Poor slow speed tracking

[Crafty]

I recently purchased my first "big" boat, well... it's big to me, a 2010 Sea Ray Sport 205.
It's a beautifully finished boat and looks sharp but there's one thing I noticed right away... it doesn't go in a straight line at very slow speeds (under 10mph).
I look like a drunken sailor turning the steering wheel from one side to the other. My wife says I'm overcompensating on the steering so I tried just holding the wheel straight and not turning it... the boat went a bit to the right, came back to the left and then proceeded to do a slow almost 30 degree turn to the right!!!
Is this something that's common with Sea Ray's (or all inboards)???
Anyone have any comments and or solutions.

Thanks

 

[jeepnsam]

Re: Poor slow speed tracking

LOL!! my 180 does the same thing. I hear that it's pretty common
with deep V stern drive boats. Idling through the Lake Havasu Channel is going to suck for me

 

[nlain]

Re: Poor slow speed tracking

That is the nature of a single prop outdrive V hull boat. Smart Tabs will fix that and improve a lot of other things.

 

[rlabair]

Re: Poor slow speed tracking

Any boat with an I/O, single of dual, will encounter this problem at slower speeds.
My kids don't even want to steer the boat at slow speeds because they're afraid of hitting something.

 

[spv22]

Re: Poor slow speed tracking

Def get the smart tabs!!! I put mine on last summer and man what a difference it makes! I used to feel like an idiot at idle all over the place. Plus now it planes faster and dosn't porpoise. You can install them in less than 1hr. Def worth the money

 

[ph98223]

Re: Poor slow speed tracking

i have the same problem and the admiral keeps telling me to keep it straight so i tell her to try and then she finds out it is not so easy. I think i will look into the trim tabs this winter and install them before next season.

 

[jeepnsam]

Re: Poor slow speed tracking

HOW TO: Steer a boat without smart tabs.

Aim at what you DO NOT want to hit. By the time you get there, you'll zag away from it. LOL!!!

This drove the wife nuts while cruising the crowded channels on the Colorado this past weekend. I'll be installing the tabs this winter also.

 

[spv22]

Re: Poor slow speed tracking

Order them now you can literally install them in 20 min. Trust me you will be so glad you did!