[C320-list] Reversing can be easier

[Chris Holt]

Although I agree with everything you guys said I must say that before 
changing my prop I was unable to back against the current on the Merrimack 
River in Newburyport, MA.
At my marina the current rips through there.  I had backed the boat a bunch 
of times before but when I tried to back against that current with my fixed 
three bladed prop the boat spun in a circle.  It just couldn't do it and I 
wasn't turning the rudder at all.
With my new (last season) Gori three bladed prop I can back against the 
current no problem now.  So although I could have lived with the fixed 
3-blade prop by avoiding reverse docking against the current, which would 
have required me to always return on an ebb I chose to not have to deal with 
it and upgrade my prop.  Now I can sail longer and don't have to worry about 
the tides.  Oh, and the sailing performance was an extra benefit  :-)

Chris
#447

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jon Vez" <jonvez at comcast.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 8:16 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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