Cal 29 always turns to port

[Sand crab]

I helped my friend move his newly acquired Cal 29 about 30 miles yesterday. We motored all the way because it was light and on the nose (of course) and the dang thing really wants to go left. The wheel would just start turning when you took your hands off it. The autopilot could just about keep up but it would always creep over to port. There was no survey or haulout done but the bottom looks pretty clean. I think it has Faryman 12 diesel. Any idea what this could be? Propwalk maybe?

We might go sailing today and see how it does without the motor but it is predicted to be light.

[gmakhs]

Hmmm I don't think is prowalk, either current , bended keel or misplaced rudder .
I am not an expert but that's what pass through my mind .

[Afrakes]

Is the prop offset from the centerline of the boat?

[Tsuru]

Good morning,
This is common with Catalina 28's. I like most Catalina 28 owners snug the wheel brake slightly when under power. It's interesting to note the boat is incredibly balanced under sail.
Changing props helped, but their doesn't seem to be a fix.
Sounds like you have a similar gremlin.
Ray

[Sand crab]

Thanks guys. We had minor to no current from every direction and it still turns. I was wondering about the keel but more so the rudder. I hadn't thought about the prop offset. I checked the web and it looks like they are centered but there isn't a really good pic. I do know the engine appears to be centered in the boat. I might be there again today and I'll take a look.

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by Tsuru

Good morning,
This is common with Catalina 28's. I like most Catalina 28 owners snug the wheel brake slightly when under power. It's interesting to note the boat is incredibly balanced under sail.
Changing props helped, but their doesn't seem to be a fix.
Sounds like you have a similar gremlin.
Ray

Was you prop offset or was it inline? Is the gremlin propwalk because I though that happened mainly in reverse?

[Tsuru]

The prop is in line. I don't really know but I suspect that prop walk is present all the time, but more noticeable when going slow.
I just looked and there is an aftermarket rudder that is supposed to stop the problem. So maybe prop walk isn't the problem.

[Sand crab]

The aftermarket rudder was for your boat or the Cal?
Thanks


And btw my friend says the the motor is a Beta.

[Tsuru]

I'm sorry for not being clear. An aftermarket rudder is available for the Catalina 28. The modified rudder claims to address the left turn under power issue, make the boat handle better at slow speeds, lighten the helm feel, drive to weather better, and end world hunger.
There may be something available for the Cal 29 also, just don't know.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Tsuru

I'm sorry for not being clear. An aftermarket rudder is available for the Catalina 28. The modified rudder claims to address the left turn under power issue, make the boat handle better at slow speeds, lighten the helm feel, drive to weather better, and end world hunger.
There may be something available for the Cal 29 also, just don't know.

Aftermarket rudders for Catalinas made them balanced, rather than the original stock straight blades, by placing a tad more of the rudder forward of the vertical shaft. Not much, but it did make a difference, in addition to being elliptical and not a straight blade. My boat has the straight blade, and I motored a bit with a friend who had changed his, as well as on the Mark IIs with the elliptical rudders. Kinda like the difference between power steering and none. Still was not enough to make me make the switch.


A friend with a Cal 34 had this problem and it was truly horrible. Don't know if it was part of the Cal lineup. I'm sure some Googling could find it.


And prop walk works in both directions and not only at low speeds.


My boat pulls to the left going forward, but not enough to even think about needing to use the wheel brake. And if it overcomes an autopilot that's a real problem.

[cal40john]

My friend's Cal 34 Mark 1 we would always motor with the autopilot because of the helm pressure.

[evm1024]

I lived on my Cal 2-29 for 4 years and sailed her for 8. (surfed her at 12kts in 18' seas and 45 kt winds too!).

These are Baby Cal 40's more or less and track very well. The 29 is the only boat that I have owned that would back down straight and could be manuvered in reverse.

There is something wrong with the boat. Is there a bent prop, prop shaft, strut, keel or rudder? Let me change than there is a bent prop, prop shaft, strut, keel or rudder or some combination of the above.

As an example of what you should expect from the Cal 29....

I once got the boat going straight and locked the wheel in place. Then I went up on the foredeck and steered the boat by simply moving my weight from one side of the foredeck to the other. I did this for about 45 minutes going up the Columbia River.

They track straight.

[Sand crab]

It definitely doesn't back straight in reverse. Yesterday was my first time with this boat and we are leaving the slip in the dark. I'm driving because I have more experience than the new owner and I had a hell of a time backing out of the slip. Luckily there were no cameras because I'm sure it would be on the web by now.
We stopped before the new marina and I practiced the maneuvers and then actually backed into that slip only somewhat cockeyed.

I'll have to check but it seems the stern wants to turn to port which makes since since the bow wants to do that too. The new slip is on the starboard side so the port thing sure makes it interesting.
We'll do what we can to check things out but it is in 48 degree water so I'm not diving in there.
Thanks again.

[evm1024]

Just as a wag I would guess that the prop is bent.

I have put a GoPro on a boat hook and shoved it underwater to get a video.

We are down here in PDX and know what you mean about the water temp.

On my cal I often backed the boat about 120' from the river to my slip. There were 2 doglegs on the way. They will back under great control.

[Cheechako]

I've never had a boat that would motor in a straight line without autopilot or being held by hand. That's all I can add really. But even if something is bent or wrong the autopilot should have been keeping it in the same direction...