torque steering or something else

[scottnjay]

I have a 98 19' deep v fisher with a 120 force. When I cruise at WOT it leans left if I go straight. It will ride level if I let the wheel center itself but I drive in a big circle to the right. I have messed with the trib anode. It is currently set so the tail edge is to the right. It didn't seem to help much. I have tried trimming the motor all the way until the prop slips. It helps, but not all the way. The motor is centered, the cav plate is about even with the bottom of the boat. No kicker yet. I can't find anything wrong with the hull of the boat. Is this torque steering? I have been reading everything I can find on this site about it, but reading and experiencing are different. Does anyone know how I can fix it? I have thought about smart tabs, but the problem is I will still have to be turnig left to go straight. I have also read about the torque tamer, but there isn't much info on it. My wife wants it fixed before she goes out much more. (This of course helps my fishing, but my son is almost of age to fish (2) so I want him with me and I need it fixed for that to happen) <br />Thanks for all you help.

 

[DJ]

Re: torque steering or something else

You have torque steer.<br /><br />Keep moving the trim tab to the right.<br /><br />You should be able to get CLOSE to nuetralizing it. However, do not expect all of it to go away..

 

[scottnjay]

Re: torque steering or something else

Thanks for the reply. I thought it was probably torque steer. I already have the trim anode all the way to the right. Unless they make a bigger one I don't think it will help. The turn to the right is severe enough I can't really get anywhere without either always correcting or just constantly turning left and leaning.

 

[jim dozier]

Re: torque steering or something else

I could be wrong but I don't think you are getting torque steer. It would have been corrected with the trim tab if it was. I think you may have hull problems. Some boats will veer one way or the other if the bow is down too much, either due to engine trim or weight distribution. This is consistent with you saying it is lessened by trimming up. Try shifting some weight to the rear to get the bow up. Also try raising the engine on the transom a notch. Put the trim anode back to center then try it again and experiment with engine trim. Torque tamers are really for high speeds and high engine heights such as with a jackplate. The top of the prop is partly out of the water and the propeller will paddle wheel the stern to the right (on a normal rotation gearcase) causing the boat to veer left. My bet is this is not the case on your setup.

 

[scottnjay]

Re: torque steering or something else

Thanks for the response. What should I check for to see if I have hull problems. I have stuck a level on the bottom to see if there was a problem. I didn't find anything, but I will check again. Is there anything else I should check. I already have almost everything out of the bow. The only thing left is the trolling motor and a couple life jackets. It sits level side to side when stopped. I haven't looked to see how the prop looks when cruising. The lakes around here are pretty choppy so I tend to pay attention to driving.

 

[jim dozier]

Re: torque steering or something else

If in fact it is the hull I'm not sure you would see it. I know that when I trim my motor down more than normal the boat starts to turn right. I just avoid trimming way down to avoid the pulling right. At normal trim it goes straight. At max speed with the motor trimmed out it will start to turn left due to torque steer but that is only at max trim out. Torque tabs would cure my high speed pull to the left but its not so bad that I want to bother. I was just wondering if your boat is bow heavy or trimmed improperly you might be suffering from what happens to mine at full trim down. Also are you sure the motor is centered correctly. Has it always done this or is this something new?

 

[Crazy]

Re: torque steering or something else

I have a 1978 18foot fiberglass boat with a 115HP Merc , That thing pulled hard to port , I had the tab thing turned all the way ''I was going to grind some off so I could turn it a little more '' HAHA That's how bad it was pulling . Well its TOTALY fixed now , I bought one of them SeaRay wings for the motor and WOW what a change !!! Yesterday was the first time out and the water was choppy and it was windy , I started out fishing had a couple buddys in there boats fishing , I said screw this a took off for a 3 hour CRUZZZZ 45 MILES haha That's how much I loved the new ride ! .

 

[scottnjay]

Re: torque steering or something else

Jimd, I bought the boat last year and it has done it ever since I got it. We had three people in the boat for the test drive so I didn't think anything of it leaning. It has only not done it one time, but that was a small lake that was like glass and I was turning a lot anyway (fishing was really slow and no one else was on the lake).<br />I measured the motor and it was as centered as I could tell with a tape measure. The trim does improve it by trimming it up all the way but not much. It just starts to improve right about the point the prop starts to slip. It is a pretty fine line and you have to trim down to make a turn. Hopefully I will be able to get it out soon and check some more things. 1' of snow in one day, but we need it bad for the reservoirs or else there will be no boating later.

 

[jim dozier]

Re: torque steering or something else

I reread your post. Are you saying that your problem is primarily the leaning to port or that the boat wants to turn one way or the other unless you prevent it from doing so? If the boat wants to turn left a little thats what the trim tab is for, however the trim tab won't affect the leaning. If the boat was going straight but leaning to the left and you moved the tab to correct the lean it would probably still lean but now it would turn to the right.<br /><br />Leaning is due to either poor weight distribution, or a misaligned motor, or maybe a hull problem. Do you have stuff in that boat that might account for the lean? Is there a fuel or water tank on that side or other equipment?<br /><br />Set the trim tab in small increments so the boat goes in a straight line naturally (don't look at the steering wheel it may or may not be put on centered). It shouldn't need a lot of twist in it. Then when the boat is going straight see if you can address the leaning.

 

[scottnjay]

Re: torque steering or something else

The boat turns to starboard when I let the wheel go or level the boat out. It leans when I turn to port to go straight. There is pull on the wheel when I do this. I have tried to balance the load as best I can. There is a battery on the port side in the back and a live well on the starboard side. I have tried to use the live well to balance the load, but it doesn't make a difference. As far as I can tell there is only about 30-50 lbs difference between the two sides. When I add the kicker that will of course change it more or less. I think the fuel tank is centered, but I will check it out. I may be able to go out this weekend. I will try to adjust the tab again to see if it helps. I is interesting doing that in a heavy chop. Maybe I have it adjusted too far. It is currently all the way to the right. (If it were a rudder it would be turning me to the right (starboard)) It only does it when I am planing. When not planing the boat is level. I think if I fix the turning the boat will be level, or at least then I can get smart tabs to fix it.<br />Thanks for all your time responding. I appreciate the help.

 

[jim dozier]

Re: torque steering or something else

Well at this point I would say the boat is turning starboard because you have the trim tab set all the way for starboard. I suppose every boat is different but I would not think you would need it all the way. On my 17.5 foot with a 115hp the trim tab is only slightly to the right so that it appears to be straight. I would center it and then start from there. Get the boat going straight and then try to address the lean. Down here these are all good excuses to put on a bathing suit and go out in the boat and bring some brews. In your case you might need a parka over your bathing suit but the brews won't need a cooler.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: torque steering or something else

Scottnjay;<br /><br />jimd is correct, the turning issue is separate from the leaning issue. I make Smart Tabs and would be happy if you used them, but let's find out what the problems are first. What type of pro do you have? Are you using a hydrofoil of any kind?<br /><br />If your boat has a tendency to lean to prot when trimmed out correctly (prop should be perpendicular to the water surface) then this is a torque list (also assums that you are not running a hydrofoil). At cruising speeds hydrofoils can create too much stern lift and resulting bow pressure (down). Running with the engine trim too far down will also create too much bow down. Either of these can create or exagerate a torque list.<br /><br />The torque steering should be corrected by the steering tab.<br /><br />Once you have the cause under control - try the Smart Tabs, and you will likely need them to compensate for the kicker motor at the least.

 

[scottnjay]

Re: torque steering or something else

jimd Well, I finally got out on the water today. People must have thought I was crazy racing at WOT from one end of the lake to the other (small lake) then stopping and lifting the motor out of the water. I tried the tab in every position. Lost my wrench in 20' of water, but I had a backup. When it is all the way to the right it works best, but not quite enough. I did notice it won't turn as far to the right as the left. is this normal? I checked the steering wheel and it seems to be centered with the motor. the wieght in the boat should have been balanced. My friend and I both tip in at just over 200 with in a pound of each other.<br />Nautijohn<br />thanks for the input. I will probably look into smart tabs when I get the boat going straight. I not sure what else I should try. I don't have a hydrofoil and I believe the prop is stock. I haven't found any markings on it. The prop is a little dinged up, but it was perfect last year and it did then. I trim the motor as high as I can until is starts to slip and then I put it down a little. That is where I get the most speed and RPM.<br /><br />Is there anything else I can try to get it straight? I found out a definite drawback to always having to lean. It got winding today and we got soaked.<br />Thanks for all your help.