Hunter 33 (1981) - Excessive Pull to Port and Prop Walk

[spadaforaj]

Being new to this - can someone help me with "where to start" ?

From day one this boat has had an excessive pull to the port under sail or power, and incredible to port prop walk - reverse is the same as "pull the stern hard to the port and smash the starbord bow into the dock"

Where should I start ? (and yes, the boat is unfortunatly in the water)

 

[Guest]

Steering

Under what conditions does it pull (weather helm) to port:

1. Wind speed?

2. Motoring speed?

Prop walk conditions:

1. Engine RPM?

2. Boat speed?

Weather helm is normal and should be considered your friend. At four knots of wind weather helm is hardly noticeable on our boat. Twenty five knots of wind with all sails up a different story; very strong, which is an indication to reduce (reef) sail. If you have strong weather helm (over 20 degrees of helm) in let's say eight knots of wind, then it needs to be looked into.

Ditto prop walk. Once you understand its affect on your boat it helps with maneuvering. At idle prop walk on our boat in reverse is hardly noticeable. But a quick burst of RPM (3,000) in reverse helps with docking or turning the boat in a tight fairway. However, if you have strong prop walk at 1,000 RPM in reverse, again, you need to look into it. Once you have way in reverse, the rudder will overcome prop walk. Our boat is highly maneuverable in reverse once it has way.

Terry Cox

 

[spadaforaj]

Thanks - the pull is extraordinary under all conditions - it's always to prt, no matter what the tack - so I only have weather helm in one direction ! Does that point to anything ?

 

[Ed Schenck]

Just one question. How long has it been since you saw your boat out of the water?

 

[Dan Johnson]

Spada...

have the boat "short hauled" (hung in the sling while you look over everything under the water line). Something just isn't right.

Stand a ways off to the front and back and sight down the keel in relation to the true centerline of the boat. An '81 is probably "pre-wing", but if it isn't, check to see if one of the wings on the Sheel Keel if fitted isn't bent and giving you a distinct twist of the hydrodynamic force.

 

[Nereussailor]

My H30 does the same thing, but only when motoring. In reverse it really sucks, I've gotten used to it, but getting out of my slip can be pretty tricky depending on the current, tides, and winds. Sailing is straight as an arrow though. I think Dan has the right idea, something doesn't seem right with the keel.

Dave

 

[Bob Poff]

Process of elimination....

Under Power:
How does the helm feel with the boat tracking straight?

With the helm in that (boat tracking straight) position:
Do you feel that you're pushing the helm a lot to keep it there? How hard?
Or does the pressure start to reduce with the wheel at that position?

If it relaxes, maybe the quadrant slipped and your "centered helm" point isn't.
If you're fighting the helm to keep it there, you certainly need to look at the boat out of the water.

 

[bob c g]

While out of the water check for any repair work that might have been done to the rudder, if it is not symetrical it will create uneven force on one side causing a turning moment. Who knows how to spell "symetrical"?

 

[Alan]

Before hauling the boat I would just jump in and give the underwater appendages a good look-over. I'm willing to bet you've got a bent rudder post. A quick swim will confirm a great deal.

 

[peptobysmol]

What allen said...

 

[Paul F]

If you have a shoal keel, like mine the rudder is lower than the keel when under power and can be under sail as well. It is very likely that the rudder post is bent from hard groundings and causing the problem. To solve this problem I had 7" cut off the bottom of the rudder and added 7" on the tail of the rudder to make a more square looking rudder. The steering is better. It sounds as if the boat is new to you. If you dive the boat or just hang off the boarding ladder you should be able to see if the rudder post is bent. If it is you should replace the post rather than try and bend it back.