We have a 1986 Irwin Citation 35.5 that backs like a tractor trailer. Not only does it pull hard to starboard from the start but it take way to much time to correct. We have what I believe is the original two blade prop and a new rudder. Trying to back out of our slip nightmare not only for us, but those around us. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.
problems backing up
- Thread starter jean h.
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We have a 1986 Irwin Citation 35.5 that backs like a tractor trailer. Not only does it pull hard to starboard from the start but it take way to much time to correct. We have what I believe is the original two blade prop and a new rudder. Trying to back out of our slip nightmare not only for us, but those around us. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.
Do you have a left or right rotational prop? I suspect it is left hand rotation and you are experiencing prop walk which drives the stern of the boat to starboard in reverse. A rudder is completely useless until water starts to flow past it. Only after water flows over the surface of the rudder does it begin the become effective.
If your finger is to port keep tension on the aft dock line to keep the boat parallel to the finger as you back. If the finger is on the starboard side keep tension on the starboard forward spring line to keep the bow straight. As the boat builds speed the rudder will overcome the prop walk. A feathering prop would be a great upgrade for your boat.
If your finger is to port keep tension on the aft dock line to keep the boat parallel to the finger as you back. If the finger is on the starboard side keep tension on the starboard forward spring line to keep the bow straight. As the boat builds speed the rudder will overcome the prop walk. A feathering prop would be a great upgrade for your boat.
Sounds like your prop walk is to starboard when backing? In any event, when I teach this kind of thing, I have found that a number of people stall the rudder by either turning it too soon or too far, don't have enough momentum, or both. So you may want to try the following: try backing out of your slip with the rudder in the neutral position. As the boat makes way aft in a straightline, wait until the boat is about halfway out of the slip before beginning to turn the rudder in the desired direciton. As you practice this, you'll see you only really need to turn the rudder 10-15 degrees to move the stern where you want it. One of the key ideas here is to have enough momentum to gain steerage. Practice this with another crewperson (on a calm day)to help you fend off pilings or other boats until you get it right.
You need to get the boat moving backwards for the rudder to bite and give you stearage. You can either use the engine or your crew to push it back by hand. When the prop is not turning there is no prop walk. You may gun the engine in reverse for a couple of seconds to get the boat quickly to start moving back and then shift to neutral and use the steering to recover the stern back to the intended direction of travel. Then by alternating between neutral and reverse and using the rudder you can control the boat. There will be times when wind and current will kill any efforts to have that boat reverse to port so that may be time to use other techniques like the use of spring lines to turn thr boat or backout to starboard and gain speed forward to allow you to pivot within the length of the boat into a 180 degree turn. Tying lines to the pylons may allow you to walk the boat back and may also prevent the boat from crossing over to the adjacent slip. Figure out what works for you. I'm a big fan of backing the boat in at arrival as that will greatly simplify departure. You know what the conditions are at arrival but do not know what they will be at departure. Learn to use prop walk and drift to your advantage when operating the boat in close quarters. You may also go to a 3 blade prop which will reduce the walk but understand that it will not eliminate it completely. Don't despair you will overcome it with ingenuity and practice.
Sing like you are in the shower, dance like nobody is watching, and back up like the bow is on FIRE! An old salt once told me that you can't dock too slowly but I think he was wrong. When backing in, keep the steam on until the train is in the station! Like all others have said, anticipate the prop walk, use it, and once you get moving backwards keep moving. Back all the way up the channel if need be.
Warren's advice is correct. I'd just add a little more emphasis on using what you might consider to be too much throttle. I really goose the throttle for a short period of time to get the boat moving and the rudder working. Prop walk is most apparent at very slow prop turnover, like at idle. It does not necessarily increase at higher throttle because by then the boat speed and water over the rudder becomes enough to overcome the prop walk.
Google Captain Jack Klang, he has excellent on line information about boat handling.
Google Captain Jack Klang, he has excellent on line information about boat handling.
if it dont fit force it is a bad motto for sailboating. gentle on the throttle. hitting stuff while in reverse is no no.
sailboats were not built to reverse. they are not cars. they reverse with LOTS of encouragement in gentle throttle mode. i often have walked my boat to end of slip then gently use throttle in reverse to finish the job. each boat is different. there is a thread on this in the ericson section of this forum, as someone there has a 35mII and needed to learn to reverse it. many good bits of info there.
sailboats were not built to reverse. they are not cars. they reverse with LOTS of encouragement in gentle throttle mode. i often have walked my boat to end of slip then gently use throttle in reverse to finish the job. each boat is different. there is a thread on this in the ericson section of this forum, as someone there has a 35mII and needed to learn to reverse it. many good bits of info there.
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