Let's talk skill...

[guy48065]

Is it also typical of an I/O powered sport boat to constantly need correction when idling along in gear? It just refuses to go straight. Feels like an old pickup truck with worn out tie rod ends.

 

[flashback]

Is it also typical of an I/O powered sport boat to constantly need correction when idling along in gear? It just refuses to go straight. Feels like an old pickup truck with worn out tie rod ends.

very common, with a deep v hull design.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Is it also typical of an I/O powered sport boat to constantly need correction when idling along in gear? It just refuses to go straight. Feels like an old pickup truck with worn out tie rod ends.

google V-hull wander. all single prop V-hulls do it. duo-prop singles also do it to a slightly lesser degree. Not a thing that you can do to stop it but let it wag back and forth.

 

[dingbat]

It just refuses to go straight. Feels like an old pickup truck with worn out tie rod ends.

One of those hidden features that wasn't included in the brochure

 

[guy48065]

Thanks all! Glad to hear it's normal. I'm normal. It's all good

 

[tphoyt]

Watch the lobster boat racing in Maine for some great fun and tips and tricks of the trade.

 

[redneck joe]

Thanks all! Glad to hear it's normal. I'm normal. It's all good

if you kick it up a couple hundred and can stay relatively no wake that helps.

 

[airshot]

google V-hull wander. all single prop V-hulls do it. duo-prop singles also do it to a slightly lesser degree. Not a thing that you can do to stop it but let it wag back and forth.

I used that as a magic trick whenever we had kids on board. Find that sweet spot and the boat would go left then right all while I had my hands in my pockets !! Kids and adults always got a kick out of my magic steering..

 

[Scott Danforth]

Glad to hear it's normal.

yep, perfectly normal

I'm normal.

the jack-arse in me really really wants to comment on this

 

[guy48065]

yep, perfectly normal


the jack-arse in me really really wants to comment on this

No doubt.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I have a rudder on the ski boat, years of running the big boats with screws you get the slow and smooth method.

 

[redneck joe]

Slightly off topic but related to wander...

Since I got my center console I've had the good fortune to have many kids on board with me, all never being on boats before so of course they get to learn how to drive the boat.

So I stand behind the and coach. I've always known what weight does to the steering of a boat. Well maybe not always.... I have discovered that while standing behind the student my fatness shifted side to side can subtlety steer the boat for them.

So this year when our Japanese family was visiting of course (9 year old) Rohei got to drive some more and as I was doing the weight shifting it hit me i was doing exactly what 'uncle' jack was doing to me about that age on dads 21 MR. 'There you go, doing great pardner' I heard in my head the other day.

 

[dingbat]

So I stand behind the and coach. I've always known what weight does to the steering of a boat. Well maybe not always.... I have discovered that while standing behind the student my fatness shifted side to side can subtlety steer the boat for them.

Spend many hours "steering" from the back of boat while trolling.
Comes in handy fishing a fish solo as well

 

[kd4pbs]

Present day me still hears the characteristic squeak - pause - squawk of the cable and pulley steering setup from my uncle's wooden outboard runabout that 6 year old me would make when fishing with him and my dad. I was told to just point to that tower with the red light. I hadn't quite understood the art of figuring out the center point of the wagging V hull at trolling speed. Uncle quietly grabbed the cable going back to the outboard from his rear seat position and centered it for me after getting sick of hearing the noise for the past 15 minutes. "Don't correct. Keep 'er there, and watch what happens."
Learning experiences around boats were always good times!

 

[Renken2000Classic]

Practice the slow thing (idle power) away from the dock/ramp, with a reference point ahead.

Eventually you get a feel for the timing and amount of steering input, and don't even really think about it anymore.

Both of those can still be a challenge though sometimes (docking, recovery). If it was super easy though, it wouldn't be as impressive or satisfying when it comes off nicely : )