out of control boat

[boating brad]

i have a dixie 17ft fiberglass bass boat with a 1980 mercury 90hp no hydrofoil. my problem is that for some reason, at planeing speed (20-25mph)the boat leans over to the side, not the same side every time, a passenger can sit on the opposite side bow and it will help a little but will then lean to that side. when this happens it wont steer. (scary) out of control! please give me some ideas about what to check.

 

[boating brad]

Re: out of control boat

maybe im asking the wrong question? or the wrong forum area of expertise? engine question?

 

[snohomishbaddawg]

Re: out of control boat

look at the attitude of your boat on plane. You may have to have someone else drive it. check the attitude of the bow as it goes past you and the attitude of the stern as it goes away from you. If you are loosing your steering it could be a problem with the steering cables or a problem with the prop comming out of the water. If it is the prop cavetating you may be able to fix it by adjusting your trim (hydrolic or manually with the pins on the bracket). You should be able to hear if the prop comes out of the water. If the attitude of the bow is very low you may need to use your trim (motor or tabs) to get a little lift or you may redistibute the weight in your boat.<br /><br />Good luck

 

[boating brad]

Re: out of control boat

trust me i am not ventilating, this boat will go from 0 to 25 in no time. the leaning over problem is not just slightly leaning, it leans bad. bad enough that it wont steer unless i slow down to about 20mph.

 

[Cobotr]

Re: out of control boat

I've heard about this, never experienced it, and don't know what it takes to fix it other than slow down. May be a product of the hull design.<br /><br />As I've heard, is that the boat is coming too far out of the water (riding mostly on the keel). The boat will not "balance" on only the center part of the keel so the boat rolls over, one side or the other. Most boats are stabilized by the chines on each side of the hull. If the boat is lifted too far out you lose some of that stability.<br /><br />If you add another person, the boat sits deeper, but does eventually get too high, then rolls.<br /><br />Many fishing boats utilize a flatter "v" so as not to roll at their high speeds (also gives better stability when sitting still in the water).

 

[boating brad]

Re: out of control boat

exactly cobotr; the vee at the bottom of the transom is quite a bit sharper of an angle coming to a point, my bayliner capri hull looks somewhat of the same design hull. the ridges (dont know the correct name for them) that run from the front underside to the transom are soft, on my bayliner they are sharply ridged. thanks for the input, and i know there is somebody out there that has some more input. <br /><br />im not crazy after all

 

[boating brad]

Re: out of control boat

c'mon all these pro's and no ideas.<br /><br />im beginning to feel disliked.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: out of control boat

Boating Brad... Few questions here... <br /><br />Does the boat "lean" at rest (not moving)...<br /><br />Have you tried adjusting the trim tab on the engine to see if there's any difference in the boats planeing attitude???<br /><br />Are you able to actually turn the steering wheel when this occours (tight steering), or are you turning the wheel with no steering response???<br /><br />Where are the batterys and fuel tank, the weight?? Poor weight distribution will cause problems....<br /><br />Has the boat always done this???

 

[beckerdg]

Re: out of control boat

How about a picture of the boat?

 

[sony2001]

Re: out of control boat

Sounds like you need two vertical fins (stabelizers) on the hull. They will act as a fulcrum to turn the boat. The depth of each and distance from the transom are by trial and error or dead reconning.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: out of control boat

check the hull for a cup or bow???<br />good luck,<br />M.Y.

 

[Cobotr]

Re: out of control boat

Maybe a set of trim tabs would be the solution.

 

[boating brad]

Re: out of control boat

thanks to everyone <br /><br />im going to try to answer all questions from the replies.<br />1) there are no trim tabs or hydrofoil this boat gets up to plane very fast.<br />2) i dont own a digital camera, was just hoping to get input on things to check, if it cant be corrected im selling it.<br />3)originally it came with a 115hp johnson i think. but when i got, it had a 90 merc. and has allways done this.(since ive hade it)<br />4) no cups or bow's i can see or feel.<br />5) does not lean at rest, unless there's more weight on one side than the other.<br />6) there are two batteries in the front(trolling), and one in the back(starting) gas tank is under the floor, behind the passenger seat i think its 10gal.<br />7)yes the steering wheel will turn, im positive its not in the steering mechanism.<br /><br />hope i answered all the questions<br /><br />thanks again.

 

[WSUDERMAN]

Re: out of control boat

Sounds like it might be engine alignment. Just a thought but is the engine perfectly perpendicular to the boat? and is it inline with the centerline of the boat? I do not know what type of mount you have but maybe try moving the motor 1/2 inch either direction? Or try adjusting the angle of the motor?

 

[Gold Bear]

Re: out of control boat

boating brad <br /><br />Assuming that at higher speed the problem goes away, I would move the two batteries from the bow to the stern and install a stingray foil.<br /><br />Good Luck,<br /><br />Gold Bear

 

[boating brad]

Re: out of control boat

goldbear; <br />the problem starts at high speed foil could help though. <br />78four...; the motor is aligned with the center of the boat.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: out of control boat

is the bow too high when this happens?

 

[boating brad]

Re: out of control boat

the bow may be little high, but not too bad.<br />i'll have to take it out again and pay closer attention, its been a while since i've had it out, i hate driving this boat because of this.<br />thanks for all input.

 

[boating brad]

Re: out of control boat

just talked to a guy on the phone, he believes the keel is digging in. so im going to try moving the batteries and charger somewhere else<br />not in the front.<br />thanks again for all the help.

 

[steelespike]

Re: out of control boat

I agree with Mellowyellow I think you have a hook in the bottom that would explain the very quick planing and ill bet the bow runs pretty low<br /> the hook forces it down on one side.Probably might steer away from low side but not toward it.