Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

[RandyB55]

I bought a 2001 Maxim, deep V, 19ft, I/O boat last summer. The only problem I have is at low speeds. When trying to go straight, the boat will veer right. When you turn a little to the left it will veer to the left. No matter how hard you try, you can't make it steer straight. This makes it hard to dock or load the boat. Someone told me this was not uncommon for deep V boats. Does anyone know anything about this problem and how to fix it?

 

[Solittle]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

Welcome Randy - lotsa stuff here for you - The wandering symptom is all to familiar to all who have deep V boats. It is more severe with deep Vs but common to a lessor degree to shallow Vs as well. Hulls with deep keels like displacement hulls and sailboats have less of a problem. There is no cure. You can install a Dolfin on the cavitation plate and this may reduce it somewhat (It did on my 23'er).<br /><br />Even when you don't think you are wandering much like going out a channel - take a look behind you at the wake - it will show quite vividly the wandering.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

We know very well what you are talking about. Try this link to an article in Trailer Boat Magazine which conducted a before and after test on a 19' Maxim using our Smart Tabs. The editor specifically address the wandering issue in the text. http://nauticusinc.com/trailerboat.pdf

 

[swist]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

I am not a marine engineer but the causes must be more complex than just having a deep-V design. I have a deep-V that doesn't wander (and it doesn't have tabs either), and I've been in others that don't, so it must be deep-V plus some other factor in the design of the boat.

 

[OLDSPUD]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

Had an old Cobalt, deep V, described the wandering in the owners manual, and boy did it wander, seems if I let it wander, it would go left then come back and go right, then left and so on, If I tried to steer it I was turning back and forth like a crazy man. Best be patient and relax and let it wander, unless in tight quarters.<br /><br />Worst in wakeless water, as soon as you canput a little speed in it it goes straight.<br /><br />Spud

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

Hull design is a real complex issue, and is often a trade-off between conflicting requirements.<br /><br />One thing I have noticed with this common wandering problem, which is worse at low speeds, is that the hulls which have more inherent lateral stability (port/starboard) wander less than those that don't.<br /><br />So a fin fitted to the anti-cavitation plate should help, but trim tabs will be even more effective.<br /><br />Ciao

 

[broark01]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

What type of drive do you have? I experience low speed wandering and attribute much of it to the Bravo 2 drive which has 1 large 16" prop. I have learned that if I left the steering wheel alone the boat will swing back and forth about 5 degrees to either side, requiring little course correction. I would imagine a BIII would be less likely to wander.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

The wandering is most common when the v at the bow is agressive. This helps the boat cut through waves at cruising speeds, and attain higher top speeds (which is what sells boats). At slow speed the boat becomes sensitive to any minor change in water current. Since the boat is being pushed from the back (not pulled from the front) the long leverage arm (v design hull) in front of the motor facilitates the wander.<br /><br />Not much you can do to change this, except adding Trim Tabs. When the tabs are down at slow speeds, they resist the wander ("crabing"). It may sound like a sales pitch but it is one of the side benefits of Smart Tabs.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

Most small I/O boats do this, my previous boat, an 18' Stingray did. Installation of Smart Tabs helped quite a bit. Also, learn not to overcompensate.

 

[youngboater]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

I have a 17' aluminum Lund. It never really wanders. It has a deep-V too. I can let go of the sterring wheel and it will go straight unless a current or the wind gusts up.

 

[ae708]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

I installed Smart Tabs on my 18" Manta Ray and it all but eliminated "bow steer" at low speeds.... good product.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

rwisman & ae 708;<br /><br />Glad you are happy with the Smart Tabs - It is nice to hear good reports. Thank You!

 

[Ross J]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

RandyB55, be aware that when working in shallow waters the "wandering" will be even worse than in deep water because of the effect the bottom of the waterway will have on the water between it and the hull. Even worse again if there is any sort of a current flowing. Not so bad if going against the current but troublesome if going with the current!<br />Dole Fin did indeed help me but didn't take the problem away, just made it a bit more manageable. This was an accidential discovery since I got the Dole Fin to help out of the hole (which it did).<br />Ross

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Maxum Boat wanders at low speed

Agree with RossJ about a fin helping, but tabs are better.<br /><br />A fin helps because its greater surface area gives increased lateral resistance (port/starboard movement). Put tabs on the outer edges of the transom, and they do an even better job. Plus, tabs are in alignment with the deadrise angle, whereas a fin protrudes below this angle, so it is an additional source of resistance.<br /><br />A fin is fixed to the anti-cavitation plate, so it always assumes the same angle as the prop. Far better to separate trim and propulsion, so that the propellor can do its proper job while the tabs do theirs.<br /><br />Ciao