I have a 1988 imperial 2200xl. 22' with a 225e and VP 275a outdrive. I just rebuilt the outdrive (alot of help from capt mellow and tommywalton), with bushings, pivot tube seals, needle bearing, nylon washers, suspension fork bushings, water connector tube and hose, all new bellows and I have removed the whale tail. I have run the boat twice since. Everything runs great. Cooling issues were resolved. There is no slop in the outdrive anymore but I still have steering and handling issues. I have done a bunch of research on prop torque and understand the concept and realize that is probably something I am going to have to correct with tabs. I also have a pulling issue on the steering system. I have played with the exhaust outlet and have eliminated the pulling. However if I have the outlet at 0 or 12oclock I have the pull but no list. The pull is port so I adjust the exhaust to port and I get the pull out of it at the desired cruising rpm but the list is to starboard is there. The pull will only come out at certain rpm's though. Is there a way to not have it pull at all? It also tracks different at this adjustment and boat feels like once I go into a turn it wants to take the turn quicker than I turn the wheel. It wants to pull the outdrive hard on the turns I guess is what I am trying to say. Also if I am going straight and I go through a moderate (2'-3') chop going different directions (from wind and cross wakes) it feels unstable as the boat goes through this. Almost like the back wants to skip sideways. I have dealt with nauticus and bought their mobstertabs because of the severe transom angling on the back of this boat. They have been nothing but exceptional in helping me but I can only mount them in close to the middle of the transom to get them to work and the angles from the tab to the actuator is a different compound angle and it is awfully close to being to being a bad mount. I want to do this right the first time and if I got ahead of myself and bought the nauticus and can't use them then so be it. I believe I need the tabs at the far edge of the transom to look for the stability, help with chine walking, and better overall handling of the boat that I am looking for. I have included some pics of the hull to show irregularities in it. Don't pay attention to the mobster positioning in a few of them as I was experimenting and know that the actuators have to be mounted 90 deg or greater angle. Any help and suggestions is much appreciated.
