Camper & Nicholson Nicholson 38 Owner's Handbook Manual page 6

H A N D L I N G
- S e c t i o n 1
I . I A N 9 L I N G U N D E R S A I L
4. Pas street over main sheet and to leeward and outside of
a l l . m i r z o n r i g g i n g a n d t h r o u g h t h e s h e e t b l o c k t o t h e l e e
cleat on rhe after drk.
5. The halliard strould then be laken around the leeside of the
main mast backstay and wilh the sheel cleated the sail may
be hoisred unril the luff is just clear ol the main mast back'
sray. Also see that the sail does not get snagged on the wind'
screen wiper. The sait should be set as high as possible.
e. iftis sail must be lowered and the'halliard andsheet re'
lcesed before locking or gybing.
HANDLING . Section 2
H A N D L I N G U N O E R P O W E R
t Gencnl Hintr
A . R e m e m b e r r h a t t h e p r o p e l l e r t u r n s c l o c k w i s e l o o k e d a t
from aslern thus tending to drag the stern to starboard in
ahead gear and to Port in astern gear.
B. lf a straft brake is fitted always remember lo loosen lhis off
before putting the engine in gear. ll this is'not done, you
w i l t b u r n o u t l h e f i b r e l i n i n g o n t h e b r a k e a n d a g o o d w a y
of preventing it is to hang rhe engine keys on the shaft brake
when locking the brake for sailing. lf a locking pin is fitted
. this strould be attached to the starter key.
C. When approaching a difficult berth or entering a crowded'
anchorage. always test the astern gear for a short burst
some time before reaching the berth to ensure that the
astern geEr is working ProPerlY.
5. Turning at Rett
T h e N i c h o l s o n 3 8 i s v e r Y m a n o e u v r a b l e i n t i g h t c i r c u m s t a n c e s
and the procedure for turning the boat under these circum'
stances should be as follows: Put the wheel hard over in the
direction ol turn required and put the boat into hard ahead.
As the boat builds up a good swing in the right direction. put
her hard astern in order to check any headway and to start
the boat corning Estern again. Do not attempt to reverse the
wheel whilst doing this manoeuvra as this will have very little
effect and will merely tend to confuse you. As soon as the swirg
of the bows slows down, go ahead again hard in order to main'
tain the swing. Continue to carry out this backwards and for'
wards motion until headed in the desired direction. Always re
member if in doubt turn away from the wind as the wind will
tend to blow the bow off and if the wind is not a major
factor, always turn to port if you have a choice.
6. Cautionr
A . l f m o v i n g f a s t i n a s t e r n u s e t h e r u d d e r w i t h c a u t i o n a s i t
can take charge and put enormous strains on the steering gear.
8. Avoid running the engine at it's critical vibration speed of
about 80O rpm.
2 . S t e e r i n g B o a t i n A h e a d
The 38 steers very easily in ahead under Jrower and.has itn ex
t r e m e l y s m a l l t u r n i n g c i r c l e w i t h a d i a m e t e r v e r y l i t t l e g r e a t e t
i h a n i t ' s o w n l e n g t h . T h e t u r n i n g c i r c l e t o p o r t i s c o n s i d e r '
a b l y s m a l l e r t h a n t h a t t o s t a r b o a t d o w i n g t o t h e p a d d l e
wheel effect of the propeller.
3. Steering Boat in Astern
As a general principle, the slern will rend to pull to port duc
to lhe paddle wheel effect, bul in a wind or tide the ef fect of
the propeller is likely to be considerably less strong than thc
ef fect on the boat of the wind or the tide. In general, it ir not
worth trying to control the boat accuralely in rsteln without
expecting to,use the ahead gear quite lrequently for corrGc-.
t i o n .
4 . C o m i n g A l o n g s i d e o r L e a v i n g a B e r t h
Firaly, remember that the wind will tend to blow the bow off
and bring the stern up. Secondly. when approaching r leewrrd
berth, approach the berth as f ine and as slowly as possiblc
whilst mainraining steerage way. This should be a simple mrrr
oeuvre as the wind will carry the boat down onto the berth.
Always remember to check the tidal stream first as this may bc
strong enough to push the bow or stern back away from thc
wharf.
Approaching a windward berth, this is a much mrire difficult
manoeuvre and should be approached rnuch faster snd at I
greater angle of approach in order to give the stern I god
swing in towards the berth.