Malibu Boats Boat User Manual

Contents

Malibu Boats Boat User Manual Manual pdf 170 page image

3-12Maneuvering TechniquesSteering response depends on three factors: engine position, motion and throttle.Like an automobile, high speedmaneuvering is relatively easy andtakes little practice to learn. Slowspeed maneuvering, on the otherhand, is far more difficult andrequires time and practice to master.When making tight maneuvers, it isimportant to understand the effects ofturning. Since both thrust andsteering are at the stern of the boat,the stern will push away from thedirection of the turn. The bowfollows a smaller turning circle thanthe stern.The effects of unequal propellerthrust, wind, and current must also bekept in mind. While wind and currentmay not always be present, anexperienced boater will use them tohis advantage. Unequal thrust is anaspect shared by all single enginepropeller-driven watercraft. Acounterclockwise rotation propellertends to cause the stern of the boat, steering in the straight ahead position, to drift to portwhen going forward, and to starboard when going backward. At high speed, this effect isusually unnoticed, but at slow speed; especially during backing, it can be powerful. Forthis reason, many veteran boaters approach the dock with the starboard side of the boattoward the dock, if possible, since the stern of the boat will drift starboard when reversethrust is applied.Damage to boat and its underwater components caused byshallow water maneuvering is not covered by the Malibu boatwarranty.Figure 3-8. Stern PushKC-0201-ABOWCIRCLESTERNCIRCLE