Boat Wanders at slow speeds

[thormx11]

So I recently bought a boat of my dad. It is a 1995 Century Arabian 24, with a Merc 5.7l & Alpha one drive with power steering. After sitting for 7 years, we finally got the boat back on the water last weekend. One of my main concerns are that the boat really wanders at low speeds, bad enough that I believe it could make docking/loading a challenge. I can turn the steering wheel around 1/5th of a turn each way before it starts to turn the boat.

Is there a way to tighten the steering up at all? Or should I look into having the cable replaced? The boat steers easily, just has quite a bit of play in it.

Maybe its just normal, after trying some searching online, i seem to not be the only person with this issue, but i cannot really find much of an answer. My last boat was a 20' cuddy with a 3.0l with no power steering and it steered straight as an arrow at low speeds.

 

[alldodge]

Maybe its just normal,

Unless this is a very great deal of wonder, its normal

All single engine boats with a Vee keel will wonder it idle speeds

 

[thormx11]

Thanks, Maybe I am just not used to it. I am going out again Saturday and will try to get a better feel for it.

 

[alldodge]

Idle out and try to place the wheel where the boat goes left and right about the same amount. You can normally find a place where it will track about 15 degrees either side.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Dont try to correct it, you will over compensate. As AD mentioned, all vee hulls with single engines wander. Most about 20' or so

 

[garbageguy]

...should I look into having the cable replaced? ...

Which cable? Yer probably fine on your wander question. What the RPM's when she wanders?

 

[jimmbo]

I/Os seem to be more prone to this. It may be the nautical version of the 'Dutch Roll' that swept wing jet planes experience

 

[dingbat]

Perfectly normal....you drive a car, you steer a boat

 

[thormx11]

Thanks everyone, I will be taking it out tomorrow an try to get a better feel for it. When we took it out last week it was cold and windy, so we were only on the water for maybe 30 minutes. Hopefully tomorrow we will be on the water a lot longer and can get a better feel for things. I'm sure its something I'll be able to get used to

 

[DouglasW]

There is a fix for this. You can install either Smart Tabs/Boat Levelers or full trim tabs. Putting them down will stop the wander. I have done this on my 20' I/O boat and it works. It does slow the boat a bit, so that is a downside. I first had the Smart Tabs and it worked but those kept the bow too low all the time since they are always deployed, so I converted to Bennett Bolt actuators so I could use them down only when idling.

 

[Lightwin 3]

There is a fix for this. You can install either Smart Tabs/Boat Levelers or full trim tabs. Putting them down will stop the wander. I have done this on my 20' I/O boat and it works. It does slow the boat a bit, so that is a downside. I first had the Smart Tabs and it worked but those kept the bow too low all the time since they are always deployed, so I converted to Bennett Bolt actuators so I could use them down only when idling.

It's called "V Hull Wander". People tend to overcorrect thus making it worse in either direction. Avoid the tendency to keep steering. Just let it go where it wants to, within reason.

I agree that trim tabs or smart tabs help. I have seen this with our Crownline 266 BR. Tabs down, it tracks much straighter.

 

[thormx11]

After getting a better feel for it Saturday, I think it is manageable. It will take some getting used to, but its not as bad as I was thinking. For now I will stick with not installing any trim tabs as I would like to keep my current speeds. Thanks for the tips everyone!

 

[DouglasW]

I( may have given the wrong impression. When I said the speed is reduced, I meant only when the tabs are down. Mine went from 5mph to 4 mph at idle speed. There is no change when the tabs are up.