I recently purchased a 79 Hunter 27. It sails and handles fine. However, I have found that upon positioning the boat to be backed into the slip, the rudder is not effective. The boat is torqued to the left, regardless of rudder position. Is this a problem for anyone else. What is the remedy.? Any ideas are appreciated.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
D
don
prop walk
It's typical. You will find that you gain control as you gain speed as water flows across the rudder. With no motion of water past the rudder, the only force acting on the stern is the prop pulling to port.
It's typical. You will find that you gain control as you gain speed as water flows across the rudder. With no motion of water past the rudder, the only force acting on the stern is the prop pulling to port.
M
Mulf
Lots of practice...
...backing into a slip on a narrow fairway has taught me the following method: Get the boat lined up with the stern to the slip but to starboard of perfectly lined up (dont forget to allow for the wind to blow the bow around), give it a lot of reverse throttle to get up good headway backwards (the prop walk should have lined you up with the slip), then shift to neutral and use the tiller to steer to adjust the alignment. When I first got the boat I went to the marina during the week when no one was around and practiced over and over til I figured out the right combination. Now I can usually slide in first try.
...backing into a slip on a narrow fairway has taught me the following method: Get the boat lined up with the stern to the slip but to starboard of perfectly lined up (dont forget to allow for the wind to blow the bow around), give it a lot of reverse throttle to get up good headway backwards (the prop walk should have lined you up with the slip), then shift to neutral and use the tiller to steer to adjust the alignment. When I first got the boat I went to the marina during the week when no one was around and practiced over and over til I figured out the right combination. Now I can usually slide in first try.
D
David Foster
Bursts in reverse
We use three methods with our prop walk: Use bursts of the prop at good speed, and then reduce throttle and take it out of gear. The result gives motion to the boat, and leaves the rudder to wqork effectively without the effect of prop walk. We have made surprisingly tight turns to starboard in this way. Sometimes alternating the method in forward, and reverse. Set up in tight maneuvering situations so that prop walk is not a problem. (Careful planning ahead, etc.) Use different combinations of lines, pushing off, and other means to get us pointed where we want to go with enough room to deal with the prop walk when the prop is engaged. Use it to your advantage. You'd be surprised how turning to port (in reverse or forward!) can somehow turm out to be the solution to many maneuvering problems. Prop walk seemed a big problem in my first weeks with the Lady Lillie, but seldom now, even when entering a new slip. Just look for us out there, smartly circling to port while we figure out what to do.
We use three methods with our prop walk: Use bursts of the prop at good speed, and then reduce throttle and take it out of gear. The result gives motion to the boat, and leaves the rudder to wqork effectively without the effect of prop walk. We have made surprisingly tight turns to starboard in this way. Sometimes alternating the method in forward, and reverse. Set up in tight maneuvering situations so that prop walk is not a problem. (Careful planning ahead, etc.) Use different combinations of lines, pushing off, and other means to get us pointed where we want to go with enough room to deal with the prop walk when the prop is engaged. Use it to your advantage. You'd be surprised how turning to port (in reverse or forward!) can somehow turm out to be the solution to many maneuvering problems. Prop walk seemed a big problem in my first weeks with the Lady Lillie, but seldom now, even when entering a new slip. Just look for us out there, smartly circling to port while we figure out what to do.
T
Terry Arnold
Chapman Piloting
Chapman has a very good section on single propeller boat handling that covers reasons and the cures.
Chapman has a very good section on single propeller boat handling that covers reasons and the cures.
C
Charles Duhon
Non-Slip Tips!
Had similar problem on our H34. Kilian propellers in San Leandro Ca. put some non-slip tips on our propeller and we have very little propwalk. The boat backs straight as an arrow and is easily controlled with the rudder once we get enough speed. They also increased the pitch slightly and we now have better "brakes" in forward and reverse. I highly recommend this and it only cost about $130. (Now even my wife can back the boat in!) Check out the Kilian Propeller website! Charles & Lynn Duhon "Artistry"
Had similar problem on our H34. Kilian propellers in San Leandro Ca. put some non-slip tips on our propeller and we have very little propwalk. The boat backs straight as an arrow and is easily controlled with the rudder once we get enough speed. They also increased the pitch slightly and we now have better "brakes" in forward and reverse. I highly recommend this and it only cost about $130. (Now even my wife can back the boat in!) Check out the Kilian Propeller website! Charles & Lynn Duhon "Artistry"
W
WARREN RENNINGER
Real Slow
Same problem but I find if you can start backing at the lowest possible rpm (just above stalling), prop walk can almost be overcome with full opposite rudder. Advance throttle and straighten rudder as you get sternway.
Same problem but I find if you can start backing at the lowest possible rpm (just above stalling), prop walk can almost be overcome with full opposite rudder. Advance throttle and straighten rudder as you get sternway.
C
Chris Behre Jr.
Long run at it
I have the same problem. For years I would do this ugly little manuever of swinging around almost 360 in front of my slip. Last year I learned (Fathers are great!) to start out in the channel (traffic pending) and back all the way into the slip. You should start in reverse where you have enough room to "slide" a bit. Once the boat has a knot or two of speed (backing speed) you should be able to manuever her where ever you want. I practiced on open water a view times. Probably looked funny, but it was a lot better than fending off my nieghbors boats!! Good luck.
I have the same problem. For years I would do this ugly little manuever of swinging around almost 360 in front of my slip. Last year I learned (Fathers are great!) to start out in the channel (traffic pending) and back all the way into the slip. You should start in reverse where you have enough room to "slide" a bit. Once the boat has a knot or two of speed (backing speed) you should be able to manuever her where ever you want. I practiced on open water a view times. Probably looked funny, but it was a lot better than fending off my nieghbors boats!! Good luck.
T
Trevor Hastings
Aaagh
We recently purchased a 1977 27'Hunter. Although we don't back into our slip I have had the same problem. I have successfully overcome propwalk 3 times since we got the boat July 1 (we have spent every Fri thru Sun on the boat). I do agree with the post titled "Bursts in reverse" and I have found that this actually does work. The key is to have enough speed so that the rudder actually does something or get speed and put it in neutral. I have relinquished myself to the fact that I will do what is basically a u-turn (backwards) out of our slip and I don't stress out about it anymore. Looks goofy but what the heck...as long as you can get out and put the sails up that is all that matters.
We recently purchased a 1977 27'Hunter. Although we don't back into our slip I have had the same problem. I have successfully overcome propwalk 3 times since we got the boat July 1 (we have spent every Fri thru Sun on the boat). I do agree with the post titled "Bursts in reverse" and I have found that this actually does work. The key is to have enough speed so that the rudder actually does something or get speed and put it in neutral. I have relinquished myself to the fact that I will do what is basically a u-turn (backwards) out of our slip and I don't stress out about it anymore. Looks goofy but what the heck...as long as you can get out and put the sails up that is all that matters.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.