HOW TO LEAVE A BERTH IN A SINGLE-ENGINE BOAT

Our resident expert shows you the best techniques for exiting a berth in a boat

Single-engine craft are making a comeback, boosted by lower prices, reduced servicing costs and better fuel economy. However, manoeuvring a single-engine craft takes practice. On the plus side it does simplify the question of which engine to use!

The Marex 310 Sun Cruiser we borrowed from Wessex Marine for this demonstration has a single Volvo D6 sterndrive. It also has a bow thruster, so whilst it’s perfectly possible to leave a berth without using it, it does make life easier.

There are three key points to remember when manoeuvring a single-engine boat:

1. Turn the wheel before engaging gear. 2. Use short bursts of ahead, astern and plenty of neutral so the boat never gains too much momentum – slow is pro!

3. Look and think 10 seconds ahead to ensure each movement is planned rather than a panicky reaction.

In these photos there is a fresh breeze from the stern blowing us towards the boats on the other side of the aisle, and limited turning room.

Task one is to single up the lines by removing the springs; the breeze from astern means that you should remove the bow line first, then the stern line so you can get to the helm before the wind blows you out of the berth.

With the helm straight, engage ahead nudging in and out of gear to pull clear of the berth without gaining too much momentum. Now, depending on the wind strength, either engage a brief dab of astern with the helm straight to bring it to a halt, then turn the wheel full to port before engaging astern again to pull you back towards the windward side of the aisle. Or, if you’ve already stopped drifting forward, go straight to step two.

Now go back into neutral, turn the wheel full to starboard and go ahead so that you drive the bow round towards the windward side of the aisle. Depending on how well you’ve done the first part, you may be able to get round in one go but be careful, as the bow moves to starboard your stern will pivot to port coming closer to the craft on the downwind side.

If your bow won’t clear the boat opposite on the first attempt, go back to neutral, wheel to port and into astern again to create more room. Or if the bow goes round but your stern gets too close, go into neutral, wheel to port and ahead again to push your bow back downwind. Once both ends are clear, keep the bow high on the windward side and exit the aisle.

If you have a bow thruster you can use it to push the bow round more quickly. Again there are three points to remember when using one: 1. It works best when the boat is going very slowly or stopped.

2. It pushes the stern the opposite way. 3. Use it in small bursts to avoid overheating the electric motor.

NEXT MONTH: Getting into a berth with a single-engine boat.

mby.com/howto 2 START THE TURN Put the bow as close as you dare to the boats opposite, then use astern to bring it to a halt. Now whilst in neutral turn the wheel hard over to port and go back into astern to pull your stern to port and bring the bow to starboard.

1 CASTING OFF Ensure the wheel is straight and the lines are singled up. With the wind on your stern port quarter, release the bow line first, then the sternline. Now nudge slowly ahead to clear the berth before the wind twists you.

5 WATCH YOUR STERN If you have enough room keep it in ahead and push the bow right round but don’t forget to watch your stern quarter as it will pivot the other way and get closer to the boat opposite.

6 EXIT THE AISLE You can see just how much the boat has slid to port on the wind so keep this angle, with your wheel turned slightly to starboard, to push the bow to windward and exit the aisle safely.

4 BRING THE BOW ROUND Now put the wheel hard to starboard and engage ahead to push the bow round towards the windward side of the aisle. If you have a bow thruster, a burst to starboard will help the turn.

3 BACKING UP Use nudges of astern with the wheel still to port, using small gear engagements to avoid building up momentum and allowing you to use all the space behind you. The wind on your stern will slow you.