Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

[Bondo]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

OK what are sx smart tabs and where on the motor do they go?

Ayuh,... That's the Beauty of Smart Tabs,... They mount on the Hull,... Not the drive...
I believe iboats carries them, search 'em up....

Just to add to the chorus,... My boat straightens out,+ flies Right at about 950/ 1000rpms....
At Idle, Especially in the Wind, My boat pretty much Sucks....

 

[jfmck_65]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

"Try lowering trim tabs' has been suggested more than once. what aretrim tabs and where are they located, are they the same as Smart tabs, thanks to all for the input has got me goin in the rite direction. Jim

 

[ziggy]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

trim tabs are for all practical purpose a flat piece of steel or plastic mounted just above or parallel with the bottom of the boat, but mounted to the transom. one on ea. side of the drive. trim tabs vs. smart tabs is how they're controled. smart tabs are self operating. trim tabs have controls at the helm and are operated seperatly for port or starboard.

here's some examples from the iboats store.. http://www.iboats.com/Boat_Parts_Ac...443414--submit.Search--submit.x.0--submit.y.0 nauticus is the smart tabs..

 

[jfmck_65]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

Thanks, very helpful. Another question. on eash side of the outboard motor and at the point where the motor swivels up and dowm(i guess thats called trim) there are round caps about 2 " across with 2 wires coming out the back ot them. both wires are broke off one and one wire is broken ion the other. what are these?

 

[blouderback]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

One of those round caps is the trim limiter, which will keep you from raising the lower unit too much, and the other is the trim indicator, which senses how far up/down the lower unit is and relays that info to a gauge on the helm.

 

[woosterken]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

would the anoid fin on the out drive have any thing to do with some of the handleing problem?
(see picture) mine acted stupid till I got it adjusted right.

mine has to be off to port just a bit and she tracks true at low speed.

woosterken

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

would the anoid fin on the out drive have any thing to do with some of the handleing problem?
(see picture) mine acted stupid till I got it adjusted right.

That used more for high speed set up. If you boat is harder to turn one way than the other at speed, you adjust that tab.

 

[jfmck_65]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

thanks much when i saw the broken wires i thought that might be the cause of my left right left right ,ect. appreciate the info, jim

 

[dingbat]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

Is it the drive or the hull causing the problem?

I once had a 20' Citation Cuddy I/O that wondered badly. With my current boat I troll at 2.5-3.0 knots for hours on end at a time and spend a good bit of that time away from the helm tending lines, washing down the deck, etc.

I thought about installing an auto pilot but unless the wind is blowing pretty hard tracking is not an issue. If it does start to wonder I can usally correct it by moving from one side of the center line to the other.

Makes me wonder if it's something to do with the design of the hulls.

 

[AngelC]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

Here's another example of trim tabs. I've just installed mine and very happy with the results. The results were everything the trim tabs are suppose to do.


http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr168/AZcontreras1/P1070050.jpg

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr168/AZcontreras1/P1070039.jpg

 

[jfmck_65]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

Thanks for the pics really helpful! That little anoid fin is a hair to the port side but is deeply pitted. will replace and reset to center then see what happens. Appreciate all the info. If the hull desigh is causing then thats a game breaker - will be for sal. will let you know. Jim

 

[180shabah]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

V-hull I/O's wander, that is just the way it is. Tabs can help, learning your boat will help, but it is something that just has to be dealt with.

I am guessing by your eagerness to just cut and run that boating is just something that sounded like it might be fun, so went out and bought a boat. In any aspect of life, no research and no planning = poor decisions.

I am in unfamiliar water hear, I don't usually discourage people, but....

You don't have alot invested yet, so you need to ask yourself some serios questions. Boating is more of a lifestyle than a hobby or interest. It is going to cost you a good deal of money(more so with an older boat) and it will be emotionally draining, IF it is not part of who you are.

If this is something that you truly want to persue then, the stick your toe in and check the temperature method just won't work. It will lead to frustration and eventually a distaste for all things "boating". If you are serious then it is time to immerse yourself. Learn how boats work. Learn how to work on boats(or open a new line of credit). Learn how to opperate a boat. Learn the rules, safety and navigation.

THEN, you can "learn how to relax"

Sorry, you can't just jump straightr to that last one, there are just too many things that can go wrong - and they will go wrong.

I grew up on boats, and always had a great time. That all changed when I purchased my first boat. I second guessed everything and couldn't relax. That was a long season. Now, I don't even consider the hook-up, trailer, launch, retrieve, and cover to be a hassle, it is just how I prepare to relax.

Should you decide to continue boating, you will not find any better resource than the one you have right here at iboats.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

Thanks for the pics really helpful! That little anoid fin is a hair to the port side but is deeply pitted. will replace and reset to center then see what happens. Appreciate all the info. If the hull desigh is causing then thats a game breaker - will be for sal. will let you know. Jim

I wouldn't center it, it is where it is supposed to be. Check our the Woosterken's pic again, his is also off center. I believe this is to help compensate for the rotation of prop pushing to the boat right.

 

[NCLakeboater]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

I am curious if bow wandering is any different on an outboard?

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

Not absolutely sure why but wandering for me has always been more pronounced with I/Os than outboards. It may be that the I/Os just happened to have more deadrise, be bigger boats or perhaps had bigger props. I have read elsewhere that this "stern walking" can actually be caused by the prop pulling the stern in the direction opposite rotation until forward thrust overcomes the tendency.

Anyway, it does take some getting used to and, even with thirty plus years of boating experience, I can find myself chasing the helm all over on an unfamiliar craft til I get used to keeping minor course correction to an absolute minimum. Sometimes it just takes some patience to say "Yup, she's headin off course a few degrees but she'll come right back too. Steady as she goes."

Another thing that will certainly aggravate wander is a narrow channel with their potential for deceptively strong currents.

 

[NCLakeboater]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

Not absolutely sure why but wandering for me has always been more pronounced with I/Os than outboards. It may be that the I/Os just happened to have more deadrise, be bigger boats or perhaps had bigger props. I have read elsewhere that this "stern walking" can actually be caused by the prop pulling the stern in the direction opposite rotation until forward thrust overcomes the tendency.

Anyway, it does take some getting used to and, even with thirty plus years of boating experience, I can find myself chasing the helm all over on an unfamiliar craft til I get used to keeping minor course correction to an absolute minimum. Sometimes it just takes some patience to say "Yup, she's headin off course a few degrees but she'll come right back too. Steady as she goes."

Another thing that will certainly aggravate wander is a narrow channel with their potential for deceptively strong currents.

That's good to know, thanks.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Boat Goes Left Right Left Right Left Right, ect

Look at your outdrive from behind the boat. Put a strait edge horizonally if you can. Is the drive installed crooked? That, too will make a boat wander. even a mid sized boat, and it's hell on the gimble ring.
Honestly though, I think it's just a combination of a short boat and you just haven't got a feel for it yet.