Steering pulls to the right.

[rocketman27]

I just bought a 16' 1991 Tidecraft with a 120HP Merc. I'm new to boating and can't figure out why the steering wheel pulls very hard to the right at higher speeds. In fact, letting go of the wheel would almost send me into a circle, and a left turn feels like I'm going to break something in the steering. Thanks.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Steering pulls to the right.

Hi rocketman, welcome to iboats!!<br /><br />Just above the prop is a little fin (called a rudder tab). It is adjustable. Standing outside the boat, at the back, which way is it pointing?<br /><br />Aldo

 

[rocketman27]

Re: Steering pulls to the right.

If I understand the part, it appears to be straight. It looks kind of like an airplane tail just above the prop. There is a bolt above that looks like could be loosened to adjust.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Steering pulls to the right.

That's it.<br /><br />Loosen the bolt, turn the trailing edge of the fin (the edge closest to you) TOWARDS the pull, towards the right. Start off by moving it slightly, go for a test drive. If need be, loosen it again and turn it a bit more. It is a trial and error thing until the steering no longer pulls.<br /><br />Comprende?<br /><br />Aldo

 

[kywildcat]

Re: Steering pulls to the right.

Does this need to be adjusted if you can take out the pull by trimming down a little? I have an 18' with the Merc and when on plane if the motor is trimmed too high I have a hard pull to the left. Trimming down a little takes it out. Thanks for the info.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Steering pulls to the right.

The rudder tab is adjustable so that you can compensate for prop 'torque steer'. Not all prop/boats display this problem. If trimming does the job, go for it.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Steering pulls to the right.

Wildcat,<br /><br />Yep - it's still worth playing with the trim fin, as Dunaruna says. But you're really talking about a different characteristic with your boat. <br /><br />When you raise or lower trim, you are not only changing the angle of the prop in the water, you are also changing its height. Both these changes will affect the steering of the boat, so on some boats you'll get exactly what you describe.<br /><br />Experimenting with AV plate height, trim and trimfin settings, will often change things dramatically. Each boat is different.

 

[rocketman27]

Re: Steering pulls to the right.

Thanks all for your help. I will give it a turn and try it out this weekend.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Steering pulls to the right.

Wildcat, On my speedboat, the steering pulls right when I am trimmed all the way down, feels neutral when trimmed for normal running, and pulls left when trimmed max up for top speed. I expect that is the best it can do.