Yacht Driving

• A yacht is generally defined as a larger boat. Although many people try and define the specific dimensions, their descriptions are all different. 
• Yachts typically have inboard engines, which are engines inside the vessel. Most commonly they have two, but sometimes one and sometimes three. 
• The engines connect to the yacht propellers ("props") by a shaft. The propellers are under the hull of the yacht towards the stern. The rudders, which is the means of steering the yacht, is directly aft of the propellers. To steer on an inboard yacht, water must rush over the rudders. Meaning the vessel must be making way to steer. 
• In additions, many yachts have thrusters. These are small propellers within the hull that can push the boat from side to side. Some yachts have thrusters on the stern and on the bow, but most of them only have a bow thruster.

FORWARD

• To go forward, engage the throttles in the forward gear. There is a slight delay in the forward movement. But once the momentum gets going, you will reach a consistent speed. 
• In forward, the props will spin. Vessels with two engines, called "twin screw", will have the starboard propeller spinning clockwise and the port prop spinning counter clockwise when in forward gears.

NEUTRAL

• In neutral sitting still, a yachts props will move freely. In this case with no water rushing over it, the props will not spin. 
• If a yacht has forward or reverse momentum, the propeller will move freely along with that momentum.

REVERSE

• To go reverse, the yacht's throttles should be placed in the reverse gear. There is a slight delay in movement of the vessel. But once momentum gets going, it will reach a consistent speed. 
• Relative to forward gear, reverse gear is much less efficient. At the same RPM's, reverse will reach a slower speed than forward. The shape of the vessel along with the propellers contribute to this.
• In reverse, the leading part is the stern. The stern is flat and bulky which increases drag in the water. The propellers are also less efficient in this because the leading edge of the propellers generally have more of a flat angle.
• In a "twin screw", the starboard prop will spin counter clockwise and the port prop will spin clockwise.

FORWARD

• In an inboard boat, you will not be able to turn to the left or right without having momentum built up.
• In forward, the prop has to push water over the rudder in order to turn to the left or the right. Turning will not be immediate because momentum will need to to built first.

NEUTRAL

• In neutral sitting still, you can turn the rudder all you want. Nothing will happen.
• If you are drifting in forward, depending on your speed, you will turn. The faster your drifting speed, the more responsive turning is.
• If drifting forward at 5 knots, you will still be able to control the vessel some. But drifting at 1 knot, you will not get much response. 

REVERSE

• In reverse, the propeller is not pushing water over the rudder. Instead, the water is being pushed toward the bow of the boat.
• The vessel will turn slowly, but a lot of speed has to be built up to run water over the rudder.
• In reverse, the prop direction will affect how to back up. If you have a propeller that spins counter clockwise, the boat will walk slightly to the starboard side (and visa-versa). This is called propwalk. 

• Boats do not have brakes.
• To stop a boat from moving forward, the boat must move from forward to neutral first. This will slow down some momentum, but it will take time. Depending on your speed, you want to judge how long to stay in neutral before you put the engines into reverse. 
• The faster you are going, the longer you should wait before you put the gears into reverse. If you are at high speeds and go straight from forward to neutral to reverse in less than a few seconds, you are at risk of engine failure. 
• Make sure to take off as much momentum as possible in neutral before moving to reverse. 

• To dock, you will take the driving information above and put it all together.
• Time and experience can perfect your docking comfort and ability. Of course, the more you do it, the more comfortable you are.
• Perfect conditions can help you understand the theory of docking. As wind and current are applied, you will need to adjust accordingly.