stern thruster idea

Lucky Day":1ubqlcn6 said:
Adding a suicide knob has been on my list. Where did you get one that will fit the C-Dory wheel? I tried an Edson, but the Edson attaching hardware doesn't open wide enough to attach to the wheel.
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I would check with a heavy equipment dealer, Cat comes to mind. Every loader or Forklift I've ever seen or operated had one.

The other question is, using a clock where's the best place for one.
3:00, 12:00, 9:00,, definitely not 6:00...yeowww :shock:
 
Robbi has the Edson a 19's wheel. Anyone know if the thickness of the helm wheel's rim is the same on all the C-Dorys? As I recall, the max size for the Edson was 1/8" too small for the wheel on my 25.
 
Rod, sounds like you have a really fun mooring arrangement :wink . Wonder if it would be easier with twin engines? Maybe, at least up to a point in the wind.

I don't single hand often, but when I do, I frequently will use a stern tie, (easy and quick to do in the cockpit) and then put the port engine into forward at idle as was mentioned early in this thread, while tying the bow line, or other short docking tasks. (Oh, the port OB is on because we generally tie to the stbd)

As to position of the "necker's knob" Seems it would need to be opposite side of the throttle and transmision levers, maybe 10 o'clock or so. Have considered one but it seems to look more like my old tractor days than nautical. Maybe David can turn me one out of madrona, to look more boat like :wink

Harvey
SleepyC
 
We live in farm country. We got ours at the John Deere dealer and it was adjustable.

It didn't look very nautical with the JD logo on it. But what the heck, we're country and didn't know any better. It sure did remove lot of stress from windy days in tight surroundings.
Lyle
 
I placed my high speed knob at 12. works great. Susan could not and would not dock with out it. When I bought it it would not fit over the rubber grip material that covers the wheel so I just cut away a slot of the material and placed the knob on the steel. works great and you can hardly tell what I did. use a very sharp knife.
 
toyman":1pc7x15x said:
Tractor Supply Co. - in several colors.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/agricu...-accessories/wheel-spinner-blue-vinyl-2912708

I'm happy to see that someone else knows the proper name - "neckers knob" - now, how many remember what "necking" is ?? :shock:
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Heck with the knob - I want the tractor seat on that page at my helm! :wink:

Yes, I am familiar with the term... still participate. When our daughter was younger, the very idea of it used to gross her out; now she says, "You two are so cute." 8)
 
lf you have hyraulic steering, the suicide knob will not remain in the same relitative position to the motor. The hyraulic creep will allow it to migrate in all quadrants.

In Glendale Calif. in the early 50's , we actually called the knobs "Brody Knobs" because that was what we used them for. In the foothills there was often enough dirt to allow the car to slide and do the "brody".

The necking, involved the gal doing the shifting, since the right hand and arm was otherwise occupied.
 
Suicide knobs; necker knobs; brody knobs; tractor knobs; speed knobs -- wow, maybe on a boat they should be called gobs' knobs. Actually, I had one on a Nimble Vagabond (I had for a short time) with cable steering and it was useful. Now, with hydraulic steering, I don't think that I need one. I just stick my index finger into the wheel and wind away -- this even works behind my back when I stand up going astern. BTW, how does one steer if the hydraulic steering fails? Since there is no tiller anymore, can you even turn the motor by hand in an emergency? Sheesh! One more thing to fret about. :roll:
Rod
 
Rod asked:
"...how does one steer if the hydraulic steering fails? Since there is no tiller anymore, can you even turn the motor by hand in an emergency? "
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Hmmmm, is this another reason to have twin engines :wink

Rod, Let's hope it never happens, however, it has (not to me knock on my old block the chips might fall from), so here is how I heard to do it.

With the engines pointed straight ahead, running on plan one can steer with the trimtabs by raising one side and lowering the other, the boat will steer away from the raised side. Could also be accomplished by adjusting onboard ballast to accomplish the same. The weighted side will be the inside of the curve. Off plane, a paddle, oar or bucket could provide drag on the side to turn to. Not elegant, but functional.

Or with twin engines, one in forward on in neutral or if going very slow, reverse will turn the boat away from the forward powered side.

Harvey
SleepyC
 
dutch123":caxejgzr said:
Learn how to dock your boat and spend your hard earned money on something worthwhile.
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To practice, in a clear area toss a buoy overboard and do approaches to it.

My twins placed dead ahead can control direction with throttle. Either docking or underway. Never tried the trim tabs to turn.
 
The issue for Rod is not how to dock or handle his boat, but a difficult situation where there are obsticals where he has to make two 90 degree turns in rapid succession, often with a breeze complicating the matter.

I suspect that a trolling motor, with relays full fwd/reverse would be his best bet to swing the stern rapidly, if he cannot do it with the outboard alone. There are trolling motors made to be mounted on the cavitation plate (or on a Permatrim?)--and these could be mounted athwartships, rather than fore and aft--they are out of the water when the boat is on a plane.
 
hardee":2igxzrht said:
Rod asked:
"...how does one steer if the hydraulic steering fails? Since there is no tiller anymore, can you even turn the motor by hand in an emergency? "
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Hmmmm, is this another reason to have twin engines :wink

Harvey
SleepyC
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Probably not, but, as noted previously in another thread, it is a reason to have a single and a kicker.
 
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