2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

[hurricane Dave]

2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck W/150 Yamaha
History is I bought it new with hydraulic steering/tilt and sense day one it has had a irritating wandering problem at slow speeds. ( high speeds are perfect handeling)I have tried every position on trim. I have called the factory rep and they say it is inherent in the boat. I have checked the hydraulic steering for air and leaks. I have checked the motor alignment. The cavitation plate allighment to bottom of boat.
Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks Hurricane Dave

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

The majority of boats wander at slow speeds. I hate to say this but it is the truth ...."Get used to it....that's the way it is"

 

[NYBo]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

Welcome to iboats!:welcome:

Many boaters make this problem worse by overcompensating with the helm. Keep the helm steady and, chances are, the side-to-side wandering will even out.

 

[izoomie]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

I've had I/O's and O/B's and I found my I/O wandered a great deal and yes, I think compensating makes it worse. it's difficult but try motoring slow and don't adjust the wheel, you will feel it wander one way then back, if it wanders too much on one side, then compensate only for that side.

I find my O/B's in the past have not done this as much but they were under 16' boats. I now have an 18 ' Legend with a 90 O/B and it does the same wandering. Not quite as bad as my I/O but it's there.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

as said, this is one question where the answer actually is "Deal with it". Unless you can change the laws of physics it can't be "fixed" Although my auto pilot running off of my GPS can steer it way better than I can at slow and fast speeds.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

Nothing can be done. The more assist with the steering the more pronounced but even a 18'er without is a bear to steer

 

[agallant80]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

Its a planing hull thing. If you had a displacement hull they the problem would not be there.

 

[hurricane Dave]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

Thanks, I grew up on a citrus grove in Florida and have driven every piece of worn out equipment you could imagine, including driving fire trucks for years and old antique vehicles. I live on the water and use my boat a lot. I know It is easy to over compensate the steering but I beleave I am not doing that. I will try a true tracker cavitation plate and see what happens. If it works I will post it so others can try it. It's made by Bobs Machine here in Florida. They are not expensive.
What do you think about trim tabs effect on my problem?

 

[agallant80]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

There is really nothing that can make your boat wonder besides hull design. Only thing I can think of is if there is play in the outdrive where it may be able to move side to side a bit without it resonating up to the wheel.

 

[hurricane Dave]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

It was just checked. There is no play in it. The steering wheel itself has a very small amount of play. I was told that is normal with hydraulic steering.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

Smart tabs can make a big difference in wandering. At slow speeds they add some even drag on each side of the hull and will negate almost all wandering. Hydraulic tabs might be able to also, if they can drop down enough at least.

 

[MikeB0307]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

Our boat wandered like a drunk at slow speeds, idle zones, etc. Smart Tabs cured it 100%, along with other positives. It can be fixed you don't have to "learn to live with it"! I just posted a new thread about them on our new boat. They aren't expensive and do work.

 

[MikeB0307]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

And they don't recommend using a cav plate with the tabs...

 

[hurricane Dave]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

Thanks for the answer. I haven't put the cavitation plate on. I will do some research on the smart tabs.

 

[sphelps]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

Trim tabs helped with the wandering on mine but I still have a little porpoising . But I think that's a transom angle problem I,m working on .

 

[MikeB0307]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

sphelps, after we installed the smart tabs that were recommended for our length/HP, we still experienced proposing if we trimmed the motor up. I called Nauticus and they sent me out as heavier set of actuators, at no charge, and cured our porposing problem and made our ride and handling even better. I'm not trying to sound like a commercial for them but they really do work as advertised and are the best bang for the buck add on I've ever made to any of my boats.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

I've had hydraulic trim tabs on my inboard outboard boat. Every full hulled fiberglass boat should have them as standard equipment. What I like is that they're completely adjustable, where SmartTabs are not adjustable. And for regular boats, they're just about $400 items--that are easily installed.

 

[sphelps]

Re: 2004 Hurricane 202 Fundeck 150 4x Yamaha. Wandering at slow speeds

sphelps, after we installed the smart tabs that were recommended for our length/HP, we still experienced proposing if we trimmed the motor up. I called Nauticus and they sent me out as heavier set of actuators, at no charge, and cured our porposing problem and made our ride and handling even better. I'm not trying to sound like a commercial for them but they really do work as advertised and are the best bang for the buck add on I've ever made to any of my boats.

Hey Mike I have talked with the folks at Nauticus and installed heavier actuators . Very helpful people over there . And I highly recommend the tabs for Hurricane Dave . Here is a link to my thread dealing with porpoising . I don,t want to highjack Dave's tread .
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-topics-questions-not-engine-topics/smart-tab-question-630010.html