Vessel Operation
5-19
Backing Down
Stern drive boats do not have rudders. The
boat uses a steering system that directs
the propeller thrust, by turning the stern
drive unit where the propeller is mounted.
Normally maneuvering the I/O boat is
easier than a similar single screw vessel.
If your boat has the steering wheel and stern
drive straight with the control in reverse,
the stern will be pushed a bit to port by
the reversing propeller thrust. This tendency to back to port can be
eliminated by turning the stern drive to starboard.
Stopping
Remember that your boat does not have any brakes. It uses reverse
thrust from the propeller to stop. If the vessel has headway, with the
helm and propeller in reverse the propeller thrust is directed backwards,
past the lower gearcase of the stern drive.
Depending on how far the throttle is advanced, the discharged thrust
may not be strong enough to reverse the water fl owing by the gearcase.
As the power is increased, the propeller thrust becomes strong enough
to stop the fl ow of water past the lower unit, and, as the throttle is
advanced it reverses its fl ow more completely.
When water is fl owing past the gearcase, steering torque is increased,
but when the thrust stops the water fl ow, the boat will not respond to
the helm. This is a short lived event and is overcome quickly when the
water again fl ows past the gearcase.
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