Steering problems

[fishlipper]

My 18ft aluminum boat has a 90hp Mercury outboard, and it pulls really hard to the right when you are running. If you even let go of the tension on the steering wheel it would just about throw you out of the boat at high speeds. Help.

[Beefcake]

First thing to check is the little zinc tab mounted just behind the propellor on the cavitation plate (triangle shape). It is adjustable, and it makes a huge difference in offsetting torque-steer.

[Boatdog]

Beefcake is right on with his diagnosis.

Adjust the tab the direction the steering wheel is pulling towards. In your case, adjust the trailing edge of the tab towards the starboard (right). Small adjustments and testing each adjustment afterwards is the key.

:cheers:

[MacEFL]

You also may not be trimmed out properly. Do you have hyd trim? If so try trimming nose up until the torque goes away. If manual trim, try a hole or two up.

[timinthegorge]

Good advice from the above posts.... also, when you're cruising about 2 mph, see if the boat is "FLAT"....

If not, shut down the motor, and move things (coolers, anchors, people), until it IS flat when you're running.

Weight distribution is important.... On 30'+ boats, not so important, on 19'- boats, it's Very important.

And if you have hydraulic trim on your big motor, don't hesitate to use it to get on the proper plane, but it won't help with the PULL to one side or the other....

Hope that helps.... :cheers:

[Danno]

Boatdog, I followed your advise after reading FL's request as I was having a similar problem. My steering went from wanting to go to starboard hard if I let loose of the wheel to running straight. Thanks!

I admit that my first take was to adjust it the other way. I figured that the tab was designed to help push the boat the other way. It's not, it's designed to push the motor the other way and that, in turn, pushes the boat the opposite way. That's why it needs to be adjusted towards the direction that the boat wants to turn.