Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

[jeepnsam]

my boat doesn't steer straight at no wake speed but does over 20 mph.
I was told that this is normal for deep v hull boats...then I read about the little tail on the zinc trim tab.

My anode doesn't have this little fin.

Is this the reason for the zig zagging at no wake speed???

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

Could be, but it may also not matter. My 18' bowrider does that, and I have the trim tab thing. You just have to get used to it, and don't over correct.
I have heard that power steering makes it worse, and I have that.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

I had it in my deep v too. First thing I noticed after adding Smart Tabs was the low speed wander was gone as I cruised through the marina towards open water. Nice not having to correct all the time.

The trim tab on the outboard is usually only effective at planing speeds.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

It's a "feature" of smaller V-hull boats. I'd highly recommend looking at Smart Tabs. I installed them about a year or so ago due to that very issue & it nearly completely resolved it! You can get them right here on iBoats for pretty cheap ($107-ish): http://www.iboats.com/Nauticus-SX-S...6285605--**********.523565914--view_id.352485

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

Or buy a boat with twins . Problem solved !!.

 

[jeepnsam]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

it has something like this on it when I purchased it

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

I think all boats have a bit of wander. Mine moves some, I just sit back and let it do the moving it wants to do so long as I'm not causing other boaters issues.

 

[dg512055]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

Mine was really bad at this. If left alone it would go in a circle. Smart Tabs SX eliminated the wander completely. Mine has power steering and no torque tab on the anode.

 

[jokaj]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

I trim up to "neutral" trim. It doesn't wander as much. If the trim is down, there will be more bow steering.... in theory, but I don't know if it holds true at no wake speeds.

 

[Philster]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

I posted the same question. I complained about the same thing, then was told here to leave it be to see what happens.

Mine will zig zag back and forth if I leave it alone. I used to correct it constantly. Suggestions from this boar (to let it zig zag) were helpful.

I have big boy Bennet trim tabs and they didn't help.

My other boats never wandered.

If you don't correct it, you might notice it just does a mild zig zag and doesn't really need an actual course/heading correction....

 

[JimKW]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

I do not have the smart tabs. Mine wonders quite a bit, but I find that if I raise the trim just a little it wonders less. You get used to it and the main thing is to not over correct.

 

[Doernuth]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

Props produce a lateral thrust along with a forward thust. If you have counter rotating props they negate each others lateral thrust and the boat should go straight.

The little prop on the zinc can be adjusted to partially counteract that lateral thrust, thats why its there but it isn't a perfect fix.

Pay attention and keep your boat straight with the steering wheel.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

I posted the same question. I complained about the same thing, then was told here to leave it be to see what happens.

Mine will zig zag back and forth if I leave it alone. I used to correct it constantly. Suggestions from this boar (to let it zig zag) were helpful.

I have big boy Bennet trim tabs and they didn't help.

My other boats never wandered.

If you don't correct it, you might notice it just does a mild zig zag and doesn't really need an actual course/heading correction....

Maybe the design of the Smart Tabs has something to do with it. The smart tabs are always in full down position when at no wake speed. The composite tabs I have (not SS) have three ribs on the bottom side. Maybe the combination of full down, and the ribs make the boat track better than a flat SS tab? Just speculating.

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

Mine did the same thing at low speeds. Again another Smart Tab victory. Once they went on the wander all but dissappeared.
Without tabs I think that wander is just a side effect of small deep v boats.
Good Luck

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

I have the SS Smart tabs on my Hurricane, and my wonder has been reduced by 90%. Now if I just hold the wheel the boat corrects itself... The other plus with Smart tabs is now I can stay on plane at 14 MPH.

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

+1 to Smart Tabs, mine wandered quite a lot until I installed them. After installing literally zero. Plus the fact that it stays flat when accelerating even with everyone in the stern. Really made such a huge difference in stabilizing the boat all around.

The whale tail you have can help you get on a plane but doesn't do much other than that.

 

[smokintoad]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

my boat doesn't steer straight at no wake speed but does over 20 mph.
I was told that this is normal for deep v hull boats...then I read about the little tail on the zinc trim tab.

My anode doesn't have this little fin.

Is this the reason for the zig zagging at no wake speed???

Not all drives have the fin. What kind of drive do you have?

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

No wake speeds? What's that???

The speed at which you drive on my lake when passing thru several areas that are know to harbor hidden water patrol officers.

 

[GiMLit]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

I have not noticed a huge differance with my Smart Tabs. I was hoping I would notice less wander faster slower speed planing as well as help with list.
I got the SX 9510-80 and now I am wondering if the -60's would have been better suited.

 

[TiredoleBoy]

Re: Boat doesn't steer staight at no wake speed

it has something like this on it when I purchased it

I wonder if that would fit on My stern drive? 88 Merc 3.7