Boat wants to roll hard to the left when trying to plane out plz read description 1st

Yamahabandit

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Sep 7, 2013
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Hello there.. I have a 1988 thompson cutlass 190. with the 3.7 mercruiser alpha one i/o.. I just recently purchased the boat a couple weeks ago.. The first test run on the lake was flawless.. the boat operated very well and planed in just a few seconds with no problems.... Now heres will my problems began.. we went back out to do another test run to see if i adjusted the electric choke properly. Upon entering the unloading ramp the strap snapped and the boat came off the trailer mid way into the water and smacked the hull at the rear (concrete launch).. to make sure i pulled the boat out of the water to look at the damage, only visual i could see was it shaved a 4 inch long by 2 inch wide strip thru the paint and a little bit into the fiberglass but did not crack or puncture thru, i let the bottom dry and used a 1600 psi epoxy for fiberglass to seal the slight scrap.. i do not have the funds after purchasing the boat to repair it how i would like.. After sitting 2 days i crawled back under to look again, looks like the bottom of the outdrive was scuffed a little making me believe it slightly bumped on the concrete.. Now this is where i notice a huge change of operation from the first test that operated and planed with no problems what so ever.. I took the boat back to the inland lake with a new strap to check for leaks.. I let it float for a while and checked to see if i notice any leaks and ran the bilge for a minute, i did not see or come across any excess water.. after leaving the dock and was on open water i putts around a little bit at slow speed, noticing while holding the steering wheel straight with no resistance the boat would wander left, then to the right, then back and so on, thought maybe it was just the normal wander i have read about but a little more severe, i then decided to give it about half throttle and see where it goes.. note the trim settings were the same as my previous run. on half throttle the hull raised out of the water and when i trim like normal right before it wants to plane out the boat goes into a hard left roll to wear its very scary and i just know something is wrong. this happens with my steering straight and no resistance on the wheel. next i then tried to turn slightly to the right before i throttle up, to compisate for the left roll, now after it planes out after a few seconds the boat started to roll to the right wear i had to throttle down cuz it was very scary again.. I have tried to look up the problems im am having and found a few threads that have the same problem, tho i believe it has something to do mechanically. as far as a trim tab, weight in the boat, trim angle, skeg, prop, is the same as the first run.. exept the light scuff at the very bottom of the lower end.. but nothing that would make it change derasticly.. Any ideas what else can make my boat roll very hard at throttling up and bad wander at slow speeds. did the slight drop affect the alighnment, move something outa wack, shift something? I checked for slop in the lower end pushed pulled lifted shook everything looks tight.. looked at the steering linkage (no powersteering, just a cable) checked for slop loose bolts ect, noticed nothing bad that i can tell, im not boat savy so i turn to the pros :) sry for the long description but its the only way to explain and not have a mechanic look at it (no funds atm).. thank you for your time and patients.. 1st run flawless= :) after the mishap, 2nd run scary= :(


Thank you again... Brandon Mc.
 
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merkurfan

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jul 31, 2012
Messages
80
Re: Boat wants to roll hard to the left when trying to plane out plz read description

Is the skeg straight? (upside down shark fin at bottom of lower unit)

if so it sounds like you broke a stringer in the hull.. I hope I am wrong but if I am not, it means a lot of work. The sringer is between the hull and floor. Not easy to see and if it's broken or loose it is not something you would see.

The area that hit the landing, is it easy to push up? you may have to push a bit, compare it to the other side. Does one side move more than the other?

at speed this can cause a list to one side. in bad cases it can really lean.

can you get us some photos of the damage?
 

alldodge

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Mar 8, 2009
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42,975
Re: Boat wants to roll hard to the left when trying to plane out plz read description

How is your steering out of the water. Move wheel to stright, have someone of some thing hold the drive and turn the wheel both directions. How much play do you find? If you have power steering do it with engine stopped and while running.
 

Yamahabandit

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Joined
Sep 7, 2013
Messages
3
Re: Boat wants to roll hard to the left when trying to plane out plz read description

Hi there. Sry for the delay been busy with work. The steering seems tight with very very little noticeable movement. If I have a moment I will post some pics. I will also look up the schematic for the hull and stringers if available. Skeg is slightly bent but that was the way I bought it. And didn't effect anything on the first run. Looks as if the lower end at the very bottom in front of the skeg took the hit along with the very back of the hull on the corner. Where the back wall of the boat comes down and meets the bottom. Ty I'll do some pushing and see if I notice a difference..
 

alldodge

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Re: Boat wants to roll hard to the left when trying to plane out plz read description

Do you have power steering or non-power steering?
If you have power steering how is the fluid level?
 

Yamahabandit

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Sep 7, 2013
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Re: Boat wants to roll hard to the left when trying to plane out plz read description

No power steering.
 

alldodge

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Re: Boat wants to roll hard to the left when trying to plane out plz read description

I think something has some play in it. On the top and bottom of the outdrive are large pins allowing the drive to turn. With the drive trimmed up a little, see if you can find some play. What your describing has to be play in the steering linkage or play in the pins which piviot the drive. You said it was doing fine until you started to trim the drive up, when the drive is down everything is held tight, once it starts coming up is when I'm figuring you get the play.
 
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