Boat pulls to right

[scott17]

My boat pulls to the right really hard. Almost to the point where it is dangerous if you let go of the steering wheel. I have adjusted the trim tab as far as I can. Any suggestions?

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Boat pulls to right

Are you sure you turned the tab in the correct direction? For a starboard helm (your case), the tab goes to starboard. Adjustments need to be made in small increments (i. e. 2 degrees) and the result tested at WOT.<br /><br />PS: start w/ the tab centered and adjust from there.

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Boat pulls to right

The back of the trim tab should be moved to the right if the boat pulls to the right.... This allows the motor to be forced to the left at high speeds and corrects the problem... It is not a steering fin, rather a torque equalizer (as I like to put it)<br /><br />Make sure you have turned it the right way, don't think of it as a rudder that's not what it's there for... If you still have a problem, I'm at a loss...

 

[sloopy]

Re: Boat pulls to right

it can also be your prop, if your prop spins to the right (right handed) will veer to port becuase of the way the propellor spins. This is why twin screws have there motors spining in oposte directions!

 

[scott17]

Re: Boat pulls to right

Thanks for the help guys. I tried small increments until I adjusted all the way starboard. Didn't seem to make much differance. I'll keep playing with it.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Boat pulls to right

Hey! Scott, lots about trim tabs and props here: http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=014920 <br /><br />Even try a search on 'trim tab' on these forums.

 

[Greg Lawrence]

Re: Boat pulls to right

try sitting in the middle of the boat?

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Boat pulls to right

is your skeg bent?

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Boat pulls to right

You havent mentioned much about your set up so this may or may not help. We are guessing that your skeg is straight and everything is in good shape. When running a high X dimension the tab is out of the water when you are on plane. We then install a torque tab on the skeg (or weld and shape the skeg). <br /><br />Go to www.bobsmachine.com and look under "storage boxes" (of all places!) for his Torque Tamer. Its cheap, it works and its removeable.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[scott17]

Re: Boat pulls to right

Skeg is straight. I will take the boat out again tomorrow, and play with the trim tab again. The info you guys gave me will give me a good start. I'll let you know how I do. Thanks again for all the advise. Great links. I'm learning as I go.

 

[cclemon]

Re: Boat pulls to right

Scott,<br /><br />Do you have hydrofiols on the engine? I think thats what they call them. They help you get on a plane faster. If you do, you might want to try it with them off. If they get warped or the dog chews on them it can cause the problem you are describing.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Boat pulls to right

Scott, there's something about your boat/motor setup you're not telling us. The torque tab always works!

 

[seabass]

Re: Boat pulls to right

A lot of times, (depending on the boat) if the motor is trimed down to far it tends to run to the right.

 

[scott17]

Re: Boat pulls to right

It played around with it this weekend. It's amazing how when you turn it the correct way, it works much better!!!! Boy do I feel dumb. Oh, well, live and learn. Thanks all for the help. You have a good group of people here.

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Boat pulls to right

You're the MAN!!!!

 

[Jumper]

Re: Boat pulls to right

Dhadley,<br />Can you give me a little more info on the Torque Tamer? I went and checked out the website you posted but it didn't really seem to say what exactly it does to counteract hard steering/pulling. Also, how is this installed? On the boat? Or the motor? My boat wants to pull to the right pretty hard and I tried working with the trim tab, but didn't get much response out of it. I've got a 73 Merc 850 on a 17' aluminum, flat bottom Monark bass boat. Could trimming the motor up and down help with counteracting the pull? Also, when I bought the boat, the steering box wasn't hooked up to the console so I just went ahead and "slapped it back on there". Was there something else that needed to be done to make sure it didn't pull to one side?

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Boat pulls to right

The Torque Tamer does the same thing as the tab does on the motor. With high X dimensions the tab under the plate is actually out of the water so we install the tab on the skeg of the motor. They come with pop rivits but I use ss sheet metal screws and grind off the part of the screw that sticks out on the port side. <br /><br />On race boats we build up the starboard side of the skeg with weld and then shape it with a grinder. If your rig needs additional help with the torque, the Tamer is the easiest way to do it.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[Jumper]

Re: Boat pulls to right

Well my boat is no racing boat , but it has the tendency to pull to the right. However, last night after reading some other posts on boats pulling to the right/left, I went to the lake and played with the trim. I was able to find a spot where the boat didn't pull, and if it did, it was very little. The trick being, remembering where that spot was! Thanks for the info!!!!