Boat swings left to right while trolling

[izoomie]

I had a 20' bowrider with a 5.0l merc and alpha1. I noticed that when I was in a "no wake" zone I had to constantly correct my steering. The boat would just swing one way or the other and I had to correct, constantly. This is in a harbor or channel with little or no current. Once on plane the steering is easy and true with much less correction.

I was following another boat with an I/O late last season and I noticed he was doing the same thing.

I don't seem to see this in any of the outboards I've owned including my current one.

Just wondered if others have experienced this.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

Yep, the only thing that fixes that is getting a boat with dual counter rotating drives or a single dualprop drive like a bravo 3.

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

Make small corrections.

Practice Practice Practice

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

The swinging is a good thing for trolling, it drives the fish crazy when they see a lure speed up or slow down. I just let the boat wander and correct it if it's not coming back on course.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

I had read on this site that if you resist the instinct to make constant corrections, the boat will self correct.

I had the boat out yesterday, and tried this out. 'Fixed' my heading (and the steering wheel) on a distant point, and let the boat go it's own way. Darned if the boat would swing port for a few seconds, and then (on it's own) swing starboard! I kept the wheel straight, and the boat did a lazy zig-zag and ended up exactly where I wanted to be!

I admit that it is very hard to fight the instinct to counter steer...but if you are not in a confined area (narrow channel) the boat will take care of this.

Happy boating!

 

[izoomie]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

I've only owned one I/O and it was an older boat so I'm glad to see it was not just an anomaly with me.

It was never a problem, just a curiosity.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

The swinging is a good thing for trolling, it drives the fish crazy when they see a lure speed up or slow down........

That gets my vote

 

[ziggy]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

I had the boat out yesterday, and tried this out. 'Fixed' my heading (and the steering wheel) on a distant point, and let the boat go it's own way. Darned if the boat would swing port for a few seconds, and then (on it's own) swing starboard! I kept the wheel straight, and the boat did a lazy zig-zag and ended up exactly where I wanted to be!

yep, i've tried the same experiment with the same results...

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

that would suck if you were trying to run a trot line with the gas motor.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

well summmgun...... I guess anyone can learn something new.... I have always fought it ...... never even considered that it would go back and forth on it's own..... I always figured it would do a big circle.... well dangit I WOULD have to learn that after I switched to a twin screw

 

[ziggy]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

well summmgun...... I guess anyone can learn something new

i don't see how anyone could know it all. if it ain't how to work on your boat, it's how to skipper your boat and alllll the rules that can apply depending on where you boat at. and if it ain't the rules it's the knowledge and skills you need to be able to pilot a boat.

never even considered that it would go back and forth on it's own.....

yep, while i've done the experiment i still like to keep it going striaght and as you get used to your boat you'll learn how to react to keep it going straight. very minor steering adjustment + doing the adjustments prior to the swing is best i can describe it. and of course it all changes in current, winds, etc... it's part of the fun of skippering i think...

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

well summmgun...... I guess anyone can learn something new.... I have always fought it ...... never even considered that it would go back and forth on it's own..... I always figured it would do a big circle.... well dangit I WOULD have to learn that after I switched to a twin screw

Wish that I could afford a twin screw....

Anyways--I agree with Ziggy that even though the boat will end up where you point it, small proactive adjustments becomes a habit and the norm. The whole reason that I tried the centered wheel trial was that I watched my 'bride' fight the wheel and overreact to the drift. I tried to tell her that she was 'working' too hard at it, and that was making it worse. She couldn't get the hang of it...so I showed her (and myself) that the boat really wanted to head straight, and just needed the slightest amount of encouragement.

Less, is more!

Happy boating!

 

[jrampey]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

My boat wandered all over the place until I added smart tabs last fall. I was trying to help it plane off faster... definitely accomplished that with the added bonus of almost eliminating the wandering.

 

[TahoeQ4Pilot]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

My 19-footer bowrider had the same wandering, I added a hydrofoil and it calmed it down a bunch.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Boat swings left to right while trolling

Smart Tabs make a huge difference for this.