Re: [electricboats] Pocket Trawler Electrification

Again great feedback. 

Agree having rudder in prop wash is not beneficial for regular rudders (multiple references for this conclusion). However for fishtail type rudder used on really slow boats (barge and canal type boats), having prop wash adds a huge facility, reminiscent of bow thrusters.

In general it appears that props in "clean" water work better. Assume suitable depth and distance from hull.

I am now seeing 90 degree turns being possible in a sailing boat length. I have played with my rudder either going straight down and laying out aft. The latter provides huge steerage at low speeds - enough to highly stress the tiller when in reverse.

Best Regards

Lee@vombatus.com.au
0427874796

On 1 Feb 2026, at 7:27 am, maaseidvaag via groups.io <maaseidvaag=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

Hi Matt - I did test steerage this last season with having the boat at cruising speed, going into neutral, and then applying vary degrees of turn on the wheel.  I didn't perceive any dramatic loss of control and could still do a complete 360 degree circle while coasting in neutral, probably in about 3 boat lengths by the (very slow) end of the circle.  With power on I can do the circle inside 2 boat lengths.

 

One hypothesis that will remain just a hypothesis is that straight ahead cruising might slightly benefit from not having the rudder directly in the prop wash.  Probably not an experiment that has been run, but maybe?  

 

Thanks for the feedback,

Lars