Propwalk

[aherrick39]

I have a similar problem with my Catalina 27. If the boat is not moving and I power up hard in reverse, the stern will pull to port and I will quickly find myself turning 90 deg. to starboard.

I also back into my slip. I find that the propwalk actually facilitates this. When docking, I pass my slip to port, then power up in reverse. This pulls the stern towards the slip as well as backing the boat. Once enough speed is up, the boat will respond to the rudder, and I cut the power down just enough to make sternway. After the stern passes thru the pilings, I shift into forward, and apply power appropriately to slow the boat as the stern approaches the dock.

Hope this helps,
Art Herrick

[ericroline]

Prop walk is just part of the beast, some more than others, The Cal 9.2 has a deep rudder that quickly overcomes the prop walk. The worst boat that I've been on is the Catalina 27, it can do circles without end. The rudder is a little small in size, and not very deep.
If you are not sailing one design, you could have a new rudder designed and installed that would reduce most of the prop walk, but not eliminate it.

[MJJ]

Originally Posted by Brezzin

A back and fill vid. by US sailing

I have been waiting and waiting for someone to call it back and fill, which is the way I learned it. Is that just west coast lingo?

[artbyjody]

Originally Posted by ericroline

Prop walk is just part of the beast, some more than others, The Cal 9.2 has a deep rudder that quickly overcomes the prop walk. The worst boat that I've been on is the Catalina 27, it can do circles without end. The rudder is a little small in size, and not very deep.
If you are not sailing one design, you could have a new rudder designed and installed that would reduce most of the prop walk, but not eliminate it.

It really probably wouldn't do a thing... Catalinas - whether you have 27 or 30+... the rudder simply doesn't encourage being in reverse unless you master the propwalk - and even then - its not a sure thing... I know a very accomplished sailor with a 30+ that to do this still gets assistance from dock mate because they just like to walk where they do...I had thought initially it was just me.. but when I started meeting up with others...its just a feature you have deal with... - if you have an outboard it is less of an issue..

[Rockter]

Backing any ship into a slip in anything other than calm is not easy, nor will it ever be. You only get one run at it, and in a Loch Ness blow, the bow will pay off at the first gust. The only counter is to reverse much faster than sanity would allow.

For me, it's all about a crew of three and lots of lines. Even with a single line ashore, it's a totally different game. But alone, in high winds, with an 11 ton ship?.... forget it.

Others no-doubt think otherwise, but they seem to be painting the hull more than we do.

Rockter.

[Brezzin]

Originally Posted by MJJ

I have been waiting and waiting for someone to call it back and fill, which is the way I learned it. Is that just west coast lingo?

I don't think so because that the term I have been using for years here in CT. I do believe the the origin is with powerboats with single screws and I really don't hear "back and fill" often by sailors but all the time in the trawler community.

[Teqsun]

I had a Pearson 28 nice boat. Put on a Max Prop and you will never have a problem backing up.

[sailingdog]

Rockter-

You're a Scotsman... no one would ever claim you're sane. And you sail on a lake with a resident monster...

Originally Posted by Rockter

Backing any ship into a slip in anything other than calm is not easy, nor will it ever be. You only get one run at it, and in a Loch Ness blow, the bow will pay off at the first gust. The only counter is to reverse much faster than sanity would allow.

For me, it's all about a crew of three and lots of lines. Even with a single line ashore, it's a totally different game. But alone, in high winds, with an 11 ton ship?.... forget it.

Others no-doubt think otherwise, but they seem to be painting the hull more than we do.

Rockter.

[cardiacpaul]

"The worst boat that I've been on is the Catalina 27, it can do circles without end. The rudder is a little small in size, and not very deep.
If you are not sailing one design, you could have a new rudder designed and installed that would reduce most of the prop walk, but not eliminate it.

It really probably wouldn't do a thing... Catalinas - whether you have 27 or 30+... the rudder simply doesn't encourage being in reverse unless you master the propwalk - and even then - its not a sure thing... "

I'm not sure about your 27, but the rudder on mine was about the same size as a garage door.

Propwalk on her was a feature! The "trick" is you have to get a little water moving across the rudder BEFORE you give it a shot from the throttle. If you don't you're going nowhere, slowly.

[Plumper]

Backing and filling was originally a sailing term where the head sails were backed and filled with wind to bring a sailing ship down a narrow river. See http://home.att.net/~ShipmodelFAQ/Re...-RN-BandF.html Now it is used to describe the art of using paddle wheel effect (prop walk) to advantage to turn a single screw ship in the shortest distance possible. Basically the idea is to keep active water going over the rudder by having slow headway on but backing the screw and turning the ship in the opposite direction the screw walks the stern. As soon as the headway falls off so the rudder is ineffective, an ahead maneuver is ordered to get active water across the rudder again. Sometimes, as the ship stops the opposite helm is ordered with the engine running astern. It all works well until you add wind, tide, rocks and docks.

Gaz