HELP!!Outboard is off center by 1 inch?

[jamfav]

So I am new to boating and recently purchased a 1989 Spectrum 1700 fish and ski, Aluminum Hull,85hp force outboard. I have only ran it a couple of times and noticed it was spraying water out the back pretty good and after reading some posts I came to the conclusion that my motor was buried to low. So when looking at my motor I also noticed it looked off center. I measured and sure enough its over 1" to the starboard side.. I bought this from the original owner who bought it new from dealer. Why would it be off so much? and is this whats causing my boat to wanna ride at an angle(lopsided)? Hard too steer? So my question is do i move the motor over to center since I am moving it up? The only problem is I will have to patch the transom holes and drill new ones if I need to move it over. Will this weaken my transom? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[wickware]

Re: HELP!!Outboard is off center by 1 inch?

Pictures of the matters will help you get better responses.

 

[jamfav]

Re: HELP!!Outboard is off center by 1 inch?

Pictures of the matters will help you get better responses.

I don't see any pictures helping that much I am not near water to show the spraying but I can get some pictures of the transom, but again it will be hard to tell if its off center in a picture but I will do my best. I just want to know if the motor being that much off center will effect the ride and maneuverability of the boat?

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: HELP!!Outboard is off center by 1 inch?



Just as a matter of aesthetics I recommend moving it to the center. Be careful though: many hulls are NOT bilaterally symmetrical. measure from at least an couple of different points before moving. If your hull has a keel or a deep vee, center the engine on that, not the top of the transom.

Yes you will need to fill the old holes, but a tube of GE silicone seal or 5200 will do the job nicely and NO, it will not weaken the transom. If at all possible, use the top holes in the engine so it can be raised without drilling again. If you are setting it one inch high, use the bottom holes so it can be lowered. Start with the anti-ventilation plate about 1 inch above the center of the deep vee or one inch above the flat bottom.

 

[SkiDad]

Re: HELP!!Outboard is off center by 1 inch?

for what it is worth mine is 1" off center at least the center of my splash well - didn't notice it till i put a ski pole on - had to center my ski pole 1" off center too to get the center pole strait up and down - I'm guessing my boat was a little off when they built it. I have no issues with steering

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: HELP!!Outboard is off center by 1 inch?

Probably built on Monday morning
Drill out the holes and fill with a hardwood dowel.
Install the dowels 1/8th in over on both sides.
Use a fiberglass resin and then cut it down and sand /paint.
The excess spray? Could be it's too low maybe too high.
Drop the motor all the way.Then a straight piece of wood/metal.
Along the bottom of the boat and out to the cavitation plate. See where it meets,take some pics??
Running lopsided? It's possible the motor being over too far is doing that.
Does it set level when just setting in the water?
You might need to add trim tabs?

The hard steering could be the exhaust snout needs to be turned.
Hard steering to the right,turn the snout to the right.That's looking at the back of the motor.

 

[jamfav]

Re: HELP!!Outboard is off center by 1 inch?

Thanks for the replies! I was looking at it again last night and measured the motor from a few spots and I guess its off one way about an inch so technically its only off 1/2 inch to center. I think I'll just raise the motor a hole and go from there.(so i don't have to drill new ones) and hopefully that stops the spray? As far as the lopsided riding and tight to turn maybe that can all be adjusted with the exhaust stout/trim tab and raising the motor. Thanks again and I'll update the forum once I get it on the water again!

 

[Bill3434]

Re: HELP!!Outboard is off center by 1 inch?

You should have an adjustable tab above the prop, you might want to try adjusting that, that would be easier than moving the motor. Rocket scientist and precision engineers did not build your boat. My main stringer on my boat was not dead center on my boat, port side bulkhead were one measurement and my starboard ones were different. Causes headaches, glad I'm done with that, finally.