"No Wake" Steering wander

[ymmot60]

I have a Chaparral 1830 open bow runabout with a mercruiser V6 and Alpha One outdrive. When moving at slow speeds the boat will not stay straight. I have to make constant adjustments and the boat zig-zags as you go. Is this standard due to the low speed or is there an adjustment that can be made?

Thanks in advance,

 

[mpdive]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

I have a Chaparral 1830 open bow runabout with a mercruiser V6 and Alpha One outdrive. When moving at slow speeds the boat will not stay straight. I have to make constant adjustments and the boat zig-zags as you go. Is this standard due to the low speed or is there an adjustment that can be made?

Thanks in advance,

At that slow of a speed, there is always a loss of control. It is the reason you see the "over correcting" as people aim towards a trailer upon loading. Loss of thrust equals loss of control. Weight distribution can also be a culprit. I am assuming handling is not compromised at higher speeds?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

Is this standard due to the low speed or is there an adjustment that can be made?

Thanks in advance,

Howdy,

Yes..... and yes.

ALL boats with the engine in the back (and NO keel) do this to varying degrees.\

You actually have a "keel" but at very slow speeds it's largely ineffective.

Increase your speed slightly and you'll have more steering.

Unless you want to install a longer keel or fin on the bottom, there's nothing you can do except speed up slightly.

Cheers,


Rick

 

[mpdive]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

Howdy,

Yes..... and yes.

ALL boats with the engine in the back (and NO keel) do this to varying degrees.\

You actually have a "keel" but at very slow speeds it's largely ineffective.

Increase your speed slightly and you'll have more steering.

Unless you want to install a longer keel or fin on the bottom, there's nothing you can do except speed up slightly.

Cheers,


Rick

I think you may be onto a new boat design here.............

 

[agallant80]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

Its just the design of a planing hull. You will learn to not over correct and just let the boat wonder a bit.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

The wandering blues........I put my trim all the way up in no wake zones and it seams to help. Note: trim button only..not trailer button

As others have said do not over correct.....little bump to the left than little bump to the right.

You will get the hang of it!

 

[jkust]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

Right so my Chaparral does the same thing. I simply let it wander and it will take you in a small zig zagish line but your course will be maintained. I don't correct really at all.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

I think you may be onto a new boat design here.............

Yeah... Well, the Engineer in me wants to talk about the center of gravity center of pressure, stability and drag. It wouldn't do it much (or at all) if the thrust was applied in the front instead of the back. but the higher speed performance would be all screwed up!

Sailboats don't do it at all, but they have HUGE keels and they don't exceed approx 10 knots and cannot plane.


Everything is a compromise for desired performance!

 

[smassey22180]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

I fixed a lot of my wander by tightening the gimbal ring clamping bolts. These are the 2 bolts at the top of the gimbal ring. Torque them to 55 ft/lbs.

 

[dan t.]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

Completely normal, as has been said, dont over correct, you will get used to it, fix your eyes on a point and try not to think about it, soon it will seem normal.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

low speed wander is common in I/O boats.

on my searay it was exasperated because the hole in the arm for the pin was about .03 over-sized allowing a bit of slop. I made bronze sleeve, reamed the hole to size, bushed the hole, reamed the bushing and re-assembled.

Assuming you dont have anything loose or sloppy, best you can do is add fins or extended keel, or simply learn to relax at low speed

 

[QC]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

Weird no one has mentioned trim tabs Full down with tabs helps a LOT! Trimming up helps as well as someone noted above.

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

Amen QC... That is the ONLY way I can maintain control at low RPMs. Without them I don't think there is much hope for relief here.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: "No Wake" Steering wander

Weird no one has mentioned trim tabs Full down with tabs helps a LOT! Trimming up helps as well as someone noted above.

^^^^^#1^^^^^

Bennett 12x16 Sport Tabs all but eliminated my "V Hull wander". So much nicer traveling at wake speed now.