NauticEd’s Maneuvering Under Power and Docking course is designed to give you total control when the stakes are highest: tight marinas, strong wind, and tricky cross-currents. Learn the techniques and understand the physics so you’re calm and confident at the helm. Whether you’re a new sailor or brushing up your skills before your next charter, this course is a must for all sailors.
How Catamaran Rudder Position Affects Steering
When you step aboard a catamaran, you need to look for some of the differences between the catamaran and a monohull, and one of the most important differences is how the rudders and props are set up. Most sailors don’t realize until they’re docking that the rudders on many catamarans are in front of the propellers, which means you don’t get that same “prop wash” over the rudder when shifting into forward gear. That little detail can make a BIG difference when maneuvering in marinas.
In this quick walkthrough aboard a Lagoon 46 in the BVI, I’ll show you what to look for and exactly how the rudder and prop relationship works, why it feels so different from a monohull, and what you should keep in mind when handling a cat under power.
Cheers! Grant Headifen
Catamaran Video Transcript
Hi, I’m Grant Headifen, Global Director of Education for NauticEd. This week we’re down in the BVI with a Lagoon 46 catamaran, and I want to point out a few important differences between handling a catamaran and a monohull.
We’re at the stern of the boat. Down here is the engine, and this fitting is for the emergency tiller. If your steering ever fails at the helm, you attach the emergency tiller here to control the rudder.
The sail drive runs out the back of the engine and down to the propeller, which sits just behind the rudder. Notice that the rudder is actually in front of the propeller on this design.
So, what does this mean for handling? On a monohull, when you shift into forward gear, water is pushed directly over the rudder, giving you immediate steerage. On this Lagoon 46, that doesn’t happen—you don’t get prop wash over the rudder in forward gear. In forward, the rudder won’t help you steer.
In reverse, it does work, but a little strangely. The propeller pushes water onto the rudder while also trying to turn it at the same time, so the handling feels different than what most sailors are used to. This is especially important to keep in mind when maneuvering in tight marinas.
The good news is that catamarans give you more control with dual throttles, so you can spin and maneuver the boat effectively. But here’s the key: if you expect to put the throttle in forward and kick the stern around like you would on a monohull, it’s not going to happen.
We demonstrate this in the marina: to spin the catamaran in one direction, you actually need to turn the wheel in what feels like the opposite direction compared to other cats where the rudder sits behind the propeller. That’s why it’s so important to understand where your rudders are located—so you can maneuver with precision.
For a full breakdown of handling techniques in situations like this, check out our Maneuvering Under Power Course, where we cover in detail how to operate catamarans and monohulls under power.
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You can learn more in the Docking and Maneuvering Under Power Online Course....
The Docking and Maneuvering Under Power online sailing course is your go-to resource for learning how to dock and maneuver large sailboats. Master tight marinas, prop walk, and perfect approaches to be confident and competent at the helm in any conditions.
