Boat pulling to the left

[hartloff]

I have a 16 ft tri-hull with a 40 hp Force outboard. When I am on plane my boat seems to want to go strait. However, when I throttle down and the front drops it wants to pull to the left relatively hard. I am wandering if adjusting the trim tab on the motor has any effect on this type of pulling. I believe that the trim is to counter the torque of the motor. This boat is new to me and handle a lot different than my last boat. I am wondering if this is characteristic of the tri hull?

I am also having trouble with the steering being very stiff. I have lubed the bar at the end of the cable. Is there a way to lube the cable (special tool)?

 

[81_chapparel194]

Re: Boat pulling to the left

first let me welcome you to iboats. you have found a great hang out. i have never had a tri hull but i wouldnt think it is normal. secondly the steering cable i can offer some insight on, the grease on the inner cable hardens over time. its natural of grease. but also dont over look the fact that if your cable goes thru your tilt tube on the engine that could be your problem also, that tube can get dirty and corroded for the lack of grease. i would try disconnecting the engine end of the cable from the engine. usually one nut then remove the tie rod. see if engine turns freely. should be able to turn the engine with one finger. if it moves freely then the problem isnt too bad. next look at your tilt tube/steering ram and see if its clean or greasy. if plenty of new(er) grease then most likely the cable needs replacing. but dont rule out your helm either, especially if its a rotary helm. if the cable turns out to be the culprit keep in mind the teleflex rotary steering kit conplete with new helm isnt much more than the cable alone and then you will have a new complete steering system.

now for the pulling, could possibily be from the stiff steering issue, or not. the trim tab on the lower unit *can* fix this issue sometimes. although i dont remember which way to adjust. i want to say if its pulling left you turn the tab to the right. but could be opposite. hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in. hope this help some.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Boat pulling to the left

Lubed the bar??? Once bought a relatively new boat with the same steering problem. Yes, it could be the cables are in need of replacement but before getting that far I lubed the bar and filled the zerks with little positive result. My mechanic has a tool he allowed me to borrow for a couple hours. This is simply a rod with ridhes at the end the same size as the tube the rod moves through. If it passes easily the problem is somewhere else, possibly the cables. I removed the motor in order to have the required room and found the tool did not slide through-- old grease had dried and built up. New grease was simply pushed out. I ran the reamer in a 1/2" drill and could not believe the hard material, NO metal, that came out. Put it all back together and greased the zerks-- problem solved.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Boat pulling to the left

now for the pulling, could possibily be from the stiff steering issue, or not. the trim tab on the lower unit *can* fix this issue sometimes. although i dont remember which way to adjust. i want to say if its pulling left you turn the tab to the right. but could be opposite. hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in. hope this help some.

Correct, standing in back of the motor you want to turn the fin to the left if the boat is pulling to the right and to the right if the boat is pulling to the left. Does the boat just pull to the left when you initially slow down and the bow drops back into the water or is it happening after the bow settles back into the water and you are going at slow speeds?

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Boat pulling to the left

Correct, standing in back of the motor you want to turn the fin to the left if the boat is pulling to the right and to the right if the boat is pulling to the left. Does the boat just pull to the left when you initially slow down and the bow drops back into the water or is it happening after the bow settles back into the water and you are going at slow speeds?

Ahhhh, that's just the opposite what should be done. If it pulls to the left, move the tab to the left (/). That will put more water pressure on the tab moving the motor back to the right.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Boat pulling to the left

maybe a pics worth a thousand words.

 

[hartloff]

Re: Boat pulling to the left

I will try the suggestion made. Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Boat pulling to the left

Ahhhh, that's just the opposite what should be done. If it pulls to the left, move the tab to the left (/). That will put more water pressure on the tab moving the motor back to the right.

Your right got my "standing in front of and in back of" backwards.:facepalm: Dyslexia is a *****!:lol:

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Boat pulling to the left

Your right got my "standing in front of and in back of" backwards.:facepalm: Dyslexia is a *****!:lol:

What were we talking about again????????? :lol:

 

[tazrig]

Re: Boat pulling to the left

What were we talking about again????????? :lol:

Tab rotation adjustment on the outboard. Post #4

 

[brnschoneck]

Re: Boat pulling to the left

ahhhh, that's just the opposite what should be done. If it pulls to the left, move the tab to the left (/). That will put more water pressure on the tab moving the motor back to the right.

hmmm really i did it opposite way and it wrked on mine ???idk but i thought i read somewhere else it is opposite of the way its pulliong ?????

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Boat pulling to the left

It is a Trim Tab, Not A little rudder!

If the Boat pulls Left AT SPEED; Moving the Tab to the Left. (Mini Left Rudder) pushes the the entire Drive to the Right.
The Drive going Right (Right Rudder) is what corrects the boat going Left.
Left Trim produces Right Rudder.

The OPs issue may be the Tab is holding Right Rudder to hold the boat straight.
Boats prefer to go Left because the Prop acts little like a sideway paddle boat walking the Stern Right, Bow left.
As the boat slows down the Tab looses effectiveness and Left rudder takes over.
I assume the helm is Manual steering and NOT Power Steering and NOT No-Feedback.

When it pulls left does the Helm Wheel turn left?
If you have someone hold the wheel, can the Drive be manually pushed Left and Right? Excessive Steering Play?

 

[SDSeville]

Re: Boat pulling to the left

hmmm really i did it opposite way and it wrked on mine ???idk but i thought i read somewhere else it is opposite of the way its pulliong ?????

I turned mine to the right because the boat was pulling to the left a little. It did not work. I am now anxious to try the other way and see if it works.