backwards prop

[phatmanmike]

i have a 1960 glasspar citation 16foot runabout with LEFT hand side steering and a mercury 115inline 6...<br /><br />ATTN MODS...this is posted in the mercury section as well as here...wasnt sure so i did both. please delete one if you need to, just keep the public scolding to a min...<br /><br />with the steering on the wrong side(left,Port) the boat lists really bad cause my weight is on the same side as the torque from the spinning prop.... <br /><br />can i get a REVERSE rotation prop and run the engine in reverse to counteract this torque list thing?<br /><br />i need a new prop anyways, so i am in the market...just thought id kill two birds with one stone

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: backwards prop

u try to adjust trim tab yet mike?

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: backwards prop

yes , no avail. at idle sppeds boat is fine, but when accelerating or planing speeds, boat tips real hard to left

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: backwards prop

u turned it to the left right?

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: backwards prop

trim tab is turned , pointing to the left side of boat, yes, the drivers side.<br /><br />but what does the trim tab have to do with the boat listing from prop torque. i thought trim tab was to help assist in propper steering?

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: backwards prop

what else is on port side that is heavy? trim tab<br />should EASILY counter prop torque.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: backwards prop

what else is on port side that is heavy?

....the driver, all 200 pounds worth. if this were the other way around, such as a bass boat, the drivers weight would equal it out

 

[DJ]

Re: backwards prop

Mike,<br /><br />Isn't this the boat that is a bit overpowered?

 

[Bradster941]

Re: backwards prop

To answer your other question, NO.<br /><br />You can not use a counter prop and run in reverse, the clutch dog, thurst washers, gears, etc. will not hold up.

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: backwards prop

Only way to reverse the prop is change the lower unit with a left hand drive, lots of $$$$, what would be wrong with moving the steering to the right side of the boat, mine will take left or right steering but it is a very old boat , where did you get that thing anyway england?

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: backwards prop

thank you bradster<br /><br />and yes dj it is<br /><br /> and no bassrunner, glasspar mad the boats that came with mercs left handers and the ones that came with evinrudes right handers

 

[Chris1956]

Re: backwards prop

Mike, I wouldn't think the torque from that motor would be so strong. I do not feel torque from my 150 Merc(except in the steering wheel, as described below), and my speedboat is only 1000# with the motor. My boat does pull right until I trim it out, then it does not pull at all. If I trim it out more, it starts to pull left. (I have the tab set all the way left). By the way, the steering wheel pulling is "annoying", but no stronger.<br /><br />I would reposition the other masses (fuel tank, battery, cooler etc) until some or all of your weight is neutralized. Also, I would check to assure the motor is in the center of the transom and straight up and down. I have had the torque of my motor raise it up on the transom about 1/2"

 

[quantumleap]

Re: backwards prop

Make sure that the motor is centered and aligned perfectly. Being overpowered as it is, any misalignment will be amplified in the steering. Tabs may be your only fix.

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: backwards prop

a 115 wouldn't overpower a 16' with a wide beam but it would about max it out, did you move your tanks, batt ect to the right side? check the hull at the transom and make sure you don't have a hook in the hull at the transom, even a soft spot in the hull will cause it the list at speed, have you tried trim tabs?

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: backwards prop

thanks for all the responses. i have decided to not operate the boat any more in its current state as i fear that motor is just way too heavy and dont want to have a 115hp anchor. i fear that the transom is too weak to support this motor, as glasspars werent exactly known for their strong construction, as they are thin and weak. thank you all for your ideas.<br /><br />m ikey

 

[quantumleap]

Re: backwards prop

I think you have made a wise decision. I'm sure you'll end up finding a nice hull for that Merc.

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: backwards prop

Just a thought, get one with right hand drive

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: backwards prop

How deep is your lower unit in the water? Check the cavitation plate in relation to the bottom of the boat, might try raising the motor a inch or 2 and try it, have you checked to see if the floatation on the left side of the boat is water logged? Hate to see you have to buy another boat, there has to be a logical explaination for that thing riding low on the port side, does it do that even without anyone in the boat? If so i would think the problem would be with the flotation.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: backwards prop

Take a look up under your dash and see if you can swap everything over to the right side. My old 63 Pacific Mariner was a lefty, and even with the 85 horse Merc I put on it, torque list was not noticeable. That boat could be set up either way, maybe that is something you should investigate, or getting another hull.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: backwards prop

i bought the boat just for the fun of it. its not a important hulb ut it is NEAT. i have others, but none big enough for this motor.<br /><br />BASRUNNER: boat sits flat at the dock with nobody in it. boat sits flat at idle, but under acceleration, it list from the torque of the prop spining clockwise and me sitting on the left. cav plate is in propper place.prop is 21p so it gets a good bight of h2O<br /><br />JASONJ: moving steering is OUTA THE QUESTION. this boat is a very rare model of glasspar like this and i am not gonna chop up my dashboard to install another helm or move this one.sorry.<br /><br />this boat came factory with a 40hp merc, or it may have been a 50hp one or the other...<br /><br />thanks guys, but im ot driving it anymore like this, im afraid ill brake the transom off from the massive 300 pound motor<br /><br />m ikey