why ski boats use opposite rotation

I was told by a very reliable source why ski boats use opposite rotion engines and props, I truly dont know why but was told it was for reversing, the boat has a tendency to pull to the drivers side for docking because of the prop,
??????

there are ski boats that go both ways

there are skiers that go both ways, not that theres anything wrong with that.


to counteract the weight of the driver.

I'm pretty sure this one doesn't go both ways.

Exactly what I have always wondered Eric. That point applies especially to a ski boat since, as you say, it is going to have a third in almost all the time.

I know that older volvo drives will run either way, what about mercs?

I'm going to test it this weekend by getting her lit up and then moving to the observer seat to see what happens - obviously I'll find a quiet bit lake to do it on!

Eric, you have too much idle time on your hands.Thinking is not one of your better attributes,surely there are more dire issues that your superior mind should be dealing with.
As to global warming or alternative energy , you know things that make a difference in our quality of life............boat dr






     what about Green Lake

Gay Craft, isn't that the name of Hollywood's boat?

Ken

The chicken came first, then KFC....

Who the hell is Nicole Ritchie?????


       boat dr

Boat doc, I cant believe this countries Media failed and you dont know who nicole ritchie is, have you heard of a church girl named Paris Hilton?

Ah, Ritchie and Hilton, two of Britain's finest exports - you are welcome to them!

Anyway tested the counteracting torque theory, sort of, at the weekend and at speed (between 35 and 40) with just me in the boat on glass like water moving over to the observer seat made no difference at all that I could tell.

It does kick to port in reverse, looking at the prop I imagine that it will paddle wheel significantly at low speed in reverse.

Ok, We need to start with the early automotive engine that was marinized for boats.
They hand cranked clockwise because most people are right handed and it's easier for them to crank clockwise. Next you take that auto engine and marinize it with the flywheel forward (with large flywheels, they would sit lower in the bilge with the flywheel forward)and that engine became the marine RH. The next step brought us into the V8's. These early V8's were also mounted flywheel forward to get them lower in the bilge plus by this time all the prop manufacturers we making RH props. The problem really started when these early V8's started snapping cranks because all the power of the engine was taken off the weaker PTO end of the engine. To solve this the auto engines where marinized with the flywheels aft but since all the props were RH, the auto engines needed to be built reverse rotation. There are a few odd balls out there like the 225 c.i. V6 that wasn't built reverse and needed a LH prop as well as a couple years when the marine engine manufacturers decided it was cheaper to use a standard rotation auto engine and let the prop guys tool up for LH props. Of coarse now with a few gears behind the engine we have standard rotation engines running RH props!

I don't think there is a good explanation. The 1st two inboards I had were RH engines and they pulled to port in reverse. The 2nd two were LH engines and they pulled to starboard in reverse. I think LH engines with a starboard helm are easier to handle.