I have just made my first trip with a new 340 and i noticed that, navigating with the engine propulsion, if i leave the wheel after 4-5 seconds the boat turn to the left. The reseller told me its absolutly normal, because of prop rotation. I sailed with other boats and i never had the same experience. With sails the boat is equilibrated. Is the same thing in all 340?
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Hear this before!
Salvatore: We have heard this before. Do not think that this is uncommon. I believe that it has something to do with the relationship of the prop to the hull and the rudder. Some models have it more than others. One thing that you may consider is tightening down on the wheel break and see if that helps. Otherwise your only fix would be an autopilot (which you need anyway!). Caio
Salvatore: We have heard this before. Do not think that this is uncommon. I believe that it has something to do with the relationship of the prop to the hull and the rudder. Some models have it more than others. One thing that you may consider is tightening down on the wheel break and see if that helps. Otherwise your only fix would be an autopilot (which you need anyway!). Caio
It has to do with prop wash on the rudder...
I can't explain it, but it happens. All of my boats have done exactly the same thing. Under sail with everything balanced, she should track straight as an arrow.
I can't explain it, but it happens. All of my boats have done exactly the same thing. Under sail with everything balanced, she should track straight as an arrow.
Off topic: turning left too quickly
this very thing happened to a Norwegian Caribbean cruise ship last week here in Puget Sound. 60 people were hurt when the helmsman took the ship off autopilot and immediately turned 8 degress to port. On deck 10 (the pool deck) swimmers were washed over the side of the pool and across the deck 'like ice cubes ina drink.' Fortunately, no one was washed over the side. And to think we routinely turn 10 degress with one push of our autopilot...
this very thing happened to a Norwegian Caribbean cruise ship last week here in Puget Sound. 60 people were hurt when the helmsman took the ship off autopilot and immediately turned 8 degress to port. On deck 10 (the pool deck) swimmers were washed over the side of the pool and across the deck 'like ice cubes ina drink.' Fortunately, no one was washed over the side. And to think we routinely turn 10 degress with one push of our autopilot...
Solved with an Autopilot
Saying the obvious . . . we have an autopilot on our 340 which, of course, solves the problem.
Saying the obvious . . . we have an autopilot on our 340 which, of course, solves the problem.
Check archives for "prop walk"
There are some excellent discussions in the archives on how to counter-act and work with this result of spinning a prop at an angle behind and under our hulls. David Lady Lillie
There are some excellent discussions in the archives on how to counter-act and work with this result of spinning a prop at an angle behind and under our hulls. David Lady Lillie
My wife's first time at the wheel ...
When we first got our new 340, we were motoring down the lake and I needed to go below, I asked my wife to take the wheel. She had never steered a sailboat under power --- only a power boat under power. She took her hands off of the wheel and the boat started turning in circles. I was down below and yelled "Where are you going." Answer, "Somethings wrong with the steering." Words followed.... "Something" was HER taking her hands off of the wheel and letting the prop wash turn the rudder. This doesn't happen on a power boat as the prop is usually connected to the lower unit, which is turned to steer the boat, not a rudder. Anyway, that's a shortened and polite version of how my wife got "promoted" from "crew" to "Admiral." You get the idea...
Regards, Wynn Ferrel S/V Tranquility
When we first got our new 340, we were motoring down the lake and I needed to go below, I asked my wife to take the wheel. She had never steered a sailboat under power --- only a power boat under power. She took her hands off of the wheel and the boat started turning in circles. I was down below and yelled "Where are you going." Answer, "Somethings wrong with the steering." Words followed.... "Something" was HER taking her hands off of the wheel and letting the prop wash turn the rudder. This doesn't happen on a power boat as the prop is usually connected to the lower unit, which is turned to steer the boat, not a rudder. Anyway, that's a shortened and polite version of how my wife got "promoted" from "crew" to "Admiral." You get the idea...
Regards, Wynn Ferrel S/V TranquilityAnother possibility
We bought a H380 two years ago and when we brought the boat home it always wanted to go to starboard very quickly. Dealer said it was prop walk. I changed the prop for a Max-Prop which I was told would not be as bad. Even after the prop change, the boat went quickly to the right. Hunter sent a vice president to investigate and although he was a power boater, he did agree something was not right. I measured the rudder when I hauled to change props and found that the rudder was NOT symetical, but was concaved on the port side and fatter on the starboard side. Hunter agreed to change rudders and the problem was eliminated (given the Max prop and the new rudder). Since then, several people have measured their rudders and found similar problems. I would recommend to measure your rudder and do not just accept prop walk. If your rudder is not symetical, you will lose speed and have steering problems.
We bought a H380 two years ago and when we brought the boat home it always wanted to go to starboard very quickly. Dealer said it was prop walk. I changed the prop for a Max-Prop which I was told would not be as bad. Even after the prop change, the boat went quickly to the right. Hunter sent a vice president to investigate and although he was a power boater, he did agree something was not right. I measured the rudder when I hauled to change props and found that the rudder was NOT symetical, but was concaved on the port side and fatter on the starboard side. Hunter agreed to change rudders and the problem was eliminated (given the Max prop and the new rudder). Since then, several people have measured their rudders and found similar problems. I would recommend to measure your rudder and do not just accept prop walk. If your rudder is not symetical, you will lose speed and have steering problems.
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