I have a two blade prop. My prop walk is bad in reverse and it takes time to bight. Will a 3 blade prop reduce prop walk in reverse? Also will it be smoother running at higher speeds?
- Status
adjust to the prop walk
I have the same issue on my hunter 34. I've gotten used to it and adjust for it. I have to throttle up to get it moving then back off of the throttle and can steer it pretty well in rev. A 3 blade prop creates too much drag from what I've been told and I think you would still have some prop walk. I've went out in the middle of the lake and practiced backing up several times and it seems to help. Tim Welsh Hunter 34 S/V Cabo Wabo
I have the same issue on my hunter 34. I've gotten used to it and adjust for it. I have to throttle up to get it moving then back off of the throttle and can steer it pretty well in rev. A 3 blade prop creates too much drag from what I've been told and I think you would still have some prop walk. I've went out in the middle of the lake and practiced backing up several times and it seems to help. Tim Welsh Hunter 34 S/V Cabo Wabo
No
No, a three blade prop will not help. By all reports, a floding or feathering prop may offer significant improvements. David Lady Lillie
No, a three blade prop will not help. By all reports, a floding or feathering prop may offer significant improvements. David Lady Lillie
Prop walk is a function of the angle
that the prop shaft makes with the horizontal and has nothing to do with the type of prop. A helecopter is an extreem example as the "prop" shaft is 90 degrees to the horizontal. The only way to make it not "prop walk" is to actively change the pitch of the blade that is going forward (up for a boat) to reduce the lift and change the pitch of the blade that is going backward (down for a boat) to increase lift. The blade that is going forward is going through the air faster than the blade that is going backward when the helecopter is moving forward. The same thing happens ANY time you rotate a prop in the water and the prop shaft is not parallel with the water stream it is moving in. The angle that the blades strike the water is greater on the upward part of the rotation than on the downward part. More angle of pitch means more thrust and you get a twisting effect that most call prop walk. This is why two boats with identical props can have drasticaly different amounts of prop walk. In the avation community it is called P-factor. So unless you want to modify the angle that the prop shaft is making with the water you are stuck with prop walk.
that the prop shaft makes with the horizontal and has nothing to do with the type of prop. A helecopter is an extreem example as the "prop" shaft is 90 degrees to the horizontal. The only way to make it not "prop walk" is to actively change the pitch of the blade that is going forward (up for a boat) to reduce the lift and change the pitch of the blade that is going backward (down for a boat) to increase lift. The blade that is going forward is going through the air faster than the blade that is going backward when the helecopter is moving forward. The same thing happens ANY time you rotate a prop in the water and the prop shaft is not parallel with the water stream it is moving in. The angle that the blades strike the water is greater on the upward part of the rotation than on the downward part. More angle of pitch means more thrust and you get a twisting effect that most call prop walk. This is why two boats with identical props can have drasticaly different amounts of prop walk. In the avation community it is called P-factor. So unless you want to modify the angle that the prop shaft is making with the water you are stuck with prop walk.
Walk with it
Check the archives and you will see several post about living with prop walk. We back in with our 340 all the time. Just anticipate the walk and time it takes to get rearway (going in reverse). Proud moment today! My son backed our 340 in with minimal assistance! You can do it to Chris,
Check the archives and you will see several post about living with prop walk. We back in with our 340 all the time. Just anticipate the walk and time it takes to get rearway (going in reverse). Proud moment today! My son backed our 340 in with minimal assistance! You can do it to Chris,
Feathering Prop Doesn't Change Anything
With regard to prop-walk, a fethering prop doesn't change anything that I can recal. It's been many years since I had the fixed-blade prop on so I don't remember exactly what it was like but with the feathering prop I do get prop-walk. Docking a boat is different than parking a car. With the boat the stern wants to go to port whenever you add power or put it into reverse, hence, plan the docking maneuver accordingly. The neat thing with prop-walk is you can turn the boat around within it's own boat length by using it - try that with a car! So there are some distinct advantages to having it.
With regard to prop-walk, a fethering prop doesn't change anything that I can recal. It's been many years since I had the fixed-blade prop on so I don't remember exactly what it was like but with the feathering prop I do get prop-walk. Docking a boat is different than parking a car. With the boat the stern wants to go to port whenever you add power or put it into reverse, hence, plan the docking maneuver accordingly. The neat thing with prop-walk is you can turn the boat around within it's own boat length by using it - try that with a car! So there are some distinct advantages to having it.
Watch the bow
...when you are trying to reverse. This point was taught to me many years ago and I had to help a sailor having problems backing down today. Basically, when backing down, watch the direction your bow is moving and then use OPPOSITE rudder. For example, in my slip the wind comes from my port bow. Therefore, my bow wants to go to stbd - plus my prob is pushing the stern to port!! When starting to back down, I simply use full RIGHT rudder to get the bow going to port. As I continue to back down, I use less or more right rudder to keep the bow straight as I move out of the slip. Taught this to my wife in one week end and she is now a pro!! Watch your bow.
...when you are trying to reverse. This point was taught to me many years ago and I had to help a sailor having problems backing down today. Basically, when backing down, watch the direction your bow is moving and then use OPPOSITE rudder. For example, in my slip the wind comes from my port bow. Therefore, my bow wants to go to stbd - plus my prob is pushing the stern to port!! When starting to back down, I simply use full RIGHT rudder to get the bow going to port. As I continue to back down, I use less or more right rudder to keep the bow straight as I move out of the slip. Taught this to my wife in one week end and she is now a pro!! Watch your bow.
- Status