Inboard steering question

[Bob B.]

In looking at a 25SC with the D3 inboard, prior to sea trial, I am wondering if the skinny rudder has a negative impact on slow maneuvering and docking. I am coming from an inboard that is midships, 4 blade large prop, large destroyer wheel and a barn door rudder. Prop walk used to advantage made handling easy … will the Ranger respond slowly, not at all or no big deal at slow speeds?

Trying to be ready for sea trial maneuvers.

Bob.

 

[BB marine]

If you are use to the handling of your Arcadia. I believe you will be happy with the handling characteristics of the tug. You will get prop walk RH prop rotation walks to the port with slight advancement of throttle in reverse. It will reverse fairly straight with slight corrections in forward. Without ever using the thrusters I could turn my C26 in its own length. Same prop tunnel and rudder box as the R25 or R27. If you need better handling you can always use the thrusters. I rarely ever used them because the boat handled well for docking or tight maneuvering in small fairways without them. In windy conditions or currents the thrusters did come in handy.

 

[Bob B.]

Appreciate the info Brian. Any idea how the Ranger handles around 7-9 mph ( our cruise speed) ? I wonder if course change is slow or predictable. Our Acadia is extremely responsive in docking and minor course corrections for floating debris or wind gusts on the beam, etc.

Thanks,

Bob.

 

[Red Raven]

6 to 6.5 knots is supper efficient (4.5 to 6 nmpg) and our R27 handles like a dream in all but the bigger wind waves. 6.5 to 7.5 is great as well but the efficiency goes down. Went all the way to Glacier bay and back at 7.5 knots average. I avoid between 7.5 and 11 knots as the efficiency goes down quickly and the boats squats a fair amount. Above 11knots efficiency stays near 1.8 to 2 nmpg and ride levels and smooths out. Great for most rougher conditions. Docking is a breeze if you give it a short throttle boost across the small rudder. Little steerage when in neutral even if moving, but not a problem, just pop back and forth on the throttle or hit reverse to bring the stern to port.

Curt

 

[nzfisher]

The boat could use a bigger rudder for slow speed maneuvers as well as slow trolling. A different opinion.

 

[S. Todd]

We bought our 2015 R25SC after more than 30 years of driving inboard outboards. Driving the inboard took a little getting used to, but the biggest difference was that at slow speeds it did not fishtail back and forth like the IOs. I never thought the rudder was too small. The only time it did not handle quite as well was with following seas but then we typically just overpowered those with the greater horse power of the IOs. Learning to drive and spin the inboard in its own length without the thrusters was a fun new experience. It works much better turning to starboard using the back and fill method because of the prop walk to port when in reverse.