steering control

[divedigger]

I have a 1962 starcraft that was orginally a cabin crusier. I wanted more of a fishing boat with high sides for the deep mountian lakes in my area and when the kids were small, they could run around inside with a life jacket of course and not worry about gettint to close to the edge and falling overboard. I took the cabin top off and more or less made what looks like the stripper or muskie boats from the north. I built a deck up front and put pedstals for side by side fishing or just a single in the center then made a console and mounted in the center for plenty of room. Later I made a heavy dive ladder and mounted on the port side to make entry and exit for scuba diving. We have plenty of room for a couple of divers and tanks and the ladies lay in the sun topside. I built the boat out of necessity and lack of money, but she has done well for about 15yrs now. Now to get to the point, under full power steering response is great, but when coming in to the dock or more so loading on the drive-on trailer at slow speed, the steering response time is the worst I have ever dealt with on several boats I have had. When lining up to load you get going straight then may need a little correction to hit the trailer dead on but the boat does not react quick enough and most times you reverse and start over. It is a 18ft with a shallow draft semi-v bottom and I have even considered somthing midway on the keel like on the big ski boats thinking it may respond quicker. I have had a 70hp all the way up to the 115hp now, it has always steered the same at idle speeds. Most boats you do not even have a steering control issue but this is my first. I know the bottom is fairly flat but I have had jon boats with up to a 70hp with no problem. Does anybody else have or notice this at slow speed or have any ideas or thoughts on what to do? Most anybody that can drive a car can drive a boat on a trailer easy, but this thing is a hand full, always has! Sorry for being long winded but looking for a solution. Thanks Divedigger

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: steering control

I HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE 22 FT HOLIDAY I HAVE WITH THE 200 JOHNSON, LOADING. ESP IN THE RIVER ( SKAGIT IN WASH. STATE) I HAD TO PUT SIDE BOARDS ON THE TRAILER WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF YOU 115 OUTBOARD IS IT THE SAME AS THE. Ops sorry about the caps. The other motor was it the same length shaft and do you load on a Bunk or a Roller??? Makes a big difference for drive on loading.

 

[divedigger]

Re: steering control

I had her on a couple a different trailers and yes a river loading is whole nother storey! If you were to set uip a slomum course to weave in and out at slow speed, any other boat could make it through a 25ft course easy, I probably coulld not make it through 50 or 60 ft. I have always had the skag plate even with the bottom of the boat just like all the rest. The steering kinda reminds me of a jet ski, wide open turn on a dime with 6 cents worth ah change, but slow to a idle and it is like a hog on ice! It always get alot of looks when around the water, dont know if they are laughin or curious, but the payments are just right and anything thats 48 yrs and still floats says a lot about Starcraft.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: steering control

Possibly a lot of water under the floor??? Does the wheel turn hard? You say skag even with boat bottom level, do you mean the (cavitation plate?) The cavitation plate has to be even with the bottom of the boat or it will not steer worth a hoot. Reading again you mention a lot of heavy things in and on the boat. At higher speeds less of the boat is in the water and should steer more easly however at slow speed you have to move the whole boat. As I asked , water under the floor or figure out about how much weight you have there . That could be the problem.

 

[divedigger]

Re: steering control

No water but I will check some other things that you mentioned! Thanks for the help!

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: steering control

Short shaft or long shaft ? Good luck a 18 inch motor on a 21 inch boat would be a hard to steer setup.