1995 evinrude 115 Hard steer to left

[tman74]

I just joined the club and want to say "HI" to all the guys out there.My problem is that I just bought a 18'quest cc with a 1995 115 evinrude and it is very hard to steer left. I'll start by saying that I have already replaced cable+helm with a uflex no feedback system and that helps to keep it straight without a constant fight,but it is still a hard 2-handed operation to turn left. Right turns are no problem.Thanks for the help.

 

[fireman57]

Re: 1995 evinrude 115 Hard steer to left

Welcome to iboats. Does it pull right or just hard to steer left?

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: 1995 evinrude 115 Hard steer to left

Welocme to iboats tman. It is probably due to the rotation of the engine or prop I guess I should say. When you turn right your turning the engine the way it wants to go, what's known as torque steer. When you turn left you are fighting against the rotation of the engine/prop. The only way your gonna get rid of that is with power steering which is a little overkill for that motor. I feel it even with my 70hp on my 17' Sport Craft, a friend of mine had a 17' Mako with a 115 and it was a pretty hard left too. Good luck with the boat.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 1995 evinrude 115 Hard steer to left

Does it turn easily in both directons out of the water?

 

[tman74]

Re: 1995 evinrude 115 Hard steer to left

Fireman, It did pull right,before I put the new no feed system helm.Now the helm locks out the right side pull.

 

[tman74]

Re: 1995 evinrude 115 Hard steer to left

fireman,Cricket+CA, Yes,the motor did pull to the right before i put the no feed system in but,now the helm locks out the right side pull.It does turn easily to both sides when out of the water.My buddy has an 18' wellcraft with a 150 evinrude,same rotary steering(doesnt have nfb) and his is night and day differance.My skeg is broke+bent a little and the adjustment above the prop is turned a little to the left. Could this be a problem.

 

[tman74]

Re: 1995 evinrude 115 Hard steer to left

Also,how hard of a left steer is normal.When i say its hard-I mean a double-handed and my 230lbs pulling on it.The steering cable that was on the boat when i bought it snapped about 2 trips ago going about 20kts and needless to say-wasnt a whole lot of fun.Still got the scrapes+bruises from that one.I just want to be sure its normal for steering to be this hard.

 

[fireman57]

Re: 1995 evinrude 115 Hard steer to left

Move your tab more to the left and see if that helps. The skeg being bent and broke might not be helping you either.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 1995 evinrude 115 Hard steer to left

If it turns easily out of the water, then it's definitely a problem. The bent and broken skeg is not helping matters.<br /><br />You need to fix this, as the force needed to turn, according to your description is way too high. You'll break something again, I have no doubt.<br /><br />Get that skeg fixed, then work on the adjustment of the trim tab. But get the skeg fixed first.

 

[tman74]

Re: 1995 evinrude 115 Hard steer to left

Would cutting off the the bent portion of the skeg and putting a skeg guard on be sufficient.I have already broken some off trying to bend it back. Thanks guys for all the info.