little control backing into slip

Gentle Winds

Recruit
Joined
Jun 26, 2008
Messages
1
Have 28ft. Aquasport 7.4 engine and 20x19 prop.I know boat will only steer one way with single screw but wont respond in reverse for ease into slip even with correct wind for my slip.Some people have said they had this type of problem also and went to a higher pitch prop for better control.Any thoughts from our prop experts out there would be greatly appreciated before I lay out the big bucks for a new prop.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: little control backing into slip

Installing a different prop just to provide additional help when reversing is not a wise idea. The prop must be selected for correct forward operation. In reverse you got what you got.
 

steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: little control backing into slip

I'll assume your talking about a straight drive.Most will pull to port in reverse
with little to no steering.I used to back my 25ft 1929 inboard runabout into a 8 ft wide slip.It had really bad reverse torque steer.Rudder was so ineffective
once lined up I left it in hard port position as the stern pulled to port I would give a short forward thrust to push the stern toward starboard. and guickly back to reverse.Takes a deft touch to avoid forward momentem.I did have generous bumpers on the dock to protect against errors.No bumpers on the boat.I found that when turning in tight spots turning to starboard and useing reverse to pull the stern around made a tighter circle.Boat had a terrible turning radius in both directions.
 
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