This paper deals with the investigation into mathematical modelling of ship manoeuvring motions based on modified Taylor-series expansions. In light of a renewed interest in ship manoeuvring prediction methods, we revisited fundamentals and developments in mathematical modelling of hydrodynamic forces in the manoeuvring equations of motion. In our summary, we embark from the primal formulation of non-linear multivariate polynomial models, followed by a review of critical reception and consequent modifications in the hydrodynamic community, up to application in modern manoeuvring prediction methods using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Our actual analysis relied on a published mathematical model. Our goal was to assess the significance of single terms in predicting standard rudder manoeuvres, by way of resembling and extending systematic sensitivity studies.