Ep 29: Pro Tips: Dealing with Propwalk

Nice clear explanation. Now to practise. I have gotten myself in trouble a couple of times but managed a somewhat graceful exit.

Another very useful lesson. Thank you so much.

Excellent explanation, thanks. Would love a similar video for full keel boats! Obviously very different forces at play but hopefully calculable for the individual boat. Some theory for working on this would be great. Nice clear series, thank you!

If anyone out there is learning on a tiller steered boat, you will find these concepts EXTREMELY easy to learn, because you have an immediate visual indicator in the cockpit, of EXACTLY where the trailing edge of your rudder is pointed.

This is an exceptionally well produced video.
I have a Cape Dory 28 in San Francisco.
When you visit the Bay Area, I will loan you my boat for the full-keel challenge edition.

Some points that might be included: prop pitch is much more a factor that diameter, the gear ratio’s in Fwd and Reverse are likely different and will have an effect on shaft RPM, keep your morse cables well lubricated and adjusted so you can reliably shift fwd\rev quickly, deploy an extra fender or two for the docking maneuver when appropriate (especially in a cross-wind docking scenario).

but what produces prop walk?

Excellent explanation . Can I respectfully suggest that when pivoting you only provide a forward burst for one or two seconds otherwise you run the risk of the boat going forward but the reverse thrust needs to be four or five seconds . The propeller is much less effective in reverse.

Thank you for this helpful video. Now I want to know how to get out of a botched docking operation, where propwalk is a factor. Specifically, what do you think my options would be if I back out of my slip and suddenly the wind picks up on starboard? For example, I was turning the bow through the wind as I backed out and everything was good at first, but then the wind picked up on starboard and cancelled the turning momentum. As I run out of room to backup, the wind actually begins to turn the boat in the other direction. Now I'm 'slipping' down the fairway, as you described at the end of the video. It's a situation that is difficult to abort, and I know that I'm not the only one.

Thank you for this. It will be worthwhile to remember during my upcoming sail8ng lessons.

Very articulate video with great graphics. Thanks!

Wow. Thank you very much. The aerial views are especially helpful to me.

That was flaming brilliant!
😊👍

Excellent video! This video came to mind when I got into a little situation the other day on my boat. Remembered the pivot routine, used it and it worked great! Thanks mate! I sail the same waters as you and our tracks cross the beers are on me. Keep those videos coming!

Great information, thanks!

Thank god for this video. I have a 47’ propwalk monster. Thanks!

Wow! The best illustrated and explained video out there!
Amazing!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge 🙏🙏🙏
Liked and subscribed!

The best video on this topic. Thank you.

Great video thanks, what if I have a boat with twin rudders. How does that effect turning with it in forward since the rudder is not behind the prop? Thanks again

Excellent explanation of using prop walk. I use it to dock my full keel double ender every time.

You didn't describe what a right or left hand propeller is...since at the same time you showed the propeller in reverse turning left while you said, "if you have a right hand propeller." It's one of those training things where you have to assume the student understands half of what you say and maybe only sees the visual or hears the words that don't agree with the visual. This is the third prop walk video in a row i've watched where the details about the way the propeller turns is no clarified.

Very well explained. Can be daunting when you start doing it.

Nice description but I would like to see practical application using a full keel boat.

Awesome video, best one I have seen yet the explains prop walk.

Danke!!! Super erklärt!

Thank you for great education videos

Great video thanks I appreciate the explanation

Hope this'll help.

Really well done. I've sailed tons of small boats but have only done a handful of bareboat charters of larger boats and even then I'm basically just picking up moorings. I only ever dock at the end of the charter. Figured I should probably learn more about prop walk just in case so went looking for vids. This is great - explained the concept and gave great examples of how it can hinder or help. Extremely well put together - thank so much!

its weird.. the blade is going to the right on the bottom.. but to the left on the top.. and doesn't cancel out the prop walk or paddle wheel effect.

Thank you❤

My video Marco. Much appreciated.

What an absolutely amazing video. Many thanks 👍

I've been a power boater off and on nearly 60 yrs, continuously though for the past 10. I've got formal training and been the go to person at many clubs and to handle many conditions. I don't feel omnipotent or superior but confident that "I can do this" even if I feel a bit anxious.
But....with my first season owning a 26,000 lb 34ft long keel I have been humbled over and over. I've tried everything I can think, every option recommended and I can confidently say "I am on a passenger on a boat with a mind of it's own and which varies with wind/maybe current conditions". The only thing that saves me is a spring line but even after I've momentum and starting in the correct direction, the boat again does what it wants. Even in forward. I just make sure I have the space and then complete the turn in the direction it's going. Sometimes I can't complete the turn and have to reverse, deal with the direction and then forward again to complete. It's a nightmare at times. I find bursts of power only exxacerbates the push on the hull. I generally prefer power just beyond idle to overcome inertia but even then sometimes neither does anything. Sometimes it even pulls uncontrollably to the opposite side than expected. I have extra windage with a large wheelhouse which I suspect is the root

Very well done, Sir.