Boat wont steer straight??? |
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kman
Senior Member Joined: May-30-2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 161 |
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Posted: June-27-2008 at 12:35pm |
'76 Southwind 20'. My 13 yr. old pointed out the other day that when we were attempting to go straight, it looked like the boat was pointing to the right. He was corret. Regardless of speed, when I try to go straight, I have to overcompensate and steer left some and the boat is pointed about 10 degrees to the right. So I am essentially pushing through the water sideways. Can a boat be out of alignment like a car? What's up????
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Kirk
1976 Southwind 20 Eagle Mountain Lake Fort Worth |
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79nautique
Grand Poobah Joined: January-27-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7872 |
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does it have tracking fins? if so then they are bent or not aligned with the rudder.
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Kirk, What you are seeing may be normal from prop torque. It's the same thing that pulls the stern of a RH boat to port when reversed.
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BuffaloBFN
Grand Poobah Joined: June-24-2007 Location: Gainesville,GA Status: Offline Points: 6094 |
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Or maybe a bent strut? See if the prop is right in front of your rudder or if it's to one side.
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bkhallpass
Grand Poobah Joined: March-29-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4723 |
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Is the boat actually turning in an arc, or is there just a load on the rudder. Many inboards, and particularly the competition slalom boats are set up with a load on the rudder so there is actually constant pressure on the rudder. You can go straight, but if you let go of the wheel, the boat will instantly turn one way or the other. This can be fixed as well if one desires neutral steering. BKH
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Livin' the Dream
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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I feel what Kirk is describing is the boat is "crabbing". The same thing you do with a plane when landing in a cross wind. The bow is pointed to starboard when the hull is going in a straight line towards port.
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kman
Senior Member Joined: May-30-2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 161 |
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I feel what Kirk is describing is the boat is "crabbing".
This is definitely what it feels like. I will check everything that was mentioned above. Thanks |
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Kirk
1976 Southwind 20 Eagle Mountain Lake Fort Worth |
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79nautique
Grand Poobah Joined: January-27-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7872 |
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I hope it's not as it came offsite from the factory. |
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behindpropeller
Platinum Member Joined: July-31-2006 Status: Offline Points: 1810 |
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You need to use more rudder peddles then.
Does it have fins? Are they bent? Tim |
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