Sea Rayder Steering

[ChasMac]

I've read many forums regarding the port side pull on the F-14 Sea Rayder jet boats.....................but has anybody actually determined the cause. Cruising around holding the helm to starboard drives me nuts!! I've aligned the jet nozzle, verified condition and alignment on the zinc steering tab, and generally tightened and inspected all other related hull and steering components. Adding some port side ballast helps but that's not the correct fix.
ANY THOUGHTS ARE WELCOME.

 

[Hogger]

Re: Sea Rayder Steering

Must be all the torque in that 90hp....

Sorry, couldn't help it.
I've got an F-16, but haven't heard of this issue.
You are saying that it pulls to the port side, so you have to hold it starboard to keep straight, but adding port ballast helps? This kinda sounds backward. If it's pulling to port, adding port ballast should make it worse.

 

[ChasMac]

Re: Sea Rayder Steering

The boat pulls to port with only a starboard helmsman. Passengers onboard help the condition. Added ballast on the port helps the condition.
I look back at the thrust from the jet nozzlecoming straight out and I'm in a port turn. Damndest thing I've ever seen...............Holding the helm to starboard I can see the thrust to starboard and I'm going straight.
If I sit in the center seat it runs pretty true.
I actually had two identical F-14's and they both did the same thing but this one is more exaggerated.