Steering question

[POfisher]

I have a "less than" year old stick steer, 18ft Skiff.

Question.

Is the effort level of the steering handle "adjustable" ? Particularly to the left, which is pulling the handle towards the back of the boat.

turning right with this boat is a breeze in any situation. However, turning left is a almost impossible at W.O.T. (about 35 mph) if you don't have the trim in the sweet spot. You adjust that trim just right, and again.. it's no problem to steer. But it's aweful hard to adjust the trim on take off or anywhere at mid throttle.
Admittedly, I'm not the strongest horse in the barn... but sweet jeeze I have to basically shut off the throttle if I need to correct the steer towards a left turn.

Now, just off idle... it'll steer without any effort. It's only on a heavy torque that makes it practically impossible to pull that handle back to turn left.
I've wondered if it's the torque of the engine that's creating this situation??

I really don't want to take it back to the dealer for a simple adjustment, if there is one as I'm confident I can handle it. Yes, it's still under warranty, but I'd rather not make the trip and leave it for a few days if I don't have to.
I just don't know where to look for that adjustment if it exists.

Teach me oh talented ones!

[papasage]

i had a 50 hp with stick stering ahd the same probablem the trimtab is all the ajustment i know of except a dolphin fin that has trimtabs on it might help . just a thought a prop with less pitch might help .it would be less torque at take off .

[Shellback]

Like Papasage said, you can adjust your trim tab on the lower unit of the motor. You stated that the motor is hard to turn to the left, so I would assume it actually pulls to the right if you let your hand off the stick? If it pulls right, you want to move your tab to the right. Moving the tab to the right, will push the towards a left turn, and should make it easier for your stick handle. Might take you several tries to find the sweet spot.

[POfisher]

Like Papasage said, you can adjust your trim tab on the lower unit of the motor. You stated that the motor is hard to turn to the left, so I would assume it actually pulls to the right if you let your hand off the stick? If it pulls right, you want to move your tab to the right. Moving the tab to the right, will push the towards a left turn, and should make it easier for your stick handle. Might take you several tries to find the sweet spot.

Yes, it'll try to run to the right if you take your hand off the stick.
It's not a hard pull, just a slight tendency to run to the right.
I'll move the tab slightly to the right and take her for a test run.

Thanks guys.

[papasage]

i ran mine all the way and it still pulled some . but i had a 50 hp on it .
my x son inlaw had a 48 hp he put a dolphin on it and a trimtab kit . that helped also

[RAWHIDE]

If it pulls to the right, turn it to the right .

[POfisher]

I understand the concept of the Trim being off and causing a pull either left or right.
This really isn't my issue.

My boat will tend to ever so slightly drift right if ran say 300 yards or better.
It's not even noticable unless you just simply run it without your hand on the stick.

My issue is you simply cannot man handle that turn lever (*pulling it back towards rear of boat) when you have it half to full throttle. Unless of course, you have the trim in that sweet spot....but if you've ever tried to pull off from a stop with your trim up.. you know how that goes... it pretty much doesn't. :-) The boat steers o.k. W.O.T. as long as you have the trim correct. If you have the motor all the way down in the water, when your taking off.... you (nor me or anyone else) would be strong enough to pull it back.
Either the motor has such a strong torque, or something just isn't right.
You can push the steering arm forward and turn right with ease.... no matter the situation. But if you put the throttle to "the floor".... hang it up.... you best not need to turn left... it won't happen unless you throttle down.

I still assume that it has something to do with the torque since turning left is very easy to do at idle... or W.O.T. correctly trimmed out.
Really appreciate the input and ideas, and I'll be adjusting and driving soon.

[papasage]

yes it is torque that is why with 2 big motors one is left rotation and the other is right . that is the reason you can`t git a boat setup with anything bigger than a 40 hp. you can do it yourself .

[SIMPLEMAN]

pofisher, mine does the same thing. i've only got a 16.5 foot boat. i noticed my trim tab last week and someone has really cranked that thing around. preivous owner must have had the same problem.

[gabowman]

Just rambling....but would it be possibe that the motor isnt squared onto the tramsom causing torgue trying to steer it left? Sounds like the motor is crooked opn the back of the boat or the linkage is crooked causing it to bind. Might be worth looking into 'cause I've had friends with 40 hp stick steers with no problems at any speeds. BUT...as I said...just rambling.:o