Going astern

[BarnyHeywood]

I have a Vivacity 24 with an outboard on the transom, several feet behind the rudder. In reverse gear even low revs push the rudder hard over, unless considerable effort is expended to hold it in position. But whatever position the rudder is in, the boat will not respond, but goes wherever it wants to or the wind blows it. With some sternway on and the motor out of gear, sometimes it will try to respond to the rudder, but even this is problematic. Even usingthe engine to steer by manually rotatingit in the desired direction is valueless. I have had other boats with similar rudder/outboard configuration but none quite as bad as this. Has anyone come across a solution, or even a way of improving this situation?

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[ex-Gladys]

Not unusual. Can you get to the o/b to steer? That would be the easy way.

<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"

 

[William_H]

Try rigging by cable or a rod catamaran style, the steering of the outboard to operate with the rudder.
I have a heavy piece of rubber hose which just fits over the outboard tiller to extend it. You will have to use your own igenuity to couple them together. This should give you your best control but as for the basic problem of steering under o/b in reverse I suppose you are stuck with it. regards will

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[Talbot]

The only way to make a major difference to this characteristic, is to move the outboard from the stern to a box inside the boat.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

The general rule is to always smile.

Put her in reverse and make it look to everyone watching that it was totally your intention to end up where you did, it was all planned and under control.

Smile and slip into forward and leave the harbour.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[happynelly]

This is the way to go!
Wonderful stuff
I even have have the picnic set for bambell bank!!!

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[BarnyHeywood]

Thank you all for the responses and suggestions. Obviously owning this boat will require the acquisition of a new philosophy which doesn't require concern about where I end up - or whose topsides I encounter....

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[TheBoatman]

Barny
I think your a victim of your own set up here, because the engine is astern of your rudder your getting propwash probs i.e. engine is going astern and pushing water onto your rudder making it in-effective. As soon as you knock the engine into neutral your rudder tries its best.

The only test is to run the engine hard astern in a straight line build up some astern way then knock it in to neutral and try streering the boat on the rudder.

BUT I would admit that you should always look like you intended to be where you end up.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

It must be the weather!

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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