Home / Toolbox / Turning circle
Calculating the turning circle. Manoeuvring in harbour
A displacement boat turns within roughly three boat lengths with the helm hard over, and considerably tighter with a bow thruster.
Calculator
The turning circle depends on hull shape, rudder area and speed. With too little way on, the rudder has nothing to bite on; with too much, the circle opens out instead of tightening. In harbour this is the most common misjudgement: creeping along out of caution costs you your steerage way.
Manoeuvring damage in harbour is an everyday occurrence. It hits your own topsides, the boat alongside or the pontoon, and it usually happens when there is any wind, as the bow swings away before the rudder takes hold.
All three cases are covered: your own boat through comprehensive hull cover from Basis-Plus upwards, the neighbouring boat and the pontoon through third party liability. Even so, it is worth trying out your turning circle once in open water before you need it in a box berth.
Frequently asked questions
Is manoeuvring damage insured?
On your own boat from Basis-Plus upwards, on other people's boats and on pontoons through third party liability.
Why is my boat harder to turn at low speed?
Because the rudder needs water flowing over it. Too little way on means the rudder has little effect.
Worked out for your type of boat
Related
7,322 customer reviews, aggregated on Trustami
99.3 % positive; every review with a name and a date. Collected by Ausgezeichnet.org, Kundennote and Google, where each one can be checked
More from “Navigation and planning”