suzukidave
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2000
- Messages
- 387
Re: out of control boat
many possibilities here. I doubt very much it is the battery location on a boat that big. You mentioned a planing speed of 20-25 mph. Do you mean cruising speed or the speed at which it comes on plane? With a 90 horse merc and a 17' capri you should be cruising at more like 30-40. What size prop is on it and what RPM are you at? Have you checked everywhere below decks to see if you are full of water that might be shifting about on you? <br /><br />Normally a list doesn't cause a severe steering problem so I'd look at whether the motor or motor mount is shifting somehow when on plane and therefore also affecting steering. Are the outboard mounting bolts tight? Is there any play in the transom holes and is your transom solid in that area. Have you checked the integrity of the motor mount itself? Does everythign tilt and swivel normally? does your outboard hang straight down perpendicular to the motor mount looking side to side from the back, and is the motor mount level to the transom? Can you tilt the leg from side to side without turning it by pushing on either side of the skeg? Can you make the prop wiggle from side to side relative to the leg?<br /><br />Is this motor power trim? Does it work properly? Have you tried it in all kinds of trim situations and got the same results? <br /><br />If none of the above, are you 100% sure there is no build up in the keel? Have you looked carefully to see if the hull itself might be distorted? Try standing at the bow and stern and putting your eye next to the hull and looking at the lines forea and aft. Any difference on the two sides? Is there any rot below decks in the stringers that might be letting the hull flex?<br /><br />Whatever it is, you can likely fix the leaning problem with manual trim tabs although this may not address the underlying problem and you still might end up with steering and performance woes. Nauticus makes good ones that I have on my 16' boat. Formerly I could generate a severe list by overloading one side of the boat. Now it's nearly impossible because they give you so much leveling force. I am not sure what they will do about your steering troubles though.
many possibilities here. I doubt very much it is the battery location on a boat that big. You mentioned a planing speed of 20-25 mph. Do you mean cruising speed or the speed at which it comes on plane? With a 90 horse merc and a 17' capri you should be cruising at more like 30-40. What size prop is on it and what RPM are you at? Have you checked everywhere below decks to see if you are full of water that might be shifting about on you? <br /><br />Normally a list doesn't cause a severe steering problem so I'd look at whether the motor or motor mount is shifting somehow when on plane and therefore also affecting steering. Are the outboard mounting bolts tight? Is there any play in the transom holes and is your transom solid in that area. Have you checked the integrity of the motor mount itself? Does everythign tilt and swivel normally? does your outboard hang straight down perpendicular to the motor mount looking side to side from the back, and is the motor mount level to the transom? Can you tilt the leg from side to side without turning it by pushing on either side of the skeg? Can you make the prop wiggle from side to side relative to the leg?<br /><br />Is this motor power trim? Does it work properly? Have you tried it in all kinds of trim situations and got the same results? <br /><br />If none of the above, are you 100% sure there is no build up in the keel? Have you looked carefully to see if the hull itself might be distorted? Try standing at the bow and stern and putting your eye next to the hull and looking at the lines forea and aft. Any difference on the two sides? Is there any rot below decks in the stringers that might be letting the hull flex?<br /><br />Whatever it is, you can likely fix the leaning problem with manual trim tabs although this may not address the underlying problem and you still might end up with steering and performance woes. Nauticus makes good ones that I have on my 16' boat. Formerly I could generate a severe list by overloading one side of the boat. Now it's nearly impossible because they give you so much leveling force. I am not sure what they will do about your steering troubles though.
<br />steelspike; yes i think the bow is digging in, but i have yet to take it out this year. i just started tearing the floor out this week. so until i finish it im using my bayliner capri.