Going straight at low speed?

[charliedaubitz1]

What's the best Trim for low speed to go straight, My 18" bow rider won't go on a line without sawing the wheel back and forth?

 

[JASinIL2006]

That wander is typical for V-hull boats at low speed. Not much can be done about it.

 

[Mc Tool]

That depends on so many things . How much weight on board ? how is it distributed ? Whats the water like ? . Basically you need to experiment to find the best setting at the time . Sometimes the only solution is to re distribute weight . Smaller boats can be sensitive to weight distribution
All this is assuming your motor has been correctly mounted , and it may just be the horrible truth .....maybe your boat doesnt like going slow .
Thinking about it my tub does it too a bit , more noticeable when Im putting the sneak on trout round the edge of a lake than trolling in the ocean but cant say it ever bothered me .

 

[jimmbo]

Vee Hulls, especially I/Os do tend to wander, but a lot of it is from Over-correcting at the Helm

 

[Scott Danforth]

What's the best Trim for low speed to go straight, My 18" bow rider won't go on a line without sawing the wheel back and forth?

let it wander...... it will zig-zag a saw-tooth pattern in a straight-ish line. all single propeller V-hulls wander. its the side thrust of the prop pushing the tail end out until the rudder forces on the leg push it back.

look up v-hull wander

as others stated, most people fight it and make it worse by over-correcting.

 

[charliedaubitz1]

Thanks for the replies. I thought it was something I was doing wrong.

 

[Scott06]

Thanks for the replies. I thought it was something I was doing wrong.

it takes some getting used to. heed the comments about over correction- really, really, small adjustments otherwise you end up making it worse

 

[Grub54891]

Find a landmark, point straight at it, You will see it wander back and forth. Do not move the wheel. It will still go fairly straight, with small correction when needed. Drives me nuts to but its the nature of the beast.

 

[dingbat]

It's not car..... point, don't steer

 

[1960 Starflite]

My Century 190 is bad with wandering. 4 blade prop with trim down (if possible) helps but still there. Agree with small movements of wheel.

 

[JASinIL2006]

The only time the wander should be a concern is when you're in a tight channel or a narrow river. Otherwise, just let it wander and only make corrections if you really start heading off course.

 

[Stinnett21]

Mine would not stay generally straight. It would flat run into the bank if left unattended. I installed Nauticus Smart Tabs. Doesn't eliminate the wander but greatly helps. Plus other benefits.

 

[cyclops222]

The ...TINY.... vertical surface in the water.

Lower than the bottom of the hull. Is why they wander.
NO NO inboard boat ever has that wandering. Reason is a FULL sized rudder.
O B and S D systems have no real rudder.
I do a occasional direction correction.

 

[jimmbo]

I/Os and Outboards have not only a Rudder(Gearcase/Lower Unit), they also have Directional Thrust.
Very few Jet Boats, and PWC(aka Lake Lice) have any Rudder(some units have a very tiny protrusion), which is why if the Throttle is released. or the Motor dies, she ain't a steering

 

[cyclops222]

 

[Mc Tool]

I/Os and Outboards have not only a Rudder(Gearcase/Lower Unit), they also have Directional Thrust.
Very few Jet Boats, and PWC(aka Lake Lice) have any Rudder(some units have a very tiny protrusion), which is why if the Throttle is released. or the Motor dies, she ain't a steering

Ha ha yeah , my friend Pierre bought a jet boat ( we all fell about laughing coz hes a blimmin ***** ) any how come Monday and he looks like he got beaten up ( all jokes aside he looked bloody awful ) . He had got all gung ho with the throttle ............until he gets to a sharp bend .... chickens out and lifts his foot and ploughed into overhanging willows .

 

[Mc Tool]

I spose its pertinent to mention free play / backlash in the steering system , coz any of that will certainly make things worse . Also there may be some gain by adjusting the trim tab/ anode above and behind the prop . Its my understanding that this cant really be adjusted to suit all speeds rather it can be set to provide neutral steering at a particular speed , so its a bit of a compromise that you may be able to take advantage of .
With the tendancy to overcorrect as mentioned above , as grub54891 says " pick a point on the horizon........" is sound advice , and dont try and steer off your compass , use it to get your heading then pick a relevant spot on the horizon ( no point if you cant identify that spot or forget which hill it was ) and head towards that .
It aint a bad thing when you think about it , sorta means the captain cant ( or shouldnt )really take his eye off the ball

 

[FunInDuhSun]

What's the best Trim for low speed to go straight?

Not trim, but the real answer is: Twin engines with opposite rotations.

 

[Pmt133]

Even my twin inboard 33 wanders at slow speed. It's a floating V with a lot of prop slip and wetted surface at slow speeds. It's susceptible to any slight change and any condition around it. Like others said you really don't have to do much input though with the I/O. It'll find It's center.

 

[Stinnett21]

It's akin to riding a bicycle real slow. If you don't keep turning the front wheel to compensate for balance you'll fall. Going fast problem is greatly reduced.