Quote:
Originally Posted by Neilk
Can't they put one engine in reverse to get the ship to change course or does that take too long?
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That all depends on how much forward momentum the vessel has in the first place.
A single screw boat, will turn slower or faster in a single direction, either port or starboard depending on which direction the screw turns.
If you have a twin screw boat you can split the screws to pivot or force a quicker or slower turn depending on which way the rudders are pointed. Small double screw boats normally have counter rotating screws.
I know blaw blaw, he-he but depending on how fast a boat is going makes a huge difference you are fighting intertia. I think you could google "Full ahead to Full astern distance" for a destroyer and find it. Probably several ship length's.-WW
ps. I just read destroyers are double screw boats so in theory you could use the engines alone to steer the ship if the rudders aren't too far over. But it would be easy to loose the heading from wind or what not and get way off to the Jones's and have to come clear about.