I Just Don't Get it...

ITD · 08-27-2011, 03:35 PM

Hmmm, I don't think that water travels that fast but it really doesn't matter.

When you are in moving water your boat becomes part of that moving mass. If your engine is off you will move with the water, as fast as the water is moving for all practical purposes. With the prop engaged at idle your boat moves the same speed relative to the water whether the water is still or moving. If your boat steers in still water at idle speed, it will steer in moving water at idle speed. This is true whether you go with the current or against the current. The only difference you will notice is your speed relative to land or stationary objects. If you are going with the current you will be moving faster than your idle speed relative to land, if you are against the current you will be moving slower relative to land.

The fastest point in that water is maybe 4 or 5 mph when the dam is wide open, at least from what I have seen. My boat will travel about 6 or 7 mph at idle. If I use the lower speeds for my example, my boat will travel at 2 mph relative to land going toward Meredith bay. Traveling toward Paugus bay, my boat would be traveling at 10 mph relative to land. Either direction, as far as the boat is concerned, it is going thru the water at 6 or 7 mph.

Let say the water is going 9 mph in my example. Then at idle speed, my boat would still steer fine going with or against the water, the only problem is that I would be going BACKWARDS relative to land at 3 mph if I travel against the current. In that case I would have to speed up my boat, but I have never seen the channel flowing that fast.

Pulling out from Thurston's heading toward the Weirs can present some problems if you are not careful, but that is another matter.

08-27-2011, 03:35 PM	#3
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,953 Thanks: 484 Thanked 703 Times in 393 Posts	Hmmm, I don't think that water travels that fast but it really doesn't matter. When you are in moving water your boat becomes part of that moving mass. If your engine is off you will move with the water, as fast as the water is moving for all practical purposes. With the prop engaged at idle your boat moves the same speed relative to the water whether the water is still or moving. If your boat steers in still water at idle speed, it will steer in moving water at idle speed. This is true whether you go with the current or against the current. The only difference you will notice is your speed relative to land or stationary objects. If you are going with the current you will be moving faster than your idle speed relative to land, if you are against the current you will be moving slower relative to land. The fastest point in that water is maybe 4 or 5 mph when the dam is wide open, at least from what I have seen. My boat will travel about 6 or 7 mph at idle. If I use the lower speeds for my example, my boat will travel at 2 mph relative to land going toward Meredith bay. Traveling toward Paugus bay, my boat would be traveling at 10 mph relative to land. Either direction, as far as the boat is concerned, it is going thru the water at 6 or 7 mph. Let say the water is going 9 mph in my example. Then at idle speed, my boat would still steer fine going with or against the water, the only problem is that I would be going BACKWARDS relative to land at 3 mph if I travel against the current. In that case I would have to speed up my boat, but I have never seen the channel flowing that fast. Pulling out from Thurston's heading toward the Weirs can present some problems if you are not careful, but that is another matter.