I like my boat but i battle....

[ozzie mercury guy]

I like taking my boat out (although I don't get a chance much with work). The biggest gripe i have is that everytime i take it out i have to battle with the steering wheel to maintain a straight heading. I guess it is the prop making the boat want to turn. I have to maintain extreme left pressure on the helm. By the time i arrive at the destination i'm knacked. Is there something i can buy for the hull to offset this?
Regards
Richard
AUSTRALIA

 

[my1stboat1]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

turn the exhaust spout on the lower unit ... your fighting the natural engine rotation

 

[ozzie mercury guy]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

Thanks for your reply. The exhaust comes out of the middle of the prop though. Any suggestions?

 

[109jb]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

Turn the back end of the little fin above the prop to the right. Try about 1 inch to the right to start. Keep adjusting unti the boat runs straight. If the boat naturally wants to turn right, turn the fin more right. It takes a few tries, but you'll get it.

 

[Expidia]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

Not a lot of info to go on here . . .

There are several variables that you might want to look at here, but to start why not list your engine model, HP, year etc.

Your boat model and a pic of the back of the outboard and a side pic too showing the height of the motor as to where the cavitation plate aligns with the boats bottom (if it is an outboard).

 

[ondarvr]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

The other option is no feedback steering, it works well if other methods don't help.

 

[ozzie mercury guy]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

Thanks for the replies. Below are some pictures of the 1986 Mercury.

Do you mean turn the little anti-corrosion fin?
Thanks
Richard

 

[109jb]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

I drew a red arrow pointing to the fin I am talking about. There is a bolt coming into it from the top that you loosen and then turn the fin. It is at 12 o'clock right now. Turn it to about 1 o'clock and try it.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

Also, your boat is an ideal candidate for a smaller hydraulic steering rig. The less expensive ones can be installed for around $300. Not super cheap, but it's great when there zero effort on your part to steer. Makes for a nice relaxing ride.

 

[Expidia]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

Take one more pic from the side. put the outboard down so its horizontal to the ground.

That Cavitation plate which the wing is attached to should be even or 1 inch above the bottom of the boat for most models.

Can't tell until you level it out.

Also, take the plastic wing off for an outing and see if that's any better after you adjust the steering skeg as the other poster has suggested. Side note: that skeg is discolored which is normal, because it's also a sacrificial anode that protects the motor from electrolysis.

http://www.defender.com/html/zincs_info.html

I'd give it a run with the steering skeg pushed all the way over and also give it a run without that bat wing.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

From the pics we have so far it looks like the foil is dragging in the water when on plane, this can cause all kinds of handling problems. Remove it and see how it works, very cheap and easy.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

Yep, Take that whale tail off !!.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

Not trying to hi-jack the thread here but, I have sort of the same issue, only difference being: It's not so much hard to steer when on plane, but at no wake speed, if I let go of the wheel it will go dead right. Is it supposed to do this? Like what a jet ski will do if rider falls off? BTW: Mine is an 85hp O/B w/ tail on it.

 

[PWH1]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

To address, do as is being suggested. I had the same issue on my boat... After reading about it here, I adjusted slightly to the right and the result is that boat no longer pulls to the right. It now tracks straight and steers with ease. Prior to adjusting, if I let go of the steering it would immediately pull hard over to the right.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

A trim tab, when properly adjusted, will offset the prop's effect at just one speed - normally you'd want that to be your cruising speed. When just getting on plane / plowing you'll have some steering force to overcome, but that's just for a few seconds while you accelerate to your cruising speed. You may have to play with it a little bit, but I agree that adjusting the trim tab will likely help.

 

[ozzie mercury guy]

Re: I like my boat but i battle....

Thanks for the great suggestions. I will try them next fine weekend. One last thing, when the boat is bouncing up and down on the waves the trim changes a bit by itself as the motor pounds on the hydraulic strut. Does this mean the hydraulic strut is worn and needs to be rebuilt or is this normal considering the weight of the outboard and the choppy conditions?
Thanks
Richard