Do all 26.5's have bad reverse steering?

[Guest]

I just purchased a 1978 26.5' Hunter with a diesel Yanmar engine. I had the boat professionaly surveyed, including a haul out. The shaft, 2 blade brass prop, and rudder were in good condition and clean. My problem is the lack of steering control when in reverse. She goes hard starboard even with rudder adjustment.Is this normal?

 

[Henry Weber]

backing down

Try letting the vessel build up a bit of speed and then reduce power or take out of gear. You will find your steering control much better. It takes a bit of practice.

 

[David Foster]

Try "prop walk" in the archives

I know that "archives" sounds like a put-off, but there have been some great discussions on this issue that I can't possibly reproduce!

 

[Debra Blatnik]

most sailboats have trouble in reverse

Your 26 probably handles better than those with full keels.Get up enough speed to steer (bare stearage way) and then go into and out of gear rather than running the engine slower.Good luck

 

[Fred G]

The old H30's sure do

I do not know about the 26.5, but I took out my new to me 1980 Hunter 30 this weekend to get familiar with it, and backing under power was one of the first things we cheked out. The H30's simply will not move to starboard at all until it gains significant speed AND you either put it in neutral, or back off the throttle. In fact it will actually pull to port until you get some boat speed up and then it will go straight, even though the rudder is hard to starboard the whole time.

 

[Tim McCarty]

Try this!

Wow, I was just thinking about prop wash. Sometime within the last 12 months, either Sail Mag or Cruising World did an excellent article on Prop Wash. I need to dig all the backissues out and find it!