Duo Prop wanders

[nogin888]

I have a 24foot fiberglass centre cab with a mid mounted steyr diesel with hydrolic steering the boat wanders terribly at low speed i am constantly turning the steering wheel to keep it in a straight line, the leg is a volvo290 with duo prop?

 

[Link]

Re: Duo Prop wanders

nogin888<br />Doesn't sound like a prop problem (duel) <br />If your boat is a deep V from bow to stern it's just the nature of the beast! Learning to not over steer is a art! The trade off is a nice ride in chop. But I'm not a expert here so lets see what others have to say<br /><br />Link

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Duo Prop wanders

Deep-V wander is a well-known problem. The advice about not oversteering (above) is good advice. Learn to anticipate the wander and you'll be better off. Also, if you have trim tabs, put them all the way down.<br /><br />It's not a result of the props, it's the hull.<br /><br />Mike P

 

[DJ]

Re: Duo Prop wanders

nogin888,<br /><br />The others are correct in their assessment. "Deep V wander" is quite normal in boats, such as yours.<br /><br />Resist the urge to turn the wheel. Keep it dead still when running a straight line. Learn to make your steering adjustments very subtle.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Duo Prop wanders

I think it is more sterndrive wander.I have a old<br />straight drive inboard that is very close to a deep V.It runs straight as an arrow at slow speed.<br /> Sterndrives have so much weight in the stern<br />they are difficult to keep straight.<br />With real concentration and close attention to<br />not oversteer and anticipate wander youll get good at straight operation.

 

[airman]

Re: Duo Prop wanders

All the other comments are true. You might also try shaking the leg by hand. Volvo uses plastic bushings and the leg can get sloppy after a while. There will be some slop no matter what you do but anything more than an inch or two will make your problems worse than they have to be.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Duo Prop wanders

Low speed wander on V bottom boats with a single engine is as common as salt and pepper. Since you have a 24ft boat you may already have trim tabs. If so put them dowm ( max) at slow speeds. The plates will give you two surfaces (one on each side) which will resist the turning from one side to the other. The boat speed should not be affected. If you don't have trim tabs, look into them as they will provide many other benefits as well. Keep in mind that you are pushing the boat from the back, if you pull the boat from the front it would not wander. The long leverage arm (from the motor to the bow) takes very little effort to move the boat side to side.