With a left-handed propeller, when going astern the stern tends to move to which side?

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Multiple Choice

With a left-handed propeller, when going astern the stern tends to move to which side?

When thinking about how a propeller’s rotation affects a vessel, focus on the effect of handedness on the thrust direction when you reverse gear. A left-handed propeller rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the stern. In astern, that rotation creates a sideways component of thrust that biases the stern toward the right side of the boat. In practical terms, the stern tends to swing to the starboard, while the bow moves toward the port side. So, with a left-handed propeller, going astern the stern moves to starboard.

When thinking about how a propeller’s rotation affects a vessel, focus on the effect of handedness on the thrust direction when you reverse gear. A left-handed propeller rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the stern. In astern, that rotation creates a sideways component of thrust that biases the stern toward the right side of the boat. In practical terms, the stern tends to swing to the starboard, while the bow moves toward the port side. So, with a left-handed propeller, going astern the stern moves to starboard.

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