"Capt. JG" wrote in message
ons...
It's actually not a particularly "good" question.


Here's a decent link that describes the forces involved:
http://www.sailingislife.com/id28.html.

That's not a particularly "good" answer.


The bulk modulus of water is such that the density differential at 14
inches is neglible. Plus if density was a contributing factor, it occurs in
a vertical profile and is zero difference is a horizontal profile, so it
would not cause the boat to walk, but rather to pitch.

The torque of the propeller does twist the boat and the thrust lateral to
the propeller directed toward the hull and redirected by the angle of the
hull. A right hand prop leans the boat to the left and the starboard bottom
of the hull directs more thrust laterally than downward compared to the port
side and hence the walk to the port.

The angle of the driveshaft has nothing to do with walk. The asymmetry is
vertical, not horizontal, in the thrust difference.