Prop Walk

[carlandvalerie]

Last year I recently purchased a 2007 Beneteau 373.
I was thinking about trying to add a bow thruster, but have read here that it's probably not required. Someone mentioned that they changed to a
3 blade 18" MaxProp and believes it contributes to better reverse performance and helps to minimize "walking" in reverse.
Has anyone else changed props and has similar results?
New props are expensive, but might be the simplest solution to 'prop walk'.
FYI, I was in an outside slip of a small marina last year and have moving into an inside slip of a large marina with many boats all around me.

 

[kappykaplan]

Not a Beneteau, but I switched from a 3-blade fixed prop to a 3-blade MaxProp several years ago. The prop walk is still there, but more manageable. Prop walk can be your friend if you learn how to manage it. Welcome to the forum!

 

[jssailem]

I am of two experiences.
I had a big "Michigan Wheel" prop on my boat in 2015. It produced significant prop walk.

I switched to a new prop, a three blade "Campbell Sailor".


Very Little Prop Walk. Improved thrust. Improved reduction in drag while sailing.

These are the good things.

The lack of prop walk has meant a lot more work in small boat handling. Once you learn to use prop walk to your advantage, it is almost like having a thruster on the boat without the expense and maintenance.

 

[BigEasy]

Learn how to use prop wash & prop walk as well as midship spring lines to your advantage. Really no need for a thruster on a 373 that has relatively light displacement......IMHO.

 

[Davidasailor26]

We have a Flexofold which produces about half the walk of fixed prop. I like having that much to help turn the boat. There are times when you have no choice but to work against it, but if you can anticipate how to use it to your advantage it can be a plus.

Our 37 (with about the same displacement as the 373) also came with a Quick BTQ 185/85 bow thruster and were very happy to have that. It does make life lots easier when maneuvering in tight spaces on windy days.

 

[kappykaplan]

Once you learn to use prop walk to your advantage, it is almost like having a thruster on the boat without the expense and maintenance.

 

[dlochner]

Prop walk and prop wash are your friends, they're just hard to get to know. Once you know them they will work with you in all kinds of tight docking situations.

The most common mistake is applying too much throttle before the boat gets moving. The rudder won't work until there is good water flow over it and even then it is less effective in reverse than in forward. When power is applied before the rudder is effective the prop walk will cause the stern to move quickly to port with the bow swinging to starboard, probably not what you want. Use a few small, slightly above idle speed, short bursts of power to get the boat moving aft. By short I mean 2-3 seconds. Once the boat is moving and the rudder has good water flow, slowly add more throttle to increase speed.

Learn how to turn the boat on its axis using back and fill. Get good at it and going backwards will become much easier.

 

[kappykaplan]

Learn how to turn the boat on its axis using back and fill.

 

[Michael Davis]

I’m not sure I could dock my boat where it is without prop walk. For sure it makes it much easier.

 

[D Swanson]

For a decent explanation and demonstration of how to use prop walk, Leo's most recent video is timely vis-a-vis this topic.

https://sampsonboat.co.uk/videos/ep217

 

[dlochner]

A while back I started watching TimBatSea YouTube channel. Tim is a tug boat captain who videos show his tug and barge in different situations, while he narrates about what he is doing and where he is going.

Watching him dock a 400+foot tug and barge in sometimes adverse conditions is quite interesting. He uses prop walk a lot when maneuvering alongside a ship or a pier. The key to maneuvering in close quarters and in reverse is to use momentum, get the boat moving in the direction you want and cut the power. Since learning this my docking skills have significantly improved. Tight fairways are no longer a huge concern nor is sliding into a tight space along side a dock.

Find a calm day watch what happens when the transmission is popped into reverse for a few seconds. Then turn the wheel hard to starboard and do the same. Practice, practice, practice and gentle on the throttle. Often less is more.

 

[DArcy]

My current boat is much heavier than, and not as maneuverable as my old boat. When I first got this boat I went out on a calm day and practiced maneuvering around a buoy. I learned to predict the prop walk backing up alongside the buoy and how to back and fill the boat in an open space before having to use it in the confined space of the harbor. I can now turn the 36 ft boat completely in the fairly confined fairway which is about 50 ft across. A bow thruster would be nice to have, but certainly is not necessary.