Boat steers sharply to the right

[nc4z]

16ft J Carolina Skiff with Suzuki 40hp goes right when wheel is released. Trimtab is adjusted all the way. Doesnt engine height have some bearing on this steering problem? Engine has to be in a negative trim position when starting out or it will not get on a plane. <br />Thanks

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Boat steers sharply to the right

nc4z, I will assume that the motor pulls right when you are on plane. If that is so, and the trimtab is adjusted CCW (viewed from top), maybe the trim tab is out of the water when you are on plane, and therefore has no effect. If this is the reason, there are devices that bolt to the skeg to fix this issue.

 

[arks]

Re: Boat steers sharply to the right

I had an old Crestliner that did the same thing. Turned out the steering cable didn't have enough friction to counteract the prop rotation, so my mechanic did something to create more friction (not sure but I think he put a couple "kinks" in the inner cable). Fixed the problem.

 

[gutshot grouper]

Re: Boat steers sharply to the right

Turn trim tab counterclockwise as viewed from above to turn left , reverse for opposite effect, with a flat bottomed boat, the thrust from the prop blast will naturally push the stern of the boat out of line and cause it to want to steer itself out of a straight line, Simpleton in Raleigh