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Anyone good at 'crabbing' the boat?

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Topic author United States of America
Seif911
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Anyone good at 'crabbing' the boat?

Postby Seif911 » July 2nd, 2013, 4:51 pm

Hey all,
So I just learned what 'crabbing' the boat does. It is pretty cool to move your boat total sideways. My question is, when you have a 20 knot wind, can you still crab the boat sideways by increasing 1 or the other throttle or will this just not work? I, btw, could not get it to work in 20 knot winds, I just pushed the boat forward.

For those who don't know what I am talking about (I just learned this)...I will briefly give a description, though it may be not so good. Crabbing will move your boat totally sideways with no forward or reverse direction. Lets say you want to crab to your port side,
Put the port gear in reverse
Put the starboard gear in forward
Turn the steering wheel to the starboard
Last edited by Seif911 on July 2nd, 2013, 4:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks,
Steve

22' Godfrey Hurricane Fun Deck, Fiberglass hull, 175 HP, Deck boat
24' Chrysler Cruiseliner III (Lonestar), 120 HP, Aluminum Hull, Cabin, 1968
33' Carver Mariner, fiberglass hull, 520 HP, Yacht, 1977

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Re: Anyone good at 'crabbing' the boat?

Postby waybomb » July 2nd, 2013, 5:24 pm

Thanks
Fred
1969 Glaspar Avalon /1969 Johnson Electromatic 85
1987 Carver Mariner
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Topic author United States of America
Seif911
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Re: Anyone good at 'crabbing' the boat?

Postby Seif911 » July 2nd, 2013, 7:06 pm

Exactly! That was impressive. Now try to do that in 20 knot winds.
Thanks,
Steve

22' Godfrey Hurricane Fun Deck, Fiberglass hull, 175 HP, Deck boat
24' Chrysler Cruiseliner III (Lonestar), 120 HP, Aluminum Hull, Cabin, 1968
33' Carver Mariner, fiberglass hull, 520 HP, Yacht, 1977
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Re: Anyone good at 'crabbing' the boat?

Postby AaHubb » July 2nd, 2013, 7:41 pm

Sorta depends on which way the wind is blowing. If you want to move the same way the wind is blown' tis real easy, other directions not so much. :-)
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Re: Anyone good at 'crabbing' the boat?

Postby Dpoelstra » July 20th, 2013, 11:38 am

Guys...that you tube video is simply massive use of thrusters and NOT really that impressive.
Dan
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Huntington Harbour, Ca

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Re: Anyone good at 'crabbing' the boat?

Postby Dpoelstra » July 20th, 2013, 11:44 am

I have seen, and now can not find, a YouTube video that was a demonstration of doing just what you describe as crabbing. The use of the rudder along with gears and throttles was what it took. The problem is that it just won't work well with some boats. It depends on how big or small your rudders are, and even how close the rudders are to the props.

Some boats respond well to a burst of thrust against the rudder, some just dont. Once the helm is hard over, the throttles make the difference. Prop walk comes into play here too. Depends on which engine rotates which way.

One engine may need to be throttled up more, and its all a balancing act. I really wish I can find that video again...it was very well done and described very well. I just can't find it.
Dan
"Brown Eyed Girl"
1981 Carver 3007 30ft. Aft Cabin
Huntington Harbour, Ca

"But why's the rum gone....?"
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Re: Anyone good at 'crabbing' the boat?

Postby 1000islands » March 11th, 2014, 1:29 pm

I've tried it in my boat with poor results. But there is a 3207(?) in our marina and he does it all the time, and so does a few others.

I plan to try again this coming season and use more throttle.
Last edited by 1000islands on April 16th, 2014, 2:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Seif911
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Re: Anyone good at 'crabbing' the boat?

Postby Seif911 » April 6th, 2014, 9:39 am

I am also going to try it again this year. I did a little last year but every time I remember to try it, it seems that the wind is kicking up and it kind of throws out the whole aspect of doing it right.
Thanks,
Steve

22' Godfrey Hurricane Fun Deck, Fiberglass hull, 175 HP, Deck boat
24' Chrysler Cruiseliner III (Lonestar), 120 HP, Aluminum Hull, Cabin, 1968
33' Carver Mariner, fiberglass hull, 520 HP, Yacht, 1977
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Re: Anyone good at 'crabbing' the boat?

Postby Lake Erie Monster » June 2nd, 2014, 1:31 am

i look forward to trying this once i get her in the water, but first i have to re align my rudders any insights onto that?
Adam and Shannon
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Re: Anyone good at 'crabbing' the boat?

Postby Lyndon670 » June 2nd, 2014, 6:40 pm

There are only 3 ways of doing this. The first 2 are simple. You either have a bow thruster or bow thruster/stern thruster combination, or you have pods instead of conventional inboards/shafts, or you have a bunch of room.

If you have a conventional propulsion system, you give the transmission that is opposite to the direction you want to go a quick jab of gear WITH THE RUDDERS TURNED TOWARDS THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO CRAB. When the momentum has stopped, you reverse the rudders to the opposite direction, use the opposite transmission and go in the OPPOSITE direction.

With practice, one should be able to do this within 1.5 - 2 boat lengths.

This can't be done with I/Os.
Lyndon,
2000 Carver 506
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Volvo 7.4TAMD
Queens Cove Marina
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