Fwd is fine, reverse- something out of wack

[alcodiesel]

As I was heading in to the marina I thought I caught a crab pot. ClunkThud! I put her in neutral. Inertia kept us moving as usual so I figured I wasn't dragging anything.

At idle I ease it into forward and it's OK, she rev-ed up fine. Great.

I try reverse and it feels like something is wrapped around the prop. (2 blade Max prop): out of balance but able to back down none the less.

After tying up I test: FWD is fine, reverse puts large load on the A4, out of balance feeling, but still is pushing water. I did this very briefly only to collect some data and at no more than 1K rpm. When reverse was engaged @ 1k rpm she dropped to 500 rpm.

Could a rope or something wrapped around the prop render this scenario? OK forward, no joy in reverse? or.....?

[Mo]

Absolutely. A rope wrapped on the shaft with just as small piece flopping can drastically affect reverse. Have had it happen lots. I've gotten kelp, small pieces of rope off the prop by securing to the dock doing forward and reverse application. It's hit or miss and if you don't see something come up behind the boat after the reverse application then the one true (and best) option is left.

Best: go in the water, with a knife, and cut it off. I've had several occasions where friends who dive jumped in and cut a rope off that wouldn't have otherwise come off by itself.

[alcodiesel]

Well I'll be. Thanks Mo. I will try your suggested forward/reverse at the dock. I really don't want to go in the water at the marina.

[JOHN COOKSON]

Originally Posted by Mo

It's hit or miss and if you don't see something come up behind the boat after the reverse application then the one true (and best) option is left.

There could be a piece of fishing line wrapped around the prop that you can't see streaming off it.
My engine seemed to loose some of it's vim and vigor. I figured the prop needed a good cleaning. I, like Bill, don't like to be in the water at the marina so I asked my diver to have a look. After he cut the fishing line away and cleaned the prop performance went back to normal.
Bill, if you don't like being in the water at the marina, you could try attaching a GoPro camera to pole and inspecting the prop that way. I've never done this but remember seeing it posted in a thread in the forum.

TRUE GRIT

[alcodiesel]

Thank you John. I like the camera idea.

I had the dockmaster come on down to lifeguard me. He said he's been in the water there many times. No stray currents.

Successfully removed about 10 feet of line. Sorry crab guy.

Yet another "been there, done that." Thanks Mo.