Stern Drive Maneuvering; Gathering Headway; Turning; Backing Down - Regal 3760 Owner's Manual

STERN DRIVE MANEUVERING

Inboard/outboard, I/O or sometimes called 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. Nor mally
maneuvering the I/O boat is easier than a V-drive vessel.
Directing propeller energy (thrust) makes slower speed
maneuvering easier. The propeller discharge current is
turned from one side to the other which results in turning
forces. Rudder boats need water to flow by the rudder to
be efficient. Stern drive units are designed to have reduced
shaft angle, so the propeller does not produce as much
unequal blade thrust and resistance as does a propeller on
a single screw boat. Large horsepower stern drive boats
do produce more thrust and steering torque but your vessel
has the advantage of power steering. Below is some basic
information on how stern drive boats handle in normal
conditions.

GATHERING HEADWAY

You may notice that if you advance the throttle quickly in
initial takeoff (make sure you have a firm grip on the
wheel), the boat has a tendency to pull the stern of the
vessel to starboard. There is a trim tab (also serves as a
sacrificial anode) located on the vertical drive housing just
to the top of the propeller blade. This trim tab helps
compensate for the low speed steering torque. Once the
boat increases headway and the propeller is operating in a
faster water flow this torque effect decreases.
Contact your Regal dealer for further information or
consult your engine manufacturer's handbook.

TURNING

Once the boat has gathered headway, with the boat planing
at the correct bow angle and the stern drive units and helm
straight the boat tends to stay on a uniform course heading.
To assure the boat trim angle is correct use the trim gauge
as a guide while activating the trim button on the remote
control panel.
Vessel Operation
When the helm wheel is turned to the right or starboard,
the stern drive units are turned in the same direction. The
propeller's discharge force is directed to starboard forcing
the boats stern to port. Water flowing past the hull strikes
the stern drive gear housings on their starboard side,
creating additional turning torque. The stern starts a move
to port, forcing the bow to starboard.
If the helm is turned to the left or port the stern drives
turn to port, the stern of the boat goes starboard as the
bow turns to port.
As the vessel operator gains experience, he will better
gauge each maneuver and speed situation. In this way he
will understand the handling characteristics of his boat.
He needs to keep the safety of his passengers in the
highest priority.

BACKING DOWN

vessel.
If your boat has the steering wheel and stern drives
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.
When the vessel begins to gather speed to stern, the water
passing by the lower gearcase housings will continue to
increase steering torque. If the helm wheel is turned to
starboard, it will direct the propeller thrust to port, tracking
the stern to starboard.
Wind and current will affect how a vessel backs. Stern
drive boats tend to be light displacements and when
backing down in a strong crosswind, the bow will tend to
fall toward the windward. This may cause steering
problems.
9
Inboard/Outboard (I/O) 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
m o u n t e d . N o r m a l l y
maneuvering the I/O boat is
easier than a similar V-drive
is