Reversing

[aussie john]

Why does my boat go more sort or side ways towards the 5oclock mark when i want to go backwards. Was watching malibu's and mastercrafts the other day while out in the water and they where going straight back and where ever they wanted in reverse?
Also i dont have much steering at slow speeds either is this common?
Our boat is 2000 21i midmount 350

[whitlock87]

John
There are some great topics on this. Bottom line, on a DD or VD boat, the prop is in front of the rudder.
At an idle or while in neutral, the prop blocks the water from moving smoothly over the rudder. This makes the rudder useless. If you have four blades prop it is worst then if you have a three blade prop.
Also while in reverse, the prop is now in front of the rudder (direction of water flow) this also make the rudder useless and the torque of the prop will cause the boat to turn to one side or the other depending on the rotation of the prop. The other ski boats have this issue, but as get more skill driver your boat you will be able to make it back straighter.
I use this to my advantage when docking the boat.
I bring the boat into the doc at about 10 o-clocks and then bump the reverse. This will cause the back of the boat to swing towards the dock and slow / stop he boat at the same time. ( There are some better explanation on this too some ware in the forum)

[aussie john]

thanks for that. i have only been driving it this summer and it drives so different to my vdrive 19ft skiboat wow so different. hea whats weather over there like now where u are, today was really great here.

[whitlock87]

John
How long have you had your Tige?
Have you posted any pics yet?
I went from an I/O and driving it at first was a little scary. Now it just natural

[whitlock87]

I am currently in southern china.
It is running 30 and muggy. Where I live in California, it is runny 28 and Dry.

[bfrank]

I am currently in southern china.
It is running 30 and muggy. Where I live in California, it is runny 28 and Dry.

Do they do any skiing or wakeboarding in china ?

[whitlock87]

they do in Hong kong.
But not where i am.

[dom w. forte]

The other brands dont go straight back either, suspect you saw some boaters who have more experence with inboards, the more you drive your boat and practice you will get the technique, i do alot of driveing with our ski team and we can make an inboard go anywhere we need it to be on a dime.