"Advancing to the Rear"
With a fixed prop or a folder, prop walk will pull the stern to port when in gear (to starboard with a Volvo, which rotates the other way... or so i have always heard). We used to have this same reversing problem, to a lesser extent due to our hull shape, and used the same stategy you have described to back 'er up.
Most of our reverse problem (well, 90%, anyway) went away when I installed the feathering prop a decade ago. Of course this mean't replacing a $275. fixed prop with a $975. featherer (Martec AutoStream, if you are curious).
The ostensible reason for installing a feathering prop is less drag under sail, but the big bonus payoff is straight-back reverse power in your moorage!
My .02 worth, YMMV,
Loren
With a fixed prop or a folder, prop walk will pull the stern to port when in gear (to starboard with a Volvo, which rotates the other way... or so i have always heard). We used to have this same reversing problem, to a lesser extent due to our hull shape, and used the same stategy you have described to back 'er up.
Most of our reverse problem (well, 90%, anyway) went away when I installed the feathering prop a decade ago. Of course this mean't replacing a $275. fixed prop with a $975. featherer (Martec AutoStream, if you are curious).
The ostensible reason for installing a feathering prop is less drag under sail, but the big bonus payoff is straight-back reverse power in your moorage!
My .02 worth, YMMV,
Loren