[C320-list] Reversing can be easier

[Chris Burti]

I don't know about the CD-28, I have no experience on one, but there used to
be a pretty substantial body of literature on the exacerbation of prop walk
caused by the configuration of an aperture and a full keel. My experience on
wooden full keel boats years ago is that they would go in one direction,
usually to port. My Ski Nautique does the same thing, so the technique is a
little throttle to move, then neutral to steer, then throttle and so on.

Our C-320 backs where I steer her once water is flowing over the rudder.
Once a fin keel (a wing keel is the same as a fin in this regard) is
actually moving in reverse it will steer very nicely in any direction you
wish.

The two most common errors I see in skippers having problems backing modern
designs is trying to steer as soon as they shift into reverse, yet while the
boat is still moving almost imperceptibly forward. If their turn in the
fairway is to port for a starboard slip, trying to turn to starboard in
reverse while moving forward will invariably swing the stern to port on a
fin keel and it has little to do with prop walk although that makes it
worse. The second mistake is putting the rudder hard over. After ten or 15
degrees the rudder just becomes a big brake, stalls and has little turning
effect.

I tell skippers who ask how to make it look so easy that you should never
look back until you can see the boat moving in reverse. Mark dead center on
your rudder and never turn the wheel more than a half a turn while backing.
Be patient, have faith and don't drive any faster than you are willing
to hit something hard.

On Thu, Jun 19, 2008 at 6:21 PM, Robert Seastream <
robert.seastream at comcast.net> wrote:

> I HAVE been on a full keel boat with the prop in the rudder aperture...a
> Cape Dory 28.  She backed straight as a die, which I credited to the full
> keel.
> I suspect such a keel would resist sideways movement more than fin or wing
> keels.
>
> Bob
>
> On Jun 19, 2008, at 9:28 AM, Orlando.Duran at AveryDennison.com wrote:
>
> John,
>>
>> I would never do that.... :)
>>
>> ----------------------------------
>> Regards,
>> OD
>>
>> Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Jon Vez" [jonvez at comcast.net]
>> Sent: 06/19/2008 05:16 AM
>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Reversing can be easier
>>
>> Orlando,
>>
>> You are right, it's no different than understanding how the wind affects
>> different topside configurations etc. All boats have unique
>> characteristics
>> that can be used to your advantage--but you had to add that last comment
>> to
>> get Adam going didn't you :)
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Jon Vez
>> Solstice #582
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
>> Orlando.Duran at AveryDennison.com
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 11:45 PM
>> To: C320-List
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Reversing can be easier
>>
>> Of course you knew I had to chime in on this... :)
>>
>> When I bought cl 3 #112 it came with the 3-bladed  prop--lots of prop
>> walk--ALL props, no matter what, have prop walk, fluid dynamics and all--
>> but I learned that that's not bad thing at all, I used it lots of times to
>> get out of slips without a lot of room, etc. Once you understand the
>> amount
>> of 'walk' your prop has, you learn to use it and not complain about. In
>> reverse, when going forward, it was like having power brakes, it would
>> stop
>> the boat RIGHT NOW...
>>
>> 3 years later, I purchased (from this list by the way) a Martec 2-blade
>> folding prop, less prop walk--again not always a good thing--and it took a
>> bit of getting used to not having as much stopping power in reverse.
>>
>> My point in this is that you simply need to get used to your particular
>> prop
>> and take advantage of it's advantages and disadvantages...
>>
>> Oh yeah, dumping that 3-bladed prop was the best thing ever for boat speed
>> under sail, getting rid of that 3-bladed anchor..er, prop, made that boat
>> competitive....
>> ----------------------------------
>> Regards,
>> OD
>>
>> Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Chris Burti" [clburti at gmail.com]
>> Sent: 06/18/2008 08:12 PM
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Reversing can be easier
>>
>> I respectfully disagree that 320's exhibit significant prop walk with a
>> factory prop. I attribute most of the backing problems that I've observed
>> to
>> poor technique. I've been backing our 320 into slips everywhere we go in
>> all
>> wind conditions for five years with little or no problems. We have a
>> factory
>> three bladed prop that works fine as long as I don't let the barnacles get
>> growing on it. Our approach fairway is less than 60' wide and that is
>> adequate to get control in reverse. the only time I see any evidence of
>> significant swinging of the stern from the prop is if the water is thin
>> the
>> keel is dragging and I 'm fighting a cross wind.
>>
>> Seriously, if you want to experience prop walk at its worst, get out on a
>> full keel sailboat with the prop in the rudder aperture or try backing a
>> single screw inboard ski boat. After that experience I suspect that you'll
>> never complain bout a fin keel boat again.
>>
>> On Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 6:29 PM, Bruce Stanley <brucestanley36 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Robert Seastream writes about poor Reversing.
>>> My circumstances mean that I must reverse into a tight marine pen (slip).
>>> The Kiwi Feathering Prop really does deliver positive and immediate
>>>
>> thrust,
>>
>>> with little or no Prop walk.
>>> I am sure there are other props that do this too, but not a factory
>>> fitted
>>> fixed 3 blader.
>>> Cheers
>>> Bruce Stanley
>>> Sydney
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> On Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 10:39 PM, Robert Seastream <
>>> robert.seastream at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> Backing at all (let alone straight) is something I simply can't get my
>>>>
>>> boat
>>>
>>>> to do, so I don't rely on it as part of the docking process.
>>>> I've told my wife that when docking, if we miss we'll simply circle and
>>>>
>>> try
>>>
>>>> again, since we have little/no effective reverse/braking power.
>>>>
>>>> Bob
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Chris Burti
>> Farmville, NC
>>
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>
>


-- 
Chris Burti
Farmville, NC