel to the pier, turn the wheel hard away from the pier once more. Do not let the bow lead the boat's walk.

If your propellers turn inboard, with both engines in forward gear, when you move one into reverse, they will both turn in the direction of the propeller in reverse and drag the boat in that direction. Boats with outboard motors or inboard-outboard engines with propellers that turn outboard tend to twist rather than walk.

If you have outboard-turning propellers, you can still walk, but you only use one engine to do so. When landing, back into your dock space at an angle between 30 and 40 degrees and put down a stern line. Once the stern line is secure, turn the steering wheel away from the pier and put the engine furthest from the pier in forward. The same physics that cause a boat with outboard-turning propellers to walk will come into play, and your boat will gently move into its dock space.

Practice in a completely open area

When practising how to walk a single-engine boat sideways, it is recommended that you do so in a completely open area. This is because, when learning how to walk a boat, it is easy to get the boat moving too quickly, and stopping a boat moving sideways takes considerably more rpm, shift, and steerage adjustment time than simply moving forward, backward, or in a circular motion.

Practising in an open area allows you to focus on learning how to manoeuvre the boat without the added pressure of other boats or obstacles nearby. You can get a feel for how the boat moves and responds to your commands without worrying about collisions. Practising in an open area also gives you the space to make mistakes and adjust your technique without causing damage to your boat or other property.

When practising, be sure to take into account current and wind conditions, as these can impact how your boat moves. Practise in various weather conditions to get a feel for how these factors influence the boat's movement. Start with calm conditions and gradually increase the challenge as you become more comfortable with the manoeuvre.

Remember to always maintain a safe speed and be prepared to make adjustments as needed. Keep in mind that it may take some time to master this skill, so be patient and persistent. Practising in a completely open area first will help you build the confidence and skills necessary to eventually perform this manoeuvre in more confined spaces.

Once you have mastered the technique in an open area, you can then attempt it in more challenging environments, such as docks or marinas. Remember to always prioritise safety and be mindful of your surroundings as you advance in your skills.

Frequently asked questions