Let's talk skill...

guy48065

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 31, 2008
Messages
456
Is it also typical of an I/O powered sport boat to constantly need correction when idling along in gear? It just refuses to go straight. Feels like an old pickup truck with worn out tie rod ends.
 

flashback

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 28, 2002
Messages
4,026
Is it also typical of an I/O powered sport boat to constantly need correction when idling along in gear? It just refuses to go straight. Feels like an old pickup truck with worn out tie rod ends.
very common, with a deep v hull design.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
50,991
Is it also typical of an I/O powered sport boat to constantly need correction when idling along in gear? It just refuses to go straight. Feels like an old pickup truck with worn out tie rod ends.
google V-hull wander. all single prop V-hulls do it. duo-prop singles also do it to a slightly lesser degree. Not a thing that you can do to stop it but let it wag back and forth.
 

tphoyt

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 10, 2010
Messages
1,579
Watch the lobster boat racing in Maine for some great fun and tips and tricks of the trade.
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,672
google V-hull wander. all single prop V-hulls do it. duo-prop singles also do it to a slightly lesser degree. Not a thing that you can do to stop it but let it wag back and forth.
I used that as a magic trick whenever we had kids on board. Find that sweet spot and the boat would go left then right all while I had my hands in my pockets !! Kids and adults always got a kick out of my magic steering..
 

redneck joe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Messages
12,338
Slightly off topic but related to wander...

Since I got my center console I've had the good fortune to have many kids on board with me, all never being on boats before so of course they get to learn how to drive the boat.

So I stand behind the and coach. I've always known what weight does to the steering of a boat. Well maybe not always.... I have discovered that while standing behind the student my fatness shifted side to side can subtlety steer the boat for them.

So this year when our Japanese family was visiting of course (9 year old) Rohei got to drive some more and as I was doing the weight shifting it hit me i was doing exactly what 'uncle' jack was doing to me about that age on dads 21 MR. 'There you go, doing great pardner' I heard in my head the other day.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,551
So I stand behind the and coach. I've always known what weight does to the steering of a boat. Well maybe not always.... I have discovered that while standing behind the student my fatness shifted side to side can subtlety steer the boat for them.
Spend many hours "steering" from the back of boat while trolling.
Comes in handy fishing a fish solo as well
 

kd4pbs

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Mar 5, 2012
Messages
36
Present day me still hears the characteristic squeak - pause - squawk of the cable and pulley steering setup from my uncle's wooden outboard runabout that 6 year old me would make when fishing with him and my dad. I was told to just point to that tower with the red light. I hadn't quite understood the art of figuring out the center point of the wagging V hull at trolling speed. Uncle quietly grabbed the cable going back to the outboard from his rear seat position and centered it for me after getting sick of hearing the noise for the past 15 minutes. "Don't correct. Keep 'er there, and watch what happens."
Learning experiences around boats were always good times!
 
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