While having my bottom painted last week, I noticed for the first time that my prop shaft is also offset. Mine appears to be offset to port; and by "offset", I mean not parallel to the centerline of the boat. Because of the hull shape of the E-38 at the point where the shaft exits, it is difficult to tell if the shaft exits at centerline, or to one side or the other; but the shaft is definately set at an angle skewed in relation to the centerline. The picture Dave posted of his shaft seems to show it definately exiting the hull to starboard of the centerline. But is it also skewed, or is it parallel to the boat centerline? How about anyone else's?
Mine has a fixed right hand two blade prop, and exhibits fairly generous prop walk to port in reverse. It does seem that a port offset would cancel the prop walk generated by a left hand prop in reverse...and that a port offset would also aggravate the same prop walk generated by a right hand prop in reverse. Which leaves one wondering...what design advantage was being pursued that was more pressing than the disadvantage presented by coupling a port shaft offset with a right hand prop?
Dan Morehouse
1981 E-38 "Next Exit"
P.S. in order to maintain a straight course while backing once sternway is established, I have to position the top of the wheel at 3:00. Anything less than that allows the stern to begin a turn to port.