Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

[baller]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

I have a 1990 18ft chapparal with 4.3l v6, I have steering problems at higher speeds, the boat likes to pull/lean sometimes to the left side, I really have to keep the weight in the boat adjusted, the little fin (not sure what it is called ) above the prop has been broken off since i bought the boat, i did put a hydrofoil on last year but didn't get any use out of it until this year, could it be the hydrofoil causing it to lean more than I would normally expect?

 

[Bluepike]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

Just thought I'd add a little about the wheel position.

Once you follow Rick's suggestion and have the wheel in it's centered position, the spoke that is pointing straight up is called the "Kingspoke". Wrap a heavy string around it. Then you can look where you are going and feel for the kingspoke and know where your wheel is.

 

[okboating]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

In regards to the smart tabs at idle speed, they do in fact make a world of difference on some boats. They keep the boat much more stable and help with over correction.
Dave

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

the little fin (not sure what it is called ) above the prop has been broken off since i bought the boat

That's the trim tab anode. It serves two functions: it compensates for the problem you describe (at high speed), and sacrifices itself to corrosion instead of allowing corrosion to attack the metal in the drive. At around $10 and a five-minute job, it's the cheapest protection you can buy for your drive. Pop the little rubber cap above it and you'll see the bolt that holds it in place.

BTW, never paint it. Painting it defeats the anti-corrosion properties.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

Couple things:

V-hulls tend to wander at slow speeds, the deeper the V, the worse the problem. Trim tabs make a huge difference, and in some cases completely eliminate the wiggle.

Baller - you should really start a new thread, and yes the hydrofoil is most likely causing your high speed leaning/steering problem. It is lifting your hull from the centerline rather than evenly accross the width of the hull. The torque tab right above your prop serves no purpose mechanically, you have power steering. You do still need it, or one of the flat plates, to prevent galvanic corrosion.

 

[allen6634]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

Excellent advice.

what i do is bthe same as the nascar guys i put a strip of colered tape on my wheel.so i know when im in the straight postion.this can be done in or out of water.find the point to where the prop is pointing.stright and wrap one wrap one wrap of tape at the 12oclock potision on the wheel that way you know where your prop is straight when at slow speed.

 

[JimKW]

Re: Steering A Boat At Slow Speed

Actually I have a pretty good feel for when it's straight. After thinking about what I did and what people have said on this thread, I think I should have probably turned the wheel to the left and then tapped reverse instead of doing nothing with the wheel and tapping reverse which is what I did. Just learning exactly how to react is not really 2nd nature in a boat when we are so used to driving cars. It's been more than 20 years since I had a boat.