🔍 Key Concepts

• Right-hand vs left-hand propeller and how they rotate in ahead vs astern • Transverse thrust (prop walk) and its effect when a vessel is going astern • Effect of rudder position (rudder amidships) at very low sternway

💭 Think About

• First, picture yourself astern of the lifeboat looking forward: which way does a right-hand propeller turn when going ahead, and which way when going astern? • When that right-hand propeller is turning astern, which way does the stern tend to “walk” due to transverse thrust? • If the rudder is amidships and there is almost no water flow over the rudder, will the rudder significantly change that natural sideways walk of the stern?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be sure you know which direction a right-hand propeller turns in ahead and in reverse. • Confirm which side (port or starboard) the stern moves when a right-hand propeller is backing. • Verify that with the rudder amidships and low speed astern, the rudder has minimal effect, so the movement is mainly due to prop walk.