Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

[bonito1]

Hi all. I tried searching this topic but could not seem to find anyone having the same symptoms as I am having. My steering is almost impossible to turn at high speeds (in one direction only). The other direction is steers pretty easy. I can't remember which way is hard though. When sitting in the water or on the trailer, the steering seems fine.

This problem occurred suddenly. My last outing the previous fall, it steered fne. The when i had it out the following summer I thought the steering wheel might break. It may be a coincidence but the change coincided with a small dent in my fiberglass hull from where it sat on the trailer funny. The boat is a tri hull.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ezeke]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

You may have moved your trim tab; if so, it will be necessary to move the rear of the tab in small increments until you find the correct spot. Move the rear towards the direction that the boat pulls.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

Would a trim setting cause a "break the wheel" situation?

WOW!

 

[F_R]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

I have a hunch the hull damage is related.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

If the hull is hooked, you will have a difficult time compensating for it.

 

[itsaboattime]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

Where is the dent?? How was it sitting on the trailer funny??

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

only thing I could think that would cause hard steering under power would be if something where the motor swivels is binding, check the motor connection to the mount housing for excessive play. my thought would be something in that area is your problem.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

I bet it is hard to turn left but if you let go of the wheel it pitches to the right.....torque steer?
A hook in the hull will sure do it too...

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

Sounds like a hooked hull is the most probable.

 

[bonito1]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

Thanks for weighing in everyone. Sounds like the dent in the hull is causing or contributing to the problem. As you sit in the boat at the captains chair the dent is on the right side about half way from the tip of the bow to the stern. The dent is where the boat rests on a traler roller. The fiberglass hull tapers down to a V and it is sitting on one of the "ridges" rideges of the taper. I will try to post a picture.

Is this dent what is refferred to as a "hook"?

 

[ezeke]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

The usual use of the term hooked involves the planing surface being bent inward, often caused by storing on a trailer that is too short for the boat. Is the dent on your boat above the planing surface?

 

[bonito1]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

Ah. I think the trailer that I am using is too short. Or at least "not right" in some way. I am a hopeless novice here :redface: and am not sure what you mean by "above the planing surface". I did forget to mention that i switched the trailer from the one I bought it on because the one i already had was recently refurbished with new lights, etc. I ditched the old one but at the time felt like the one I had was a bit too short, even though the boats that had lived on each were both the same size. I'll try for a pic to post tommorrow.

Thanks!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

Ah. I think the trailer that I am using is too short. Or at least "not right" in some way. I am a hopeless novice here :redface: and am not sure what you mean by "above the planing surface". I did forget to mention that i switched the trailer from the one I bought it on because the one i already had was recently refurbished with new lights, etc. I ditched the old one but at the time felt like the one I had was a bit too short, even though the boats that had lived on each were both the same size. I'll try for a pic to post tommorrow.

Thanks!

The planing surface is the portion of the hull that is in the water when on plane. Above the planing surface are the parts of the hull that are not in the water at planing speed.

 

[bonito1]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

Okay thank you. The hook is definitely below the planing surface. I took a pic and can post tonight.

The boat extends about 12"-18" betond the last roller on the trailer. It took about two years for this hook to develop. Anyone know if there is any remediation I can take to correct or compensate for the problem?

Thanks!

 

[bonito1]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

Hi guys. I am trying to upload pictures of the hook to see if any of you know if it may be my problem. Unfortunately I can't find how to do so. Does the pic need to be on a web hosting site first?

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

easier to upload to photobucket then post link

 

[bonito1]

Re: Very difficult steering Johnson 115 1979

Okay here come the pics, I hope. Please let me know if I should move this topic to another forum or anything else that may help. Thanks!