Canal Boat Steering?

Question

On a canal boat, why do you have to keep the rudder at an angle to keep the boat in a straight line? Does it have something to do with the propellor?

Answer 1

Canal boats were propelled by a tow rope connected to a draft animal ( usually mules ) which walked the towpath alongside the canal. This one-sided pull was counteracted by swinging the rudder to the opposite side of the towpath. By locating the rudder to the opposite side there was less drag& more mpm  (  miles per mule ) & less wear & tear on the rudder man.

Answer 2

The rudder is out of alignment.

Answer 3

No, you should not feel that you have to keep the tiller (the lever that controls the rudder) at an angle to keep the boat straight. It could be as the first answerer said. That the tiller and the rudder are out of alignment, so the boat is going straight, but because the tiller is off centre you feel you are not steering straight.

Canal boat propellers are very small and fine pitch, so the waterflow from the propeller effects the rudder only slightly, therefore, if you feel that you truly have to keep the rudder on one side to keep straight then I would suggest that there is something wrong with the keel, or something else on the hull that is causing an unwanted 'twist' in the waterflow.

Hope this helps.

Cheers Bigpathome.

Answer 4

An engine powered canal boat should track straight forward, with the rudder inthe centre.

HOWEVER:

- The wind blowing on the side will affect the boat in a big way.

- An underwater current could affect the boat

- If the engine / propeller is pushing water past the rudder, then the turbulence could be causing an issue.

- When the propeller goes round, it tries to move the stern of the boat to the side, as well as pushing the water backwards. This "torque" will mean the rudder has to be used to keep the boat on a straight line. Once the boat is moving, it will require very little rudder, but as you start to move the torque will be greatest, and require the rudder to keep the boat on a straight line.

MOST boats will need the rudder held amidships to counteract the torque: although it may feel as though its pushed over one way, in fact it will be centered.