Malibu Boats Response Owner's Manual

Malibu Boats Response Owner's Manual Manual pdf 96 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 an aspect shared by all single engine propeller-drivenwatercraft. A clockwise rotation propeller tends to cause the boat, steering in the straightahead position, to drift to starboard when going forward, and to port when goingbackward. At high speed, this effect is usually unnoticed, but at slow speed; especiallyduring backing, it can be powerful. For this reason, many veteran boaters approach thedock with the port side of the boat toward the dock, if possible.StoppingWhen stopping the boat, it is important to remember there are no brakes to allow comingto a complete, immediate stop. To stop your boat, anticipate ahead of time and beginslowing down by pulling back on the throttle.Once the throttle is in neutral and the engine has stopped pulling the boat forward, it maybe necessary to pull the throttle into reverse to further slow the forward momentum of theboat. The reverse thrust of the engine will decrease the forward speed and slow the boatdown to a safer maneuvering speed.Do not use the engine stop switch for normal shut down.Doing so may impair your ability to restart the engine quicklyor may create a hazardous swamping condition.Figure 3-9. Stern Push