I have a Legend 37.5. When motoring the wheel wants to swing hard over from the force of the prop. It requires a significant amount of pull to keep it straight. Is this normal for this boat? Is there a fix? Thanks Brett
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Only in Reverse
The rudder should be almost neutral when motoring in forward. That is, a small part of the rudder is forward of the pivot point and this tends to help you control the rudder in the forward direction. But in the reverse direction there is almost all of the rudder ahead of the pivot point. This is why you most hold the wheel/rudder tight when backing.
The rudder should be almost neutral when motoring in forward. That is, a small part of the rudder is forward of the pivot point and this tends to help you control the rudder in the forward direction. But in the reverse direction there is almost all of the rudder ahead of the pivot point. This is why you most hold the wheel/rudder tight when backing.
Oversteer?
Jim, It is a partially balanced rudder. The part at the top has more area ahead of the rudder stock than lower down. The prop wash strikes this portion at relatively high velocity and this produces a kind of oversteer. On my 376 it is only a mild effect, though when turning it becomes more marked. Also the boat tends to pull constantly to port when she is dirty. I have no idea why this is except that there may be more growth on one side of hull and rudder due to always being moored in the same direction with the port side against the dock. Hope this helps.
Jim, It is a partially balanced rudder. The part at the top has more area ahead of the rudder stock than lower down. The prop wash strikes this portion at relatively high velocity and this produces a kind of oversteer. On my 376 it is only a mild effect, though when turning it becomes more marked. Also the boat tends to pull constantly to port when she is dirty. I have no idea why this is except that there may be more growth on one side of hull and rudder due to always being moored in the same direction with the port side against the dock. Hope this helps.
My 375 has always had this too
I learned to live with it by tightening down the wheel brake a little.
I learned to live with it by tightening down the wheel brake a little.
Every boat I have owned did that...
3 Catalinas and 1 Hunter. They would all pull to port under power. I was told that it was an "ever so slight" misalignment of the shaft and prop to the rudder. I just compensated with tightening the wheel brake a little. There was never a problem with the autopilot.
3 Catalinas and 1 Hunter. They would all pull to port under power. I was told that it was an "ever so slight" misalignment of the shaft and prop to the rudder. I just compensated with tightening the wheel brake a little. There was never a problem with the autopilot.
Yes, It is Normal
To answer question #1, yes, it is normal. All boats with a symetrical rudder and an in-line power trane and prop will have a pull to one side under power, and it's not limited to boats. If you have a front-wheel drive car you can feel a pull on the steering wheel and on a plane, same thing, there will be a pull. Most small planes, however, have a trim tab which the pilot can adjust according to the situation, such as climb or level cruise. Some (all?) C&C boats have their engine and prop shaft skewed several degrees from centerline to help combat the torque. Question #2: Can you do anything about it? Realistically, I'd say no. I've seen people attach a trim tab to the rudder but this would add drag and be more problem than it's worth. Plan B is to switch to a C&C.
To answer question #1, yes, it is normal. All boats with a symetrical rudder and an in-line power trane and prop will have a pull to one side under power, and it's not limited to boats. If you have a front-wheel drive car you can feel a pull on the steering wheel and on a plane, same thing, there will be a pull. Most small planes, however, have a trim tab which the pilot can adjust according to the situation, such as climb or level cruise. Some (all?) C&C boats have their engine and prop shaft skewed several degrees from centerline to help combat the torque. Question #2: Can you do anything about it? Realistically, I'd say no. I've seen people attach a trim tab to the rudder but this would add drag and be more problem than it's worth. Plan B is to switch to a C&C.
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