boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

[numbered01]

Hello I am having a problem I trying to figure out. I have a 1987 Sea Ray Sorrento 19 foot. It has a 4.3 I/O. I recently put on stainless steel prop to replace the aluminum one and had to take the trim tab anode off because it was hitting it. So I replaced it with the flat one. The boat has power steering. So anyway when I am on plane doing around 30 mph the boat leans to the port side. As its doing this the boat wants to pull to the right. So I am driving with the steering wheel cocked to the left trying to compensate the lean and then the pull. I had one of those hydrofoils on there but took it off since I installed smart tabs.

Do I need to adjust the smart tabs or is there another problem?

Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

Have someone else drive,carefully look at the smart tabs and see if they are working properly. If one is up and one is down, it'll pull hard on ya.
Grub

 

[oldjeep]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

Too many sandwiches this winter?

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

Having trouble with the time line here - when did the leaning and pulling start? After the prop change? After the tabs install? Or was it there before?
If it's a new problem then I agree with Grub - check those tabs.

 

[numbered01]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

Both are even since I have not adjusted them yet. I just put them on and took it for a ride for the first time. They are set to where the instructions told me to set them for the first time. The instructions said to increase pressure for the list side and decrease pressure for the other. Is that right?

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

Both are even since I have not adjusted them yet. I just put them on and took it for a ride for the first time. They are set to where the instructions told me to set them for the first time. The instructions said to increase pressure for the list side and decrease pressure for the other. Is that right?

j

That's right. But check to make sure that the both cylinders are working correctly. You may have a bad one

 

[numbered01]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

After the prop change and the smart tabs were installed. When I didn't have smart tabs last year and had a aluminum prop it ran straight.

 

[numbered01]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

They are brand new out of the package.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

After the prop change and the smart tabs were installed. When I didn't have smart tabs last year and had a aluminum prop it ran straight.

Is the new prop the same diameter and pitch as the old one?

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

They are brand new out of the package.

Well, I can think of several purchases I have made that were "bad" when the box was opened

 

[QC]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

Less likely the prop. Sounds like Starboard tab stuck down or Port tab is not deploying. The latter would be evident when looking at it out of the water. Or you have a lower rated actuator on the Port side. These scenarios would result in what you describe, Port list and pulling to Starboard.

 

[numbered01]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

They both were the same 14.25X21

 

[numbered01]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

I figured so. I just got to put some adjustments in the trim tabs and see how she does. Thanks man!

 

[eyes4u]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

I would actually bet that your prop is the problem. There are more factors to a prop than just the size and pitch. I put a fancy stainless prop off of a friends bass boat on my recently refurbished deep-v fishing boat, and the 'bow lift' feature that is intregral to most high end bass boat props, has got the boat listing to the port, while under power. In other words, the driver side of the boat is running higher in the water than the passenger (port side), even with only 260lb me in the boat. So, if you still have the old aluminum prop, I would put it back on and see what you have before you dig too deep into the tabs as a problem. Let us know what you find. Good Luck.

 

[JSpann]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

The new prop was hitting the trim tab anode, so he removed it and replaced it with a flat one. I'm somewhat of a noob here, but that would seem to indicate the new prop is not the same diameter as the old one. Secondly, the trim tab anode being removed could have a bearing on the boat trying to turn right, could it not?

 

[I Fish]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

The new prop was hitting the trim tab anode, so he removed it and replaced it with a flat one. I'm somewhat of a noob here, but that would seem to indicate the new prop is not the same diameter as the old one. Secondly, the trim tab anode being removed could have a bearing on the boat trying to turn right, could it not?

That's what I was thinking. Also wondered if he had much of a side wind?

 

[QC]

Re: boat leaning to port side and pulling to right on plane

Guys, port list is very normal with all single screw drives with a right hand prop. However, they don't list severely AND pull to port. I am not counting the prop out, but diameter is not necessarily the reason they hit the Anode. It can also be due to design, rake, etc. The fact is that all power steering models now come without the drive trim tab.

We all can speculate, me too, but no one knows until he goes thought the possibilities one at a time.

Edit: I also think a strong wind from the starboard side would result in a list, but she would steer to port, not starboard.