boat steering

[crawfordml05]

this is kind of a weird situation, i have never seen a boat act like this. i have a stratos bass boat with a johnson 150 on it. while operating the boat moving forward, it steers just fine. but for instance, when i pull it off the trail to park it at the dock and when i am pulling away from the dock in reverse it does not like to steer that well,i have not been on it for a couple weeks now because deer season has opened, but if i remember right, when ever i back up the the right, the boat will want to go opposite direction that it should, but when i want to go to the left, it is fine. and answers to my problem?

 

[Knightgang]

Re: boat steering

There are several factors at work here. First, when going forward, the boat has to glide through the water and the keel of the boat helps guide it with the propulsion at the rear. The angle of the foot also determines direction of forward motion (rudder).

However, when going in reverse, the water cannot easily glide under the boat, but it rather hits a flat wall (the transom) thereby already causing poor steering. Additionally, the prop is having to pull the boat (not push as going forward) and therefore the rotation of the prop plays alot in how well it will pull in each direction. The currents around the dock also play a factor and can cause all kinds of weird direction shifts when trying to back out or back into a dock position.

Maybe someone else can better explain the forces with backing up a boat in the water, but I know that it can be tricky and the prop rotation as well as currents can make funny things happen...

 

[coolguy147]

Re: boat steering

its fighting the exhaust too so dont rev to much in reverse or it will over rev

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: boat steering

what type steering do you have?

 

[jeff_smith_0423]

Re: boat steering

Several forces at work here. You're basically pulling a 20-24" slab of wood straight into the water. Add in wind, currents, prop torque, etc..

It's not going to handle like a car.