Boat handling? Normal?

rocket350

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Apr 18, 2009
Messages
47
19' Glasstream CC with alpha one and 3.0 mercruiser. I am begining to think there is something wrong. Is it normal for a boat to pull HARD to the left?

Idling in gear, it will creep to the left. I can let go of the wheel for a split second to grab something before having to grab the wheel to straiten it back out.

If I am cruising - If I let go of the wheel, I swear it would make a sharp left turn on its own to the point that I think it would capsize. I have to manually keep it strait with two hands to feel safe. Driving with one hand will wear me out. It steers very hard to the right, and left on its own.

Pulling out of the hole - I MUST have two hands on the wheel, or this thing will do a 90 degree wheelie - and probably capsize (or feels like it). The wheel has slipped a couple times from my hands and it scares the crap out of me. Pulling a tube is scary, especially when it is time to make some turns.

Everything feels tight with the outdrive on the pivot points. I changed the lower unit due to a scraped/bent skeg, but it made no diference. I changed props - again, no diference. Am I missing something here? I have not replaced my trim pistons - but they work. The drive goes up and down! I am not sure how that could effect anything. The little adjustable tab above the prop makes no diference. Thought maybe the weight b/c the fuel tank is on the left side, but I ran the fuel down to 1/8 tank, and again, no diference. The batteries are on the right to even it out a bit.

What gives - is this just normal? Or is there something I need to check? Maybe you experts know something off hand that I am missing.
 

ziggy

Admiral
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
Re: Boat handling? Normal?

The little adjustable tab above the prop makes no diference.
that should make a difference. ya adj. it in the direction that it pulls to. ie. if it pulls port. adj. tab to port.. this tab counteracts the torque of the spinning prop. if you have power steering. this tab is obsolete i believe.

http://www.marinemechanic.com/New-Folder2/trim-tab.gif

this tab is also speed and trim sensitive. in other words. you set the tab for your normal speed, trim, and load. at that speed, trim, and load. the steering should be neutral. any other speed, trim or load, and all bets are off and you'll get you're pull back.

this is true for my boat. i've set my tab for about 2500-3k, slight tirm up and have no pull. i can let go of the wheel. any other speed or trim than what i'm set for, and i get pull on the wheel. not ripping the wheel out of my hand pull though.
 

Haut Medoc

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
10,645
Re: Boat handling? Normal?

It is normal if you do not have power steering...
They do have larger trim tabs, which might help....;)
 
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