I recently bought a 1995 Tracker Pro V 17, with a 1995 25 horsepower Tracker (Mercury) tiller steer. This boat pulls to the right, hard enough to tire me out after running for 15 minutes. It pulls right at idle and at full throttle. The boat is a bare bones lightweight V bottom. 6 gallons of fuel are centered in the back, a lightweight starting battery (20 lb) is also back there as well as a spare gallon of fuel. I'm 215 pounds. Boat will run 20+ mph, power is not an issue. It has a trolling motor with a group 27 deep cycle battery centered in the bow. Battery is probably 60 pounds.
Things I have done:
1. Researched the manual - this motor does not appear to have any method to tighten the steering (cinch clamp). When sitting and not running, the motor will turn right or left depending on which way you move around in the boat. In other word, it is very free. I can't let go of it without the boat turning hard to starboard.
2. Purchased a new trim tab and adjusted it as far as it will go in either direction. Adjusting the motor trim tab has very little effect.
3.. Adjusted the trim angle - it is a manual adjustment. The trim makes a difference, but it still pulls to starboard both at idle and at speed.
4. Centered the motor on the transom and moved it both left and right. It does not like being off center on the transom, but it still pulls right.
5. This is a very lightweight boat, and I discovered if I sit on the left side of the boat, the steering is almost neutral. I normally sit on the right side of the boat for ease of operating the tiller steer.
Based on (4), I am trying to figure out my next steps -- the trolling motor battery is centered in the bow. There is no real alternative place for it, but I plan to experiment with it by temporarily moving it around. If it makes a difference, I can make a permanent box for it.
Has anyone else had an experience like this? Can adding trim tabs help a steering issue like this? I need to solve this problem - it is making an otherwise nice boat very unpleasant to use.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Things I have done:
1. Researched the manual - this motor does not appear to have any method to tighten the steering (cinch clamp). When sitting and not running, the motor will turn right or left depending on which way you move around in the boat. In other word, it is very free. I can't let go of it without the boat turning hard to starboard.
2. Purchased a new trim tab and adjusted it as far as it will go in either direction. Adjusting the motor trim tab has very little effect.
3.. Adjusted the trim angle - it is a manual adjustment. The trim makes a difference, but it still pulls to starboard both at idle and at speed.
4. Centered the motor on the transom and moved it both left and right. It does not like being off center on the transom, but it still pulls right.
5. This is a very lightweight boat, and I discovered if I sit on the left side of the boat, the steering is almost neutral. I normally sit on the right side of the boat for ease of operating the tiller steer.
Based on (4), I am trying to figure out my next steps -- the trolling motor battery is centered in the bow. There is no real alternative place for it, but I plan to experiment with it by temporarily moving it around. If it makes a difference, I can make a permanent box for it.
Has anyone else had an experience like this? Can adding trim tabs help a steering issue like this? I need to solve this problem - it is making an otherwise nice boat very unpleasant to use.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Last edited:
