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Marmag
United Kingdom
47 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Apr 2016 : 13:05:38
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Is there anyone on the Lancaster canal willing to spare some time teaching me how to drive my boat I am a total novice
Mark pugh |
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tigtog
United Kingdom
421 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2016 : 23:49:23
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YOU DONT NEED TEACHING, REMEMBER WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL ITS NOT INSTANT LIKE A CAR.
GET OUT THERE AND IN A COUPLE OF HOURS YOU WILL HAVE IT SUSSED.
GOOD LUCK |
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cliveshep
Thailand
1324 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2016 : 06:04:42
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Some years back I wrote an 18 page booklet on boat basics for beginners. I thought I'd lost it but found it only this morning so here is the link for what it is worth to you.
But - at the end of all worrying etc you still have to either jump in or walk away, or as they say "fish or cut bait" - meaning get out there and have a go!
Keep plenty of fenders down and you won't come to too much harm.
http://www.mediafire.com/download/5wwjnkoxhee/Boat_Basics.pdf
Finally living the dream!
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Edited by - cliveshep on 20 Apr 2016 06:38:49 |
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Knighty
United Kingdom
654 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2016 : 09:02:35
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You will soon get used to it, when I bought my first boat a Norman 20 I thought the steering was faulty as they all laughed at me at the marina where I bought it from as I zig zagged down the river. You are being pushed down the river from the rear so not like a car so as mentioned little tweaks needed to steer a straight...ish line. Don't think you have any locks to worry about on the Lancaster, it took us about a month and ten or so abortive attempts to do our first lock. The number of times we got to the lock then turned around petrified but after a while it does become easier and now enjoy doing locks, breaks the cruise up a bit.
If it still feels "wrong" after a while try a few bags of gravel in a bow locker and see if it makes any difference. |
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Deano
United Kingdom
1843 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2016 : 18:48:35
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Take it steady..... you can't do much damage if you are going really slow.
Watch for the wind and any current.... they will try to catch you out.
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 32 "Liberty"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
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KK
United Kingdom
25 Posts |
Posted - 25 May 2016 : 17:27:37
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| Someone advised to turn the wheel a little way and wait 30 seconds, which seems to work for us! Even then, we are always having to make slight corrections, so concentration is essential! We likened our recent trip to being in a real, live pinball machine at times, especially when going through old stop locks, when we were flung from one side to another as our fenders caught. Must have been funny to watch. Be careful of wind gusts as well. When we started out, we zig-zagged horribly but it only took an hour or so before having the boat reasonably under control. Good luck. |
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Topic |
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Learning to drive
