Boat wanders - play in steering

[JBBarry]

Good evening friends and happy Friday. I have an 18 foot 1994 StarCraft 1810ss - a typical I/O bow rider. I've written into boat forums in the past - perhaps this one(I do not recall specifically) about this problem. I have read similar posts about steering problems all pretty much with the same response and opinions. "V-hull boats will wander - don't over steer, yada yada.". My boat wanders terribly at slow speed. It is intolerable. If I hold the steering completely still it drives in an "S" pattern. Trying to stay in a straight line I am back and forth on the wheel. I have replaced the cable and helm with a SeaStar rack system. No improvement. I see no wear in any steering parts at the outdrive. I have 2+ inches of free play that I have isolated to the helm at the rack. I have driven other boats and have never experienced such wander. I boat in a crowded bay, channel and lake and pay close attention to all other boats. I see absolutely no one with such problems. My boat is a nightmare in the no-wake channel from the bay to the lake. I have one year on my seastar rack and think I might go to a rotary. Any suggestions on the tightest possible helm? I would be most grateful if I could hear from anyone who owns or has owned a StarCraft 1810. I am currently in the process of replacing the floor on the port side. The idiot who owned the boat before me put a lag screw through the floor and through the fuel take vent line. I have discovered that the foam under the floor on the port side is completely saturated with gas and water from just ahead of the port forward seat to the transom. When throttled up on flat water, I always noticed that the boat healed to the port. Before approaching my wife about the problem (port side seat occupier) I was smart enough to explore and find that the floor just behind the seat was compromised by the gas and then water leaking through. My life now spared from the impending explosion of gas in the floor or the bigger explosion of talking to my wife about too much weight on the port side, I am wondering if this significant additional weight on the port side might be cause to the wander? Just wondering what anyone might think about that? Most of all, I would be very appreciative of anyone who has experience with the StarCraft 1810ss. Thank you. JBB

 

[tpenfield]

Your boat may just be the champion of v-hull waggle. Most folks learn to deal with it. Maybe try some different trim settings to see if it gets better at a certain trim.

 

[JBBarry]

Thank you, T- Supreme. I truly hope to hear from others who have experience with my same boat. I cannot imagine a ubiquitous 18 foot planning hull designed and produced for so many years with such poor performance. It is truly unbelievable.

 

[Woodonglass]

Are there any issues with the outdrive? Any broken pieces or inordinate wobbles??

 

[Scott Danforth]

2" of slop in the wheel is normal. Drop your tabs in the no-wake zone, it minimizes v-hull wander

 

[JBBarry]

Thank you for the replies. I tried to upload a picture but it would not take. The only thing I can find at the outdrive that could possibly be a problem is a slight wobble in the control valve barrel - not more than a 16th up and down at the end. I don't know if slight play here is intended. I see that the pivot bolt has a locking tab on it and it does not appear to have been tampered with in the past. All other components of the steering linkage are tight and solid. Unfortunately I do not have trim tabs.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,.... Less operator input is the usual cure from hull wander,.....

 

[JBBarry]

Holding the wheel steady I drive in an "S" pattern. No operator input whatsoever. Every other boat I have driven or see drives straight with no effort. What do you think about my comment above about a slight wobble of the control valve at the pivot bolt?

 

[Bondo]

What do you think about my comment above about a slight wobble of the control valve at the pivot bolt?

Ayuh,..... I'm guessin' yer lookin' at the assist valve,.... there's natural play there,....