Carver 396 Motor Yacht 2003, Owner'S Manual

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S
ECTION
6 O
PERATING AND
M
ANEUVERING
137
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The propellers on your boat rotate in opposite direc-
tions. With only the port propeller rotating, your boat
tracks forward and to starboard in forward gear and
backward and to port in reverse gear. With only the
starboard propeller rotating, your boat tracks forward
and to port in forward gear and backward and to star-
board in reverse gear.
With both propellers rotating at the same speed, the
rudders amidships and the engines in forward gear,
your boat tracks straight forward.
When the boat is moving backward, its rudders are not
as effective and the side force from the propellers is
used to steer the boat.
Maneuvering Astern
Backing a boat may be necessary in a crowded marina.
Your boat’s twin engines allow the boat to track straight
astern or to either side. When backing, be sure to keep
your trim tabs up. To make a turn to port, shift the port
engine to neutral. A starboard turn astern is made by
shifting the starboard engine to neutral.
Check sternway (stop reverse motion) by shifting your
engines to forward gear and throttling forward.
Full stern turns can be executed, but watch the bow.
The bow cuts a much wider arc than the stern and
collisions could occur in crowded areas.
Checking Headway
Stopping the boat’s forward motion is referred to as
“checking headway”. You should learn how to confi-
dently stop your boat within any required distance. You
can check headway by shifting engines to neutral and
coming to a complete stop over a long distance, or by
reversing engines and stopping within a shorter dis-
tance.
Close Quarters Turns
To execute a close quarters turn, check your headway,
then shift one engine into reverse while shifting the
other into forward gear. As you advance the throttles,
the opposing forces cause the boat to pivot about a point
centered between the propellers. You can assist the rate
Maneuvering