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On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 18:34:04 GMT, otnmbrd
wrote: Frequently, I'll read a post discussing prop rotation, where the writer says that he has twin screw, counter rotating props, which leads to confusion, as this really doesn't tell you what you need to know. Ignoring engine rotation ..... In the past, some setups used a left hand and right hand engine to create "counter rotation", but to my knowledge this is rare nowadays. When looking at the prop rotation, you are always looking at the props from astern of them looking forward. When going ahead, a RH prop will turn clockwise and a LH prop will turn counterclockwise. In twin screw applications there are two possible configurations .....(there's a third and fourth, but these are not worth mentioning G) "inboard turning" - the stbd shaft has a LH prop and the port shaft has a RH prop. "outboard turning" - the stbd shaft has a RH prop and the port shaft has a LH prop. Outboard turning is the most frequently seen application. The reason, is handling, as, for the most part the same boat with "inboard turning" will handle totally differently from one with "outboard turning" props. Outboard turning: The individual props, complement the offset thrust of props with prop walk, i.e., when going ahead on the stbd shaft alone the offset thrust tends to turn the boat to port while at the same time, propwalk will pull the stern to stbd, increasing turning rate. Going astern, the offset thrust/pull and propwalk work together to pull the stern to port. The advantages to this are fairly obvious ..... you can use engines alone to steer both ahead and astern, and to increase turning rate you can simply add throttle and basically leave rudders "midship" (G not a practice I agree with in all cases). Naturally, the degree of ease that a boat with this configuration will turn or twist, or walk, will depend on other factors as well (prop spacing, rudder size, hull configuration, etc.). Inboard turning: Totally different (G normally)! If your one of those who never learned how and when to use rudders when maneuvering your twin screw, outboard turning, propped boat, standby, you may be in trouble. With this configuration, the offset thrust is countered by the propwalk. What happens when you put the stbd shaft in gear, ahead or astern? You go straight. Add throttle, what happens? You go straight. Try to twin screw? You sit there and throw water ahead and astern. Solution? G That's why they put those rudders back there and you best start learning to use them under maneuvering conditions. Now, before someone with a boat with inboard turning props jumps in, in anger, the degree of how straight your boat will go or how hard it is to twin screw without rudders, will vary, from what I describe above, to something just below a poor handling twin screw with outboard turning props, BTW, there ARE advantages to inboard turning props. Great info. Thanks - I'm about to make the foray into counter rotating inboards so that was an education. Later, Tom |
#12
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The above is basicly correct... but not the full story.
The navy tend to put props on the other way around because props turning inwards towards each other at the top is more efficient This is done on the basis that navy ships have tugs etc to assist manouvers in port.. so they trade the manouverability for better efficiency at speed. When all is said and done, you will have to fit the props to suit the engines/gearboxes as fitted to the boat unless you wanna swap them round Add to this, most Navy surface combatants (not sure about carriers, though doubt it) use variable pitch props, which throws in a whole other set of handling characteristics .... some can do a credable twin screw Shen |
#13
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Subject: Prop Question
From: Short Wave Sportfishing Great info. Thanks - I'm about to make the foray into counter rotating inboards so that was an education. Later, Tom Just remember, the term "counter rotating" when applied to twin screw boats, is basically meaningless, as 99.9% of all twin screw employ them. (props, that is. I'm not that sure about engines ..... seems like an unnecessary expense) What IS important, is to know "inboard" or "outboard" turning PROPS. Shen |
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