80HP Mercury, 15 FT Bass Boat.. Pulling hard to left.

[sramelyk]

Trimmed all the way down my boat pulls so hard to the left that I am afraid if my hands slipped on off of the wheel that the boat would flip. I have adjusted the small fin above the prop, in both direction and it didn't seem to make a difference. When I trim my motor up while moving I can get it to where I can let go of the wheel and it runs straight. What could this be?

 

[NathanY]

Re: 80HP Mercury, 15 FT Bass Boat.. Pulling hard to left.

Torque.<br /><br />Has it always had this problem? Is the skeg bent?

 

[sramelyk]

Re: 80HP Mercury, 15 FT Bass Boat.. Pulling hard to left.

I have had it about 4 years. And I don't recall it pulling the first 2.. Really just seems to be the last 2.. If the skeg is the fin on the bottom of the transum, I am not sure.. It doesn't look bent. If it was bent would trimming the motor up make a difference. Thats what has me, the fact that trimming up corrects the trouble.

 

[sramelyk]

Re: 80HP Mercury, 15 FT Bass Boat.. Pulling hard to left.

My skeg may be bent a little bit.. I put a straight edge on it and it is definitely not straight.. But we are talking maybe 1/4 - 1/2 inch at most. Will this much of a bend make a difference in stearing? Also, can I bend it without worrying about it breaking, or better yet, what is the best way to bend it?<br /><br />Thanks for all of the help. The help I have recieved in these forums in the past was invaluable.