2012 Evinrude Etec 250 constantly turning to the right

zman.joe

Recruit
Joined
Dec 10, 2023
Messages
2
This particular motor has no "trim tab". It has the p'plate" to pick up water to cool the prop gearing. Awhile back I noticed the skag slightly bent to the left so I used a rubber mallet and straightened it out. Recently took the boat out and had to constantly slow roll the steering wheel to the left to go straight. Is there a factory "curvature" to the skag?
 

QBhoy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 10, 2016
Messages
8,342
does the engine look straight, rather than taking a measure of what the steering is doing ? is the outboard offset mounted, as it should be ? Does she have power steering that perhaps needs bled ? There will be a natural tendency for a RH prop to force things to starboard. Very noticeable with cable steering, but the power steering should be able to keep her from the prop throwing the actual engine angle starboard.
I am sure you will also be aware that often, this sort of thing can be evident when you have the wind influencing things too. So if you have a wind blowing on your port side for example, to keep the boat in a straight line you will naturally find yourself steering to port to keep the boat running straight, but can mean that you experience a heel to port too. This is especially a behaviour noticed when running on plane at cruising speed, with very little hull in the water to counter the affect the wind can have on a boat with a fairly high air draft. The affect is lessened somewhat with more pace and/or a little trimming out on the engine (if applicable)
 

zman.joe

Recruit
Joined
Dec 10, 2023
Messages
2
I have had the boat for 2 years, never a problem. Less then 6 months ago I had the hydraulic steering seals redone on cylinder and it was bled. It only started after I took the ever so slight bend out of the skag. Reacts as it should going to the right but takes a millisecond do go left. However going straight in no wind and I have to constantly slowly turn wheel to the left to go straight. In one blog someone indicated that there is a slight curvature in this motors skag but I can't find any spec or mention of this. Could it be my steering head (column pump) is starting to falter?
 

QBhoy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 10, 2016
Messages
8,342
I have had the boat for 2 years, never a problem. Less then 6 months ago I had the hydraulic steering seals redone on cylinder and it was bled. It only started after I took the ever so slight bend out of the skag. Reacts as it should going to the right but takes a millisecond do go left. However going straight in no wind and I have to constantly slowly turn wheel to the left to go straight. In one blog someone indicated that there is a slight curvature in this motors skag but I can't find any spec or mention of this. Could it be my steering head (column pump) is starting to falter?
If you are continually having to turn the steering to port to go straight...as opposed to just a set amount of steering and held there to go straight, then that would sound like a power steering issue to me.
 
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