thataway
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2003
- Messages
- 21,623
- Reaction score
- 17
- C Dory Year
- 2007
- C Dory Model
- 25 Cruiser
- Hull Identification Number
- DOR25652A707
- Vessel Name
- thataway
OK--no leashes..we are talking the boat here. Yesterday I had a chance to use a manuever I have been practicing. There was an ultralight airplane crash, and we were involved (under the direction of an "expert") with attempting to bring it back on its floats.
The scenerio was that the wind was blowing from the STB side, and we had to be straight ahead of the floats. We had an approx. 100 foot tow rope which the expert had attatached to the pontoons, and with the wind the boat would drift to port, ruinging our alignment. I had the crew holding the tow rope clear of the props. We were taking the load on the stern eyes, with a fairly short bridle, where the bridle went outside of the aft ladder railings, and under the cables to the motors.
I put the Port engine in FWD and the STB engine in REV. With turning the wheel, and applying judicious power, I was able to walk the boat sideways into the wind, until it was lined up exactly.
The motors are set up so that the Right hand engine is on the port side and left hand engine on the STB side--common in cats, but not in twin screw boats. The walking action of the port motor in FWD is to STB, as is the walking action of the STB motor in reverse--so that the stern is walked to STB. You apply enough power to each engine to avoid rotation of the boat, and keep the boat moving, and "steer" with the wheel to get to the position of alignment. Then both engines in FWD and take up slack. We could do this without putting any strain on the tow line, untl it was aligned.
Unfortunately we were not able to right the plane, and it is still sitting in the bay. Last I heard they were going to dis-assemble it in place, but no one has arrived to do that, and the police just came around--media will follow. The owner didn't go to the hospital immediatly as was suggested, but was taken by paramedics today. It was a direct fall from about 50 feet, the lap belt only.
I'll stay on the water, thank you!
The scenerio was that the wind was blowing from the STB side, and we had to be straight ahead of the floats. We had an approx. 100 foot tow rope which the expert had attatached to the pontoons, and with the wind the boat would drift to port, ruinging our alignment. I had the crew holding the tow rope clear of the props. We were taking the load on the stern eyes, with a fairly short bridle, where the bridle went outside of the aft ladder railings, and under the cables to the motors.
I put the Port engine in FWD and the STB engine in REV. With turning the wheel, and applying judicious power, I was able to walk the boat sideways into the wind, until it was lined up exactly.
The motors are set up so that the Right hand engine is on the port side and left hand engine on the STB side--common in cats, but not in twin screw boats. The walking action of the port motor in FWD is to STB, as is the walking action of the STB motor in reverse--so that the stern is walked to STB. You apply enough power to each engine to avoid rotation of the boat, and keep the boat moving, and "steer" with the wheel to get to the position of alignment. Then both engines in FWD and take up slack. We could do this without putting any strain on the tow line, untl it was aligned.
Unfortunately we were not able to right the plane, and it is still sitting in the bay. Last I heard they were going to dis-assemble it in place, but no one has arrived to do that, and the police just came around--media will follow. The owner didn't go to the hospital immediatly as was suggested, but was taken by paramedics today. It was a direct fall from about 50 feet, the lap belt only.
I'll stay on the water, thank you!