Right or left handed

lumphammer

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If the bows of my boat kick to starboard when going in reverse is my propellor right or left handed?

I know the answer is out there somewhere but having spent the last half hour looking without success, the easiest option is to ask the experts.
 
Think of the prop as a wheel on a road. when you go astern the bottom is pushing your stern to port and the bow to stbd. It must therefore be rotating anti-clockwise when viewed from astern. In forward gear therefore it is going clockwise. That is right handed (I think!)
 
When going into reverse a right-handed prop will kick left in and a left-handed prop will kick right.

If your bow kicks to starboard then your stern is kicking port so I reckon you have a right-handed prop.

That's two votes for right handed!!!
 
No-one has thought to ask "does your prop exit on the centre line of your boat?". Some older wooden yachts have the engine and prop off centre. Just a thought.
 
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