[rant] Right hand prop rotation dorks up my docking....

[SilentSeven]

Ok, just a bit o fun here...

I'm coming from a 82 Mastercraft SS with the powerslot. Cool old boat...pretty brutish and raw compared to my new to me 196 1997 Nautique. Loving just about everything in the Nautique really...the better space, better seating, quieter, better ride, a windshield that actually...shields. All that. Except one thing. That dumb right hand prop rotation.

Now in the Mastercraft, docking was simple. Just aim the bow on the drivers side to the dock at a 45 degree angle...pull a little reverse and watch the starboard stern slide into the dock. I, as captain, could easily protect the side of the boat and put the n00bie first mate to work to watch the stern. Inspecting the whole time. Easy to see, easy to manage.

Noooow...the Nautique fubars all that. Of course, the stern crawls in the opposite direction when in reverse. To the port side...the side that I as captain am not on. Where I cannot see it. So now docking is either some unnatural act where I try to dock on the starboard side and convince the stern to walk in (not happening) or I have to slide in on the port side and TRUST that my crew is good enough to prevent the boat from banging into the pier. With Kids and Wifes as the primary mates, it's just NOT GOOD!

RIGHT HAND PROPS ARE LIKE RUBBING THE KITTY BACKWARDS. IT SUCKS.

I think I'm going to install a stern thruster instead so I can go back to my happy starboard side maneuvering.

Rant over. Thank you for listening.

[jasper]

It takes a bit of practice after driving for years with the stern pulling into the dock with a bit of reverse. The best way I can describe how I dealt with the same issue is to tell you to come into the dock at a 45 degree angle, over-steer to where the stern is swinging into the dock while still going forward, then a little reverse will pull the stern away from the dock and kill the remaining forward momentum. Keep it slow and practice. Been there.

[DanielC]

Correct Craft used a right hand propeller because prop rotation balances out the weight of the driver.
Almost every other ski boiat manufacturter used a left hand propeller because it was cheaper with a "normal" rotation engine.
As least Mastercraft did something about balancing ski boats side to side, by putting ballast on the left side of the boat, and the battery in the left rear corner.

Come into the dock in a circle, turning hard left. This will put rotational momentium into the boat. As you approack the dock, reverse stops the momentium. You need practice. You will get it.

[ffmedic74]

I just started from RH to LH rotation and I am messed up as well. I actually preferred to jump 90 degrees to the LCCB side from the seat vs 180 to catch myself on the Road side.

[SilentSeven]

yeeeaaaaah...ok. I can visualize the maneuver. The SWMBO is in boat piloting school...the 'spin and stop' will add a new dimension, that's for sure. 50-50 chance I'll be looking for gelcoat repair tips in the next 60 days.

PS - my mastercraft was before they balanced it out. If you ran it with no observer, it was definitely low on the right side. We'd tune the wake by moving the observer around relative to the center line.

[rodltg2]

I don't find it any different other than parking on the other side. You'll get used to it. In time you will be able to park it in the right as well. You have to be dead on though .!

[SilentSeven]

Yup. Killing the engine or having it conk out when you need to stop the rotation would be bad. Don't really like that part. With the LH rotation, it was more use the throttle to pull you towards the dock. With the RH rotation, it's more like use the throttle to save you from the dock.

I'm always really careful to make sure the boat is fully warmed up before trying any docking stuff. Been there, hit that.

[4th ski-doo]

It's all in seat time! The real advantage is you should have 1 hand on the throttle and the other on the wheel and what side are your passengers? Yep, the side going to the dock.


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[SilentSeven]

4th - that's my problem. All my seat time is with a LH setup. I have UN-learn LH everything and RE-learn RH everything. I'm kinda old, lazy....don't want to do that (as if I had a choice really...). And passengers are unreliable. I have learned to never, ever trust your gelcoat to a passenger....

[Willandbill]

I don't have any problems pulling in to my dock. Pulling out is the problem. I have to head to my left where the rotation pulls the transom. I can't always reverse all the way back so I get stuck having to do a 270(?) degree turn to head to the lake. Never really thought about complaining but finally have the opportunity. Thanks.

[east tx skier]

Coming from a 93 MC to a 98 SN, I feel your pain. But it's a temporary condition, and you'll get used to it. Totally worth it for balancing out driver weight when you don't have an observer.