Prop Walk on a C27

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FOB

FOB

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Feb 11, 2006
57
Hunnter 356 Fifty Point, Ontario
I have recently purchased a Catalina 27 1985 Shoal Keel with Wheel Steering with a 3 Blade Prop and inboard M18 Diesel engine... I’m still getting used to the way she reacts, when I put her into reverse, my stern go port and my bow goes starboard... I don’t have control in keeping her straight while reversing for a little bit until I get some momentum going... I am on a finger dock which is on my port side... so when im leaving the dock, my stern is always going into the finger dock when reversing... I give the dock a little kick to get my stern clear from the dock, so I clear it... My question... How can I reverse straight? wheel steering and inboard is new to me... went from an outboard and tiller on my old boat, so there is a little getting used to. Thanks. FOB
 
S

Scott

Prop Walk

I have a 30 with a 3 blade Cambell sailor prop....I have found when backing up that if you leave the rudder amidships and apply max throttle for about one boat length, you will have much better control when you do make your turn. Resist the urge to turn your rudder until water is moving over it! The prop walk is useful when you learn to control it....I've done 360's in fairways not much wider than the length of the boat.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,078
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Reccomend an archive search on

prop walk. It'll give you a lifetime of reading fun! :)
 
J

Jack2438

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May 25, 2004
173
Oday 25 Tampa Bay
spring lines

I visit a friend at a marina that is very limited in space. When he backs out he uses a spring line to help him with control. I would also be comfortable in asking a dock hand to assist you till you feel better about. Be sure to tip him a couple of bucks, when you come back he will be right there to help you tie up. If your neighbors help, offer them a beer/soda. Don't try and learn by banging into your neighbors boats. Learning and mishaps happen to all of us, but a marina shouldn't be a training ground. You purchased a nice boat, have fun!! Jack
 
FOB

FOB

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Feb 11, 2006
57
Hunnter 356 Fifty Point, Ontario
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The good news is that im next to my friends boat...(just kidding) I just need to give my self a little bit of a push out and back and i will be in good shape... the other night i was about 1/2 a mile out of my marina and it was dead calm, both winds and water, so i took advantage of that and got a feel of what happens when i reverse, foward, wheel turned, straight ect.. thats when i figured out for sure that my stern goes port when i put it in reverse and i dont thing there is a way around it until i get a little more momentem and get steering control. just thought i would check with my Feller Catalina 27 owners on their thoughts... Thanks.
 
T

Tim C350 April IV

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Dec 2, 2003
392
Catalina 350 Seattle
Little Muscle goes a Long Way

We always found that getting the boat moving via muscle power did wonders for taking that initial prop walk out of the equation. We had a C27 in a really tight space that required backing up and making a hard turn to the right in reverse almost immediately - before we could put it in forward and head out. Holding the tiller on center, and then getting the boat moving by pushing off the dock gave us enough rudder "authority" to make the turn, and if the wind wasn't blowing, we really didn't even need to use the reverse, just drift back far enough to kick it into gear and steer out. Good Luck! Tim Brogan April IV C350 #68 (was Inamorata C27 #6111) Seattle
 
FOB

FOB

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Feb 11, 2006
57
Hunnter 356 Fifty Point, Ontario
Muscle

Sounds like im in the same spot that you were in Tim... Were you in slip 253 in Oakville by chance? Ha-ha... Congratulations on your upgrade to your 350. Very Very nice choice. That’s the one I would like to move to by the time im 35. My rule is to have more feet then my age :)
 
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