CD 30MK2 Question on Reverse Movement (L or R)

[pvisich]

Recently purchased a CD 30 MK2 and looking at a slip and since I haven't sailed this boat yet I was curious if anyone could tell me what way the boat pulls when you go in reverse. I am assuming port. I am thinking this might be nice to know as I decide on a slip is in the marina.
Thanks, Paul

[Neil Gordon]

On my 28... the Volvo MD7A was left handed and kicked to starboard in reverse. Repowered with a Beta that's right handed and kicks to port. Most likely you're right handed, but maybe not.

I tie up starboard side to... yes, the stern kicks away when I back the engine, but not so much that it's a problem. More troublesome is that the wind takes the bow, which can be anticipated but not controlled. I opt for having the prevailing wind take you into the dock, and not worry much about prop walk.

[gonesail]

mine (CD30 MKII) pulls the stern to port. best slip would be one you can nose into and tie up port side .. then back out with the bow turning towards open water. the wind can affect the bow of your boat and overpower your prop walk. walking it out helps but is tricky to do by yourself.

[Bob_S]

I have a CD27 with A Yanmar YSM8 It backs to starboard...I tie up to the finger on stbd because, on the side of the dock I'm on, momentum carries me into the slip and onto the finger when landing. When backing out, especially if I have crew, I try to walk it out as far as we can then pop it into reverse. The prop walk helps turn the bow to port which points me to open water...Also the space between our dock and the one behind me is pretty narrow, the prop walk helps avoid some panic situations too. haha.
Best,
Bob S

[fmueller]

Like Neil my 27 used to walk to starboard, but now walks to to port after re-powering. But only in still air. Wind on the bow often has more influence which way you'll actually go. This year I've managed to secure a port side slip that faces the prevailing southerlies in Narragansett, and its the last slip before open water to the north ...

Once you do figure out which "hand" your prop has, and therefore which way she'll walk in still air, practice executing a "K" turn in the opposite direction your boat walks. Prop walk can actually be a plus when you need to do a really tight turn. This has saved my bacon quite a few times when I find myself pointing in the wrong direction in the marina, after a reverse that's gone wrong and you need to, essentially, about face ...

Here's a pretty good video tutorial ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swq0Q5Pywnc

another with some additional tips ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TMB4-EPMAI

[sgbernd]

My advice is as follows;

1) As soon as you take delivery of your new boat, spend an hour or so trying to out various approaches to controlling it in tight quarters, particularly backing. Do this in an open fairway where there is nothing to hit. I used the mid channel buoy as my target. Pretend the buoy is your slip and try to get in and out upwind, down wind, and from both cross wind directions. Pretty soon you figure out what you can and cannot do and how she will behave.

2) Once you have learnt what she can and cannot do, plan your approach and departure accordingly. In my case, the prop walk is to starboard (with the Beta) but I cannot back in a controlled fashion to save my life as the wind takes control of the bow. So I stand on the dock and walk the boat out and climb on at the last minute over the bow railing with the the bow pointed where she needs to go. At times, leaving it idle in reverse will counter the crosswind and try to crab the stern to starboard. Some use spring lines to control the stern.

The boats are not very controllable but are predictable. I just assume I cannot reverse and try to never enter a situation where I will need it. And if you do, be prepared to fend.

-Steve

[gonesail]

best slip would be one you can nose into and tie up port side .. then back out with the bow turning towards open water.

the other advantage of backing out with the prop walk is that if you realize you did not turn enough .. you can then use the "back and fill" method .. to get the boat moving in the right direction to open water.

[pvisich]

Appreciate everyone's responses. Look forward to getting the boat in the water and practicing some maneuvers. The boat has the original Westerbeke 23A, and I am assuming it will walk to starboard in reverse, but you know what happens when you assume.... Thanks again, Paul