Baja darts to the right

[bajasport]

I have a 1989 Baja Sport 250 w/Bravo 1 Drive with a single ram hyd. steering.
When slowing down (around 40 mph) the boat darts hard to the right. I was told that the hyd. steering would cure the problem which it didn't. There doesn't seem to be excessive play in the steering cable or in the gimble.

Any ideas?

 

[QC]

Re: Baja darts to the right

Sounds exactly like mine when it had a bad gimbal . . . Are you sure the gimbal and pivot pin are both OK? If so I notice a little more of that with my 24" wheel than with a 22" Bravo 1 prop . . . Do you have another prop you can try to see if it makes any difference? How hard does it turn on you? Mine was dangerous before I replaced the gimbal. Mine had standard Merc steering though. Can you move the drive any without the steering wheel turning?

 

[bajasport]

Re: Baja darts to the right

I have a 24" on it now, everything else I have is bigger. It's pretty spooky right now I'm affraid to run it up much over 40. The Gimble and steering both have a little play in them, just doesn't seem like enough to throw your butt out of the boat. I'll double check the gimble, sounds like that is the most likley place to start.

Thanks for your help!

 

[QC]

Re: Baja darts to the right

Yeah, mine was getting very scary. I once hit a specific combo of wakes and waves as I backed out of the throttle to keep from launching too high. She hooked right and almost stopped dead while running around 40 My passengers were all looking at me lkike "what the flip did you just do" and frankly I was simply along for the ride at that point. That's when I whipped out the pocket book and got a new Stainless Gimbal ring. Waaaaay better now, but still changes her attitude when I decell hard with the 24" wheel. More a simple change in list from prop torque I think as the gimbal is rock solid.