i am the new owner of a catalina 30 with a yanmar ysb12 diesel engine. i need to replace the prop, but have been told it is a left hand prop. can anyone confirm this? also is there a "prefered" prop size and type?
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When in reverse tied to the dock, if most of the
"wash" is on left side of boat, prop is left hand. Most boats have a right hand prop & wash is on the right in reverse.
"wash" is on left side of boat, prop is left hand. Most boats have a right hand prop & wash is on the right in reverse.
Right
Hi Robert - If your Catalina is standard, I believe it has a "right handed" prop - that is, the prop turns clockwise. When you "goose it" in forward from a standstill, the bow should move to starboard; similarly, when you use reverse the prop walk should pull the stern to port. Hope this helps, Trevor
Hi Robert - If your Catalina is standard, I believe it has a "right handed" prop - that is, the prop turns clockwise. When you "goose it" in forward from a standstill, the bow should move to starboard; similarly, when you use reverse the prop walk should pull the stern to port. Hope this helps, Trevor
Either Way...Its a Drag!
Prop walk with two bladed propeller on the 30 is a real drag. Just ask 30 owners who have posted here about the infamous prop walk issues. For example I can only back to port, so I have to literally drive down the dock in reverse to get out in open water to turn around. The solution, or so that is the concensus is a three blade prop with the best but most expensive option being one that folds. Their is much talk about the disadvantages of three versus two, especially amongst those folks who race and need that extra bit of speed a three blade drag might cause. With a 12 hp engine and in Florida, a two bladed should do well, but if you decide to head up into Georgia, Carolinas or points north where tides and current get tough, that two blade coupled to the 12 hp engine will create interesting challenges for you. If you plan on doing some cruising I would recommend a three-bladed prop; that way you will have greater torque and quick response in manuevering when you need it, and backing out of a slip in either direction will be so much easier.I do not beleive the costs will be that much greater for a three blade. Bob Catalina 30 with a two-blade!!
Prop walk with two bladed propeller on the 30 is a real drag. Just ask 30 owners who have posted here about the infamous prop walk issues. For example I can only back to port, so I have to literally drive down the dock in reverse to get out in open water to turn around. The solution, or so that is the concensus is a three blade prop with the best but most expensive option being one that folds. Their is much talk about the disadvantages of three versus two, especially amongst those folks who race and need that extra bit of speed a three blade drag might cause. With a 12 hp engine and in Florida, a two bladed should do well, but if you decide to head up into Georgia, Carolinas or points north where tides and current get tough, that two blade coupled to the 12 hp engine will create interesting challenges for you. If you plan on doing some cruising I would recommend a three-bladed prop; that way you will have greater torque and quick response in manuevering when you need it, and backing out of a slip in either direction will be so much easier.I do not beleive the costs will be that much greater for a three blade. Bob Catalina 30 with a two-blade!!
diameter and pitch
When we bought our 1989 C30 it came with three props. The one on the boat has 3 blades and the 2 spares have two blades each. The three blade pushes the boat right along and it goes well in reverse but I do not know how the 2 blade would perform. I have read how important it is for the rpm of the blade to be appropriate for the engine, gears ..... A prop that spins too fast is not good for the engine. I think you need to know what the recommended rpm for your engine is before changing the prop (diameter and pitch, # blades) . When I inquired about a folding prop, they asked a lot of questions about these factors before selecting the correct prop. Don't know if this will help but good luck ! CM
When we bought our 1989 C30 it came with three props. The one on the boat has 3 blades and the 2 spares have two blades each. The three blade pushes the boat right along and it goes well in reverse but I do not know how the 2 blade would perform. I have read how important it is for the rpm of the blade to be appropriate for the engine, gears ..... A prop that spins too fast is not good for the engine. I think you need to know what the recommended rpm for your engine is before changing the prop (diameter and pitch, # blades) . When I inquired about a folding prop, they asked a lot of questions about these factors before selecting the correct prop. Don't know if this will help but good luck ! CM
To Bob from Georgia,
I'm not sure I agree with you on the 2 blade having more prop walk than the 3 blade prop. Around here the opiniom seems to run the opposite. It's a small matter though, I was more concerned with your comment about having to back out of the marina, we had the same problem when we acquired our C30 (with 3 blade prop). With the boat on the next dock being only 24 ft behind us, the prop walk prevented us from making the necessary port turn (in reverse) to exit the marina. Or so we thought! Thanks to some very experienced sailors, who gave freely of their knowledge, we have the solution. It's quite simple, once the engine is warmed up and ready to go, undo the lines and shift into reverse with about 1/3 throttle, as soon as you get a fair amount of way on going straight back(it should only take 6 - 8 feet), throttle down and shift into neutral, this should immediately stop the prop walk and allow the boat to steer to port in reverse ( it may take a bit of practise to get just the right amount of way on), once the bow is clear of the dock shift into forward and slowly increase throttle until you have control. Remember, that if you engage the prop at any time you are going in reverse, the prop walk will immediately cancel any turn to port. It didn't take us much practise to get the hang of it, we can even handle adverse winds and currents now. Mike Whirlwind, C30
I'm not sure I agree with you on the 2 blade having more prop walk than the 3 blade prop. Around here the opiniom seems to run the opposite. It's a small matter though, I was more concerned with your comment about having to back out of the marina, we had the same problem when we acquired our C30 (with 3 blade prop). With the boat on the next dock being only 24 ft behind us, the prop walk prevented us from making the necessary port turn (in reverse) to exit the marina. Or so we thought! Thanks to some very experienced sailors, who gave freely of their knowledge, we have the solution. It's quite simple, once the engine is warmed up and ready to go, undo the lines and shift into reverse with about 1/3 throttle, as soon as you get a fair amount of way on going straight back(it should only take 6 - 8 feet), throttle down and shift into neutral, this should immediately stop the prop walk and allow the boat to steer to port in reverse ( it may take a bit of practise to get just the right amount of way on), once the bow is clear of the dock shift into forward and slowly increase throttle until you have control. Remember, that if you engage the prop at any time you are going in reverse, the prop walk will immediately cancel any turn to port. It didn't take us much practise to get the hang of it, we can even handle adverse winds and currents now. Mike Whirlwind, C30
To Mike...From Bob
Mike. I could'nt agree with you more! We can only back to port, its starboard that I want and cannot achieve. When I back out I have tried all types of power rudder combinations with the same result.......it only backs to port!! I have heard that a thre-bladed prop will allow backing to either port or starboard. We have to back out (to port) and drive the boat in reverse down three slips to finally do a 180 degre turnaround in forward to get out into the open water. Its not a problem for us as the boat does a great job on going to port in reverse so, its been very dependable that way. Thats the issue with the two blade props. By the way, even powering back, going to neutral and turning to starboard does nothing!! Its so darn weird....... Thanks Bob
Mike. I could'nt agree with you more! We can only back to port, its starboard that I want and cannot achieve. When I back out I have tried all types of power rudder combinations with the same result.......it only backs to port!! I have heard that a thre-bladed prop will allow backing to either port or starboard. We have to back out (to port) and drive the boat in reverse down three slips to finally do a 180 degre turnaround in forward to get out into the open water. Its not a problem for us as the boat does a great job on going to port in reverse so, its been very dependable that way. Thats the issue with the two blade props. By the way, even powering back, going to neutral and turning to starboard does nothing!! Its so darn weird....... Thanks Bob
prop wash
Hi guys I just repropped with a campbell sailor prop 3 blade. Before with a 2 blade and tied in the berth engine running in reverse all the was was coming out bow starboard,hence walk to port. Now with the neew prop was is equal port and starboard(what a difference)new prop is fantastic and with very low sailing drag
Hi guys I just repropped with a campbell sailor prop 3 blade. Before with a 2 blade and tied in the berth engine running in reverse all the was was coming out bow starboard,hence walk to port. Now with the neew prop was is equal port and starboard(what a difference)new prop is fantastic and with very low sailing drag
Mike's idea is right, just add
that you don't have to wait until the bow is clear of the dock to start your turn. This is because the bow of the boat is narrower than the beam of the boat. If you start turning about halfway out of your slip, the bow will NOT hit the dock. Think about it and try it. It gives you more room to turn. As previously noted in all these prop walk discussions is that most people do NOT give enough throttle to engage the rudder. It will NOT turn if there's no water movement over the rudder.
that you don't have to wait until the bow is clear of the dock to start your turn. This is because the bow of the boat is narrower than the beam of the boat. If you start turning about halfway out of your slip, the bow will NOT hit the dock. Think about it and try it. It gives you more room to turn. As previously noted in all these prop walk discussions is that most people do NOT give enough throttle to engage the rudder. It will NOT turn if there's no water movement over the rudder.
Stu..tried it all!
Thanks Stu. Being in a tranquil lake with no tides or currents, on calm days when Lake Lanier looks like a pond, I practice backing with all types of rudder and throttle configurations in quiet coves. No matter how much throttle and rudder angle (starboard), I apply she never backs to starboard!! To add to this situation, perpendicular and maybe 50 feet behind my stern is a beautiful Bristol 42. I always imagine this huge bulls-eye in the middle of his vessel, for it would be this very spot I would hit if I tried to back out anyway but for the way I do it now. Indeed, the nose slips right out to starboard with room to spare as the stern goes hard to port. We never hit the dock (we have a line of bumpers anyways to protect the nose and starboar bow section). It works just fine for me now......actually, it makes me feel like a 100-ton ferry captain!! Bob Catalina 30 1988
Thanks Stu. Being in a tranquil lake with no tides or currents, on calm days when Lake Lanier looks like a pond, I practice backing with all types of rudder and throttle configurations in quiet coves. No matter how much throttle and rudder angle (starboard), I apply she never backs to starboard!! To add to this situation, perpendicular and maybe 50 feet behind my stern is a beautiful Bristol 42. I always imagine this huge bulls-eye in the middle of his vessel, for it would be this very spot I would hit if I tried to back out anyway but for the way I do it now. Indeed, the nose slips right out to starboard with room to spare as the stern goes hard to port. We never hit the dock (we have a line of bumpers anyways to protect the nose and starboar bow section). It works just fine for me now......actually, it makes me feel like a 100-ton ferry captain!! Bob Catalina 30 1988
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