Bowrider doesn't turn while reversing

northofnorth

Recruit
Joined
Nov 25, 2019
Messages
3
I've owned my 24' Crownline bowrider for 15 years, so I'm not new to driving a boat. It has a standard 6.2 l MerCruiser with a Bravo 3 drive (dual prop) with no trim tabs.. Everything is in great working order as confirmed by me and a very experienced marine mechanic who did its last tune up.

It runs like a dream going forward. It reverses straight back and to the right (starboard) just fine. The problem is it just reverses straight back when the wheel is turned to the left (port). I've tried different speeds and steering angles to no effect. I just moves straight back. The boat can be a real pain to dock in tight spaces if you need to back in to the left because of this. To the right - no probs.

What am I missing?
 

alldodge

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
43,231
Your issue is new to me for a B3 so would like to hear what others say

My B1 backs to port (prop walk) a lot with only one prop, but I can still get some left and right in

My B3 backs without any prop walk and will go any direction I have the wheel turned. Only difference between your boat and mine is I weight more (10K pounds)
 

jimmbo

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 24, 2004
Messages
13,954
Is the outdrive down, or is it tilted up? I know when my I/O is lifted for shallow water, it doesn't go to Port very well in Reverse
 

Alumarine

Captain
Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
3,752
Have you confirmed the drive actually moves to the left as much as it moves to the right?
Did it ever turn better?
 

Blind Date

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 5, 2014
Messages
462
You have had the boat for 15 years.

So has it always done this? If so I'd say the boat has a design flaw. If not, then likely something mechanical.
 

northofnorth

Recruit
Joined
Nov 25, 2019
Messages
3
Hi All and thanks for the feedback. To answer your questions:

1) Ya the sterndrive unit is all the way down. Next summer I'll try varying that too.
2) It runs and turns forward perfectly making tight turns in either direction equally and its hands off steering going full tilt straight ahead.
3) Ya its always been like that. A number of years ago I had the steering checked and the mechanic said it was just fine.
4) Its a boathouse queen spending all of its life on a lift fully sheltered and never left in the water overnight.
5) The boat is completely stock, albeit with all the options.

I just finally decided to ask around for some feedback on it.
.
 

four winns 214

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 25, 2008
Messages
776
My Four Winns 214 behaves in a similar way with a V-P Duo Prop outdrive. What I have found is that it takes very little wheel to get it to turn. When it does turn, it's a very wide turn. I think much of the problem is the cathedral hull design of the boat. It likes to go straight.
 

TyeeMan

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 27, 2006
Messages
849
My previous Lund 1850 Tyee (aluminum deep V fish and ski) had a Volvo Duo Prop and I had the exact same problem.
I forget which way did what, but turn one direction in reverse and it would turn on a dime, the other direction was a very wide turn at best, if there was a good breeze forget about it.

I have no idea why, I just attributed it to the function of the duo prop.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
51,228
wonder if the cross-pilot check in the oildyne pump are bad and the drive is lifting in reverse?
 

briangcc

Commander
Joined
Jul 10, 2012
Messages
2,429
I know you're talking dual props but my Alpha One Gen II and Volvo-SXM did the same thing. Turn the wheel all the way to the left while backing up and it'd turn on a dime. Do the same to the right and it'd back straight. So to me, I chalked that up to prop rotation (probably not correct but hey, its how mine worked).
 

four winns 214

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 25, 2008
Messages
776
northofnorth If it makes you feel better, I had one of those “know-it-all, I can handle any boat” on board for a trip to a waterside restaurant. He insisted that we back into the slip. When I told him about my boat’s backing behavior, he proceeded to “show me how it’s done.” I let him because there was lots of room and no boat at the adjacent dock and I thought he needed to be humbled. I was not disappointed. After a couple of ****-eyed runs, I had to hop from the swim platform to the dock, straighten the boat by hand and pull it in. I’ve had the boat 12 years. It is very difficult to back precisely.
 
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