I have just purchased a 1984 Hunter 31. I cannot back the boat out the the dock and turn the stern to the right. Is this a trait of the Hunter 31? How can I correct this problem? I never owned an inboard. I have only used and outboard engine. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Prop Walk
- Thread starter dancan51
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Prop walk is ubiquitous and easily overcome by any of a number of techniques. Everyone has their favorite.
Get some water flowing past the rudder and shift into neutral to coast out;
Use spring line or stern line or ??? Line to hold the direction of travel;
Consider prop walk as a friend to be used rather than fight it and turn accordingly where possible;
Others will add their choice
Get some water flowing past the rudder and shift into neutral to coast out;
Use spring line or stern line or ??? Line to hold the direction of travel;
Consider prop walk as a friend to be used rather than fight it and turn accordingly where possible;
Others will add their choice
Learn to use it. You can turn your 31 in 32 feet of water with practice. But only one way. Sometimes a270 degree turn is easier than a90 the wrong way.
Buy a different prop
A feathering prop such as maxprop or variprop eliminate this
Fixed blade props give you prop walk
A feathering prop such as maxprop or variprop eliminate this
Sorry, but that statement just isn't true. All props have prop walk. Feathering props do have distinct advantages over fixed blades but they still do rotate and that causes prop walk.
I have the Autostream feathering prop on our boat. They claim that with their product prop walk can be almost eliminated. I found after adjusting the reverse pitch on our prop it is much less. The manufacturer told me it could be reduced even further but I want to keep some as it can be useful. Our boat backs up very well with only a little prop walk as you first start off.
Bob
Bob
I have the same boat with the same problem. I guess just use opposite rudder as soon as you can. I back into the slip, so my difficulties would differ from yours. I approched my dock a little too fast once and, before I actually had motion in reverse, had done a full 180.
A few years ago I wrote an article on the sail trim forum called "Prop Walk Is Your Friend". Type that subject into the "search" at the top of this page and you learn more than you'll ever want to know about PROP WALK.
I can't imagine having a boat without prop walk after I learned to use it rather than fight it. When I don't want prop walk, which is rare, spiking the throttle rather than a gradual increase lessens the effect. As mentioned above you need to get moving fast enough so the rudder can overpower the prop walk.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Alan, I have a Variprop and I have no prop walk. I would agree with the statement submitted at least as it pertains to a Variprop.
Good points by Don
Also ... Go to the USSailing website, look up "pivot turn" (control of and usefulness of prop walk) ... a video - http://www.sailingcourse.com/pbvideos/pivot_turn.htm. Once you master the 'pivot turn' using only 'prop walk', you wont even consider trying to steer a boat as you do a car/bus. Backing up in a straight line is nothing but a pivot turn of infinite radius. Once you learn and master the 'pivot turn' you'll probably want MORE prop walk.
100% true
Zero (0) prop walk. That's because the blades are flat, and pitch is achieved by tilting flat blades rather than sculpting them which causes sideways torque
I also have a variprop, and a max prop before that.
Zero (0) prop walk. That's because the blades are flat, and pitch is achieved by tilting flat blades rather than sculpting them which causes sideways torque
I have an 84 H27 with the same issue. I have been working on my handling skills but changed slips after a very close call with my slip mate. I have had a lot of sailors say prop walk is not an issue but have also heard a lot of others say that these 80's Hunters are the extreme of prop walk. I agree with both. I figure this challenge will only make us better sailors! Good luck
I agree! I am going to try to get the boat moving in reverse and then put it in neutral to get water moving around the rudders.
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