Now I don't know the correct term for the sail that people use to keep the bow pointed into the wind when at anchor.

Sunday when we went out an were motoring into the wind we were being blown back and forth in the channel. I had to crab into the wind to try and keep her on course.

If I had one of them small sail would it have keep me pointed into the wind and not had to fight so much keeping on course?

__________________

Hey Grime

Its called a riding sail, but I dont believe it would have helped. Did you have any sail up?

If you have a center board you may have needed to adjust it.

Assuming you have an outboard motor check the trim tab. Was the outboard all the way down? Is the shaft long enough?

Any slack in your rudder? Just a wag but could your rudder be out of balance?

No sail up.

The keel was all the way down. Which give me a 6 foot draft.

The outboard was all the way down. It is a long shaft. Not sure what the trim tab is. Me dummy.

I have tiller steering and when motoring I have to keep one hand on the throttle and one on the tiller. I've never been able to get the throttle lock to keep the throttle in a position so I can turn loose of the throttle.

Thanks Bass for the reply.

Yesterday I watched a ketch come in and they had the rear sail up and were motoring into the wind. This is what made me think of a riding sail to assist me.

__________________

I think you had the keel too far down. Try cranking it up 50 - 75%. With the swing keel all the way down you only get the width of it for longitudinal influence. It behaves more like an axle instead of a lever, and allows the boat to pivot. If you crank it up you get more leverage. (if I didnt make this clear ask for clarification)

You should have a friction adjustment for holding the throttle in place. Check it out or give us more info and we may be able to help.

Many arent aware of the trim tab so dont think youre the only one. At this time dont mess with adjusting it until youve experimented with the keel


A pic of the trim tab

http://www.nissanmarine.com/products...st_feat017.jpg


How to adjust

WikiAnswers - How do you adjust an outboard motor trim tab

No clarification needed I understand what you are talking about. Next time and there will be a next time I'll give that a try. I've been trying to learn when to raise and lower the keel other than when in shallow water. Slow process.

Hard for me to explain so what I'll do is take a photo of the friction lock and post on a new thread. Have to wait till Saturday when I go back over to the boat.

Don't remember seeing one on my motor I'll check Saturday.

__________________

I call the mizzen my 2nd Rudder because the weather helm pushing me into the wind can be that extreme if over-trimmed. That tiny little thing will generate twice the turning force of the main. Although I have never bothered to use it alone motoring into the wind or even at anchor it would help - on a Ketch.
But .... I certainly agree with BA as to Not to add riding sail to help you motor into the wind because you would have No Adjustment and if the wind shifted you be fighting a losing battle against a rudder much larger than the one attached to your tiller.

__________________
Stan
"Christy Leigh"
Nauticat 331