Backing of Ranger 25

[barney]

Hello you all. This is the first time I have had a reason to lay a question on you folks.
This is the first season I have used my recently acquired 2007 Ranger 25, SPRAY. All well except backing, in which she decides to back hard starboard, really HARD. I've had small power boats before, but not one so insistent on having its own way backing. Is it me, the prop, a gremlin,...? Can anyone offer some thoughts.
Thanks, Barney

 

[Hornblower]

Possibly one trim tab is down or broken?

 

[Spirit of Gratitude]

I have not backed up a R-25. We have a R-29 but the principle is the same i would think.

When backing up have your rudder centered. If you do not know how to do this then this is how. Count how many revolutions it is from all the way port to starboard, then count back half.
Then the prop will want to force the boat to the side due to the way it rotates. You can correct this by gently tapping your rear thruster. You can use your forward thruster as a rudder. I put it in reverse get a bit of momentum then go to neutral tapping my thrusters as needed. If I need more momentum then i ease it into reverse again then neutral. steering with the thrusters again.

Hope this helps,

Stuart

 

[RProffer]

Every boat handles a little different, and if you change from an outboard, to an I/O, to an inboard, to a dual engine inboard, they could handle significantly different. What I like to do is take my boat out to the middle of a calm river or lake and practice backing up straight, and to the port and starboard. Backup dead slow and make slight gentle adjustments with the throttle. Make note of the pivot point on the port and starboard when you make turns. The pivot point will be about 1/3 back. Try not to use the thrusters when you are practicing. I like to reserve the thrusters for when I have wind or current to contend with, or in a tight situation. I find if I go slow and feather my throttle forward and aft, I do good. If I try to power my way in and out, I will have problems.

 

[Nellie Too]

Hi Barney,
Welcome to the Tugnuts. There are a lot of things that affect the capability to control your boat in reverse. The primary thing is called prop wash (and current) and depending on the rotation of your prop, the boat tends to move one way or the other. It can work to your advantage if you elect not to use the side thrusters by positioning the rudder in the opposite direction you boat wants to move. We had a single screw boat (a 40' Monk which had a mind of its own when it came to backing and no side thrusters and what helped was a deep keel and a single mindedness direction in backing). Your rudder has no control of your boat backing when your prop is turning but you can overcome it in forward. The side thrusters are great but are only effective at very, very slow movement and minimal winds. I hope this helps.
All the best,
Bob

 

[baz]

Hello you all. This is the first time I have had a reason to lay a question on you folks.
This is the first season I have used my recently acquired 2007 Ranger 25, SPRAY. All well except backing, in which she decides to back hard starboard, really HARD. I've had small power boats before, but not one so insistent on having its own way backing. Is it me, the prop, a gremlin,...? Can anyone offer some thoughts.
Thanks, Barney

First... is your dock open to the weather, wind and any strong current? If so, then backing control will be very different from doing this in calm and protected conditions.

Second... always take your time as there's no rush. If you're backing up to a dock and will be tying up the starboard side which, quite honestly, is the easiest as your helm is on the starboard side and you can lean your head out and see where the side of the boat is at all times. Line the boat up using bow/stern thrusters and then gently engage reverse and then get back to neutral. As the boat glides in keep it lined up to the dock side (fenders deployed of course) using thrusters to counter wind and current. Once the stern portion of the boat is close to dock cut the engine and get out of boat with stern line in hand. Walk toward bow and hold boat's stern to dock side by looping the stern line around a dockside cleat. Now grab your bow line and secure to a dockside cleat. Now arrange the bow and stern lines how you wish to hold boat to dock side. At all times move the boat slowly and if there's a fellow boater on hand on dockside throw a line to him/her as this will greatly simplify things.

Good luck and post back any further questions...

BTW -- the advice on how to center your rudder is invaluable. I always ensure my rudder is midships when leaving the dock as the R25 is not very sensitive to rudder position when moving at very low speed.

 

[Stella Maris]

Karma has the tendency to back to port. We offset this by putting the helm over hard to port. When she starts to wander off to the port side, a simple burst of forward brings the stern around. We rarely use the thrusters when docking as we know one day they will not be there when you are most dependent on them.

My suggest (just what you need, one more suggestion......) go out during the week. Go to the guest dock that will more than likely be empty. Practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more! And, as Barry said, don't rush, where do you have to go?

Good luck! As Barry said, keep us all posted on how you progress!

 

[barney]

Thanks very much for all your replies. I think I needed a cheering stand - and (I know) practice. I'll stay in touch and hope not to mess up too much. Thanks again, Barney

 

[Stella Maris]

Hey! There is no such thing as messing up! It is all about having a great time on the water!

Enjoy!

 

[linedoctor]

It took a day with Andrew and another with Captain Mac to even begin to understand the difference with the inboard on our Cutwater and our previous I/O boats when it came to backing. I'm still learning.....short bursts of thrust against the rudder in varying situations all produce unique results. Sure is nice to have the thrusters, tho I try not to use them.

Practice is the key. If no one showed you how to handle your boat in reverse you need a lesson on how it should work. It'll make a world of difference!

 

[Dale777]

Hello you all. This is the first time I have had a reason to lay a question on you folks.
This is the first season I have used my recently acquired 2007 Ranger 25, SPRAY. All well except backing, in which she decides to back hard starboard, really HARD. I've had small power boats before, but not one so insistent on having its own way backing. Is it me, the prop, a gremlin,...? Can anyone offer some thoughts.
Thanks, Barney

Barney,

If you do a search on the Internet for "prop walk" "power boat", which is what you are experiencing in backing, you will find thousands of hits. Since I grew up as a kid with 2 different 19 foot inboards that my Dad, my brother, and I built, I've long experience in this phenomenon in a single screw inboard. Dual screw inboards, outboards, and I/O engines are much less affected by prop walk for reasons that you can research, if interested.

Many good books on boating reference this phenomenon for single screw inboards. However, if you want an online article, I think the article at this link from "DIY Boat Owner Magazine" is a good one:

http://www.seaskills.com/files/SeaSkill ... gazine.pdf

 

[Nellie Too]

There is a mistake I made in helping you correct the boat direction when backing. If you are moving to starboard have your rudder to starboard and hit the throttle to quickly correct your direction; if your are moving to Port have your rudder to Port.
Bob

 

[ED BRADY]

Barney, We keep our R25 "Brady's Bunch" across the Sound from Port Jeff at the Housatonic Boat Club in Stratford Ct. Every day is an adventure when docking in the Housatonic River. Like the man said practice, practice, practice. We were scheduled to visit Port Jeff this weekend on a club rendevous but it was cancelled do to the upcoming hurricane. Pulling our boat tomorrow morning just in case.
Ed Brady