Reversing

I can only speak about narrow boats, but I've found that each and every boat I have been on, responds slightly differently in reverse.

Very little steerage in reverse, so correcting your line must be done in forward gear, and reversing done when your line is right (ish).

Whilst waiting for locks, I do a lot of practise reversing even now, and as Gary Player is credited with saying "The more practice I do, the luckier I get".

I can't help with training days in East Anglia, but I do believe money spent on training, is money well spent, even if it's only in confidence building.

And never forget the golden rule of manoeuvring. .........

All will go splendidly provided no one is watching

Rog

If the wind and water are really still then you may find a slight change of direction in reversing when using the tiller/rudder. But let's face it, this is not going to happen, is it?

What to do if you want to go back, eg. in a marina, so you don't knock into other boats?
Engage reverse gear if your boat's back end is pointing the right way. Go gently - or put on full revs if you think you can make a straight line, and the momentum/mass will keep shoving in that general direction.
When it starts going astray, forwards gear and turn that tiller so you turn the nose of the boat where you want it to be pointing so you can slam reverse in again.

It is counter-productive having to slow the boat down and stop it by 'going forwards' but that's the only way you're gonna get the nose to swing round.

Wind can seriously bollox it all up, so in tricky places go slow and be prepared to touch other boats with your hands to keep yours from clanging against them.

I wouldn't waste money on a "helmsman's course" - they don't know where you'll be going, do they?
I often see many people use far too much power, splashing around like a salmon out of water.
You can also reverse by just touching boats and giving a tug - it's amazing how little effort you need to get 13 tonnes moving on water.

Yes, but we are talking about reversing a long distance as in a marina, not just doing a U-turn.

My boat is prepared to go backwards, but only where she wants to go, it is impossible to steer her in reverse in any meaningful way. Waggling the tiller helps a bit, but only a bit, the boat pole is pretty much the most essential piece of kit when reversing.

I'm glad it's not just me. We hired from Gailey the last time, north through Stone heading for Stoke, can't remember the bridge number we stopped close to but we didn't have a TV signal, and the missus wanted to watch something that evening after coming back from the pub, I tried to reverse the damn thing past two moored boats and got it all shapes. A friendly boater near by saw what a muddle I was in and reversed it back for us, he seemed to have no problem doing it.

Not a lot of drink was taken, so I don't think that was the problem.

Don't waste your money on helmsman course..you won't get that much reversing to make any difference...I did 2 and yeah got me going on handling boats but I gained far more knowledge and insight when I owned mine. I used to practise reversing down long stretch quiet canal just to see how she handled....
Remember though wind etc affects steering as does sightseers..just practise when u get your boat..you'll be fine.
I used to love 'hovering' waiting for locks practising getting her just so...

"Hovering" in the river Hull waiting for the A165 traffic to be stopped so they could open the bridge for me might have been causing wear to the gearbox and clutch 

........................ but I can assure you there was a damn sight more wear to my nerves