Took the boat out for the first time this season a few days ago and noticed the wheel pulling hard to port while under power - fine with little or no power or under sail It has a 3 blade Maxprop and the boat has been in the water all winter making me think it's just some growth on the prop but could use some other ideas before I have her pulled to check. Don H 40.5 Illusion
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Prop Walk
The wheel isn't pulling to port, you are, in order to keep the boat straight. I'll bet you were running at pretty high RPM. Prop turns clockwise, causing stern to walk to starboard. Nose goes to port, and you counter that with pressure. Since you're used to driving a car with steering in the front, it feels like it's pulling to the left, but actually the stern is pulling to the right. The pressure you feel comes from the rudder angle-of-attack. Drove me nuts for a while, finally worked it out. It gives my autopilot fits, so I normally motor at 2500 rpm or less. I really notice it when the water's flat, but then that's the only time I motor. There could be something on the prop to make it worse, I certainly don't understand much of the arcane physics of prop walk. But that's what is happening.
The wheel isn't pulling to port, you are, in order to keep the boat straight. I'll bet you were running at pretty high RPM. Prop turns clockwise, causing stern to walk to starboard. Nose goes to port, and you counter that with pressure. Since you're used to driving a car with steering in the front, it feels like it's pulling to the left, but actually the stern is pulling to the right. The pressure you feel comes from the rudder angle-of-attack. Drove me nuts for a while, finally worked it out. It gives my autopilot fits, so I normally motor at 2500 rpm or less. I really notice it when the water's flat, but then that's the only time I motor. There could be something on the prop to make it worse, I certainly don't understand much of the arcane physics of prop walk. But that's what is happening.
other possibilities??
Paul Thanks for the response but that's not the problem. If it was the traditional prop walk, I would have it consistently but this boat has never had that problem previously. In past seasons, the boat has always tracked easily with VERY minimal pull from the prop which makes me think something else is at work here. Any other suggestions?
Paul Thanks for the response but that's not the problem. If it was the traditional prop walk, I would have it consistently but this boat has never had that problem previously. In past seasons, the boat has always tracked easily with VERY minimal pull from the prop which makes me think something else is at work here. Any other suggestions?
Let us know
I'm sticking to my answer, but I have no idea how strong the pull is. I bet I got the directions right, however.
I'm sticking to my answer, but I have no idea how strong the pull is. I bet I got the directions right, however.
Rather haul than dive here
I know it's not simple prop pull having never done that previously although it must be prop-related - I's rather pay for the haul than go swimming in 50 deg water...
I know it's not simple prop pull having never done that previously although it must be prop-related - I's rather pay for the haul than go swimming in 50 deg water...
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