Shuddering Cal '27

[davefromoregon]

I was sailing last night in a nice 15-20mph wind. Several times on a run, the boat began to shudder. The engine was turned off and left in neutral.

The shudder felt like it was hull related. ie not the mast or rigging.

When we got back, the bilge was dry.

I have never run into anything like this.

Any ideas as to what this might have been? I have been out on the boat before but always in a lesser wind and did not run into this.

One recommendation I heard was to leave the engine in forward(turned off still). This seems counter-intuitive.

[zeehag]

donot eave engine in forward. reverse or neural yes not forward. could have been the rudder bearing.

[davefromoregon]

Neutral made sense. Forward did not. Thanks for confirming that I am not quite crazy.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by davefromoregon

Neutral made sense. Forward did not. Thanks for confirming that I am not quite crazy.

not crazy yet-- but ye has a boat, so you are not far from it.....

[davefromoregon]

Originally Posted by zeehag

not crazy yet-- but ye has a boat, so you are not far from it.....

It is a club boat so I am not quite crazy yet.

[zeehag]

you still have time to recant...LOL.. before the bug bites ye.....and it will

[Joli]

It was leech flutter. Move the jib lead forward when deep.

Originally Posted by davefromoregon

I was sailing last night in a nice 15-20mph wind. Several times on a run, the boat began to shudder. The engine was turned off and left in neutral.

The shudder felt like it was hull related. ie not the mast or rigging.

When we got back, the bilge was dry.

I have never run into anything like this.

Any ideas as to what this might have been? I have been out on the boat before but always in a lesser wind and did not run into this.

One recommendation I heard was to leave the engine in forward(turned off still). This seems counter-intuitive.

[sarafina]

Possible you were in shallow enough water to be draggin a tiny bit?

[davefromoregon]

The sails were not fluttering and we were out in the main channel. So, there was no chance we were rubbing the bottom. Plus, the Columbia is really high right now.

[davefromoregon]

Originally Posted by Joli

It was leech flutter. Move the jib lead forward when deep.

If it were the leech flutter, wouldn't the sails have been fluttering or luffing?

Were were definitely working with the jib lead from time to time.

[daddle]

Could be the mast vibrating in the wind. But that usually doesn't happen with the main trimmed. Next time put your hand on the mast to check. It might be fixed by adding a bit more tension between the forward lowers and the backstay. Inducing a bit of bend. (Are there forward lower shrouds?). My Cal36 does this at anchor. It's a 5 times per second bucking feel.

[Kapena]

Probably the prop spinning, like you noted. The proper position of the gear level is REVERSE. A spinning prop has more drag than a fixed prop and that is why you don't leave it in neutral. Same principle as applies to aircraft props.