I'm new to this group. I tested a 37c and found the boats pulls fairly hard to port going forward. Is this common to all 37c's? Can it be corrected? thanks, Bill
have offer in for hunter 37c
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That's a symptom of something other than the boat type - usually something fouling the bottom, rudder or prop or some combination. Have you seen the bottom?
Yup! I agree with Don. This is not normal. I would guess that there may be an issue with the prop. You survey should find something. Normal clearance on the prop should be approx 15% of the diameter of the prop. (about 2" + for a 15" prop)
37c
Thank you for all the replies. I have arranged for a haul out on friday, May 25th for a survey. I hope this reveals something, but the pull to port is very disturbing, trying not to turn it into a deal killer. I like everything else about the boat. We sailed it in about 5-7 knots of wind, not much of a test but it didn't pull then.Bill
Thank you for all the replies. I have arranged for a haul out on friday, May 25th for a survey. I hope this reveals something, but the pull to port is very disturbing, trying not to turn it into a deal killer. I like everything else about the boat. We sailed it in about 5-7 knots of wind, not much of a test but it didn't pull then.Bill
There will be a fair amount of "prop walk" under power, especially with a big 3-blade prop. Even more noticeable in reverse.
Under sail, should not pull unless mast rake or sails not "tuned".
By the way, if your sale (not sail) does not materialize, s/v Raven will be for sale (and for sail) after the engine goes back in.
Under sail, should not pull unless mast rake or sails not "tuned".
By the way, if your sale (not sail) does not materialize, s/v Raven will be for sale (and for sail) after the engine goes back in.
In a normal engine installation on these boats, The boat pulls to port in reverse and to starboard in forward. (Much less noticable in forward.) When my boat was new, it broke loose from her mooring in a hurricane and beat on a seaplane ramp for a couple of hours. After the storm, I retrieved the boat and found that it pulled very hard to port. Upon being hauled, we found that the trailing six inches of the keel had taken the brunt of the grounding and was bent 30 degrees to port. I spent a day with a sledge hammer and bent it back into place then faired in with epoxy. That was 33 years ago and it is still fine. I hope this isn't the problem, but if it is, it is not a big thing to fix. It was a little unnerving at first to be wailing on a new boat with a twelve pound hammer.
My Cherubini 36 does veer to port while motoring due to the prop walk. Looking back over the transom when the engine is in forward but the boat has not yet started moving, the visible prop trust is oriented probably about 15-20 degrees out towards the port side = swings the stern to starboard = a tendency for the boat to veer to port. The effect is not severe by any means, but if I let go the wheel, the boat will find an unintended direction.
Here's an "unlikely" ... but just in case. The H Cherubini 37 (and the 36) were originally fitted with flexible plastic "flaps" which spanned the hull to rudder joint to reduce turbulence in the area. With time, the plastic became hard and flared out instead of laying flush against the hull/rudder. This was the condition on my boat when I bought it in 2007. So not all owners replaced the flaps or removed them entirely. I guess it is possible that the starboard "flap" has become missing (or is still flat against the joint) while the port one is still affixed and flared out. The surface area of the flaps are small compared to the rudder. But this situation could cause a little more "wandering" under power than prop walk alone. Here are the links a couple of threads on the "flap" topic. Some have removed them. Others have replaced.
http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=644102&highlight=flaps
http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=709004&highlight=flaps
Here's an "unlikely" ... but just in case. The H Cherubini 37 (and the 36) were originally fitted with flexible plastic "flaps" which spanned the hull to rudder joint to reduce turbulence in the area. With time, the plastic became hard and flared out instead of laying flush against the hull/rudder. This was the condition on my boat when I bought it in 2007. So not all owners replaced the flaps or removed them entirely. I guess it is possible that the starboard "flap" has become missing (or is still flat against the joint) while the port one is still affixed and flared out. The surface area of the flaps are small compared to the rudder. But this situation could cause a little more "wandering" under power than prop walk alone. Here are the links a couple of threads on the "flap" topic. Some have removed them. Others have replaced.
http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=644102&highlight=flaps
http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=709004&highlight=flaps
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My 37C has always pulled to port under power, I just accepted it as the way it was. I have had my boat out of the water multiple times and there is nothing wrong with the under body.
FWIW my H30 pulls to Starboard going fast on the engine when I have a lot of 5 or 6 people in the cockpit. With only 2 aboard - nothing noticeable. I'm guessing something to do with the stern squatting and prop walk. I just had it hauled 4 weeks ago and verified nothing is amiss below the water line.
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