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Author Topic:   Boat pulls to starboard

Brianswhaler posted 10-14-2014 04:28 PM ET (US)
Quick question, my boat pulls to starboard too much IMHO my engine is a 1999 mercury 115 2stroke. Is there any way to correct for this? I am new to boating. My boat is a 1983 montauk. Thank you. Brian
Dick E posted 10-14-2014 04:46 PM ET (US)
Commonly called the cavitation plate, correctly it's the anti-ventilation plate on your outboard.
To adjust the trim tab, loosen the securing bolts, and move the trim tab in the direction the boat pulls. If the boat pulls to starboard, move the trailing edge of the trim tab to starboard. Make small adjustments and test the results.
Jeff posted 10-14-2014 05:25 PM ET (US)
I am going to say it is not the trim tab (fin) on your anti-ventalation plate that is causing the problem.
If you are new to boating, I am betting you were not taught on proper trimming of the hull while up on plane…Thus, I imagine you are running with the motor trimmed all the way down, or too far in causing the steering wheel to want to pull.

Follow this and I am going to bet it is going to remedy your problem. How to trim a running hull:
When you are at idle / no wake speeds trim the motor all the way down until it stops.
Throttle up and put the hull up on plane at a moderate cruise.
Once up on plane and running, trim the motor up (bringing up the bow). The steering should stop pulling and will begin to feel light. Adjust until the pulling has completely dissipated.
You will need to adjust the trim and and running angle of the hull depending on changing speeds and sea conditions. But in general, on flat water, the greater the speed the more you will want to trim the motor up.
kwik_wurk posted 10-14-2014 08:27 PM ET (US)
When trimming the engine up, you should notice a slight increase in speed and associated slight increase in engine RPM. As well as the helm/steering getting lighter. -- If you look at where the spray is exiting under the hull, as you trim up it should move a several inches aft.
Trimming up lifts the bow, and too much trim/lift causes the bow to bounce (porpoising), extreme trimming causes the prop to both cavitate and suck air (not desired, slow and noisy). Conversely trimming down too much causes the bow to dig and often leads to the hard helm you describe.
The trick is properly trimming the engine relative to how rough the water is, how much weight (fuel, gear, persons) is on the boat, how fast you want to go, and of course the comfort level. (It just takes some practice and time on the boat.)
(Also the 115hp is a bigger engine for the boat, considering the boat is rated for 100hp.)
jimh posted 10-14-2014 09:33 PM ET (US)
See your owner's manual:
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/manual9-17/operations. html#trim
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/manual9-17/operations. html#trimTab
Brianswhaler posted 10-15-2014 12:29 AM ET (US)
Thank you for the replays. Good info here I never thought that my motor would be trimmed wrong and cause (heavy steering) I will experiment with it when it comes out of winter storage! Sad day eh!
Dave Sutton posted 10-15-2014 08:01 PM ET (US)
If you have mechanical steering, the steering system will produice feedback into your hands. Trim until the wheel takes the same force to turn left from center as it does to turn right from center. This does not work with hydraulic steering but with teleflex cable steering it worls great.

Dave
.

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Author	Topic: Boat pulls to starboard
Brianswhaler	posted 10-14-2014 04:28 PM ET (US) Quick question, my boat pulls to starboard too much IMHO my engine is a 1999 mercury 115 2stroke. Is there any way to correct for this? I am new to boating. My boat is a 1983 montauk. Thank you. Brian
Dick E	posted 10-14-2014 04:46 PM ET (US) Commonly called the cavitation plate, correctly it's the anti-ventilation plate on your outboard. To adjust the trim tab, loosen the securing bolts, and move the trim tab in the direction the boat pulls. If the boat pulls to starboard, move the trailing edge of the trim tab to starboard. Make small adjustments and test the results.
Jeff	posted 10-14-2014 05:25 PM ET (US) I am going to say it is not the trim tab (fin) on your anti-ventalation plate that is causing the problem. If you are new to boating, I am betting you were not taught on proper trimming of the hull while up on plane…Thus, I imagine you are running with the motor trimmed all the way down, or too far in causing the steering wheel to want to pull. Follow this and I am going to bet it is going to remedy your problem. How to trim a running hull: When you are at idle / no wake speeds trim the motor all the way down until it stops. Throttle up and put the hull up on plane at a moderate cruise. Once up on plane and running, trim the motor up (bringing up the bow). The steering should stop pulling and will begin to feel light. Adjust until the pulling has completely dissipated. You will need to adjust the trim and and running angle of the hull depending on changing speeds and sea conditions. But in general, on flat water, the greater the speed the more you will want to trim the motor up.
kwik_wurk	posted 10-14-2014 08:27 PM ET (US) When trimming the engine up, you should notice a slight increase in speed and associated slight increase in engine RPM. As well as the helm/steering getting lighter. -- If you look at where the spray is exiting under the hull, as you trim up it should move a several inches aft. Trimming up lifts the bow, and too much trim/lift causes the bow to bounce (porpoising), extreme trimming causes the prop to both cavitate and suck air (not desired, slow and noisy). Conversely trimming down too much causes the bow to dig and often leads to the hard helm you describe. The trick is properly trimming the engine relative to how rough the water is, how much weight (fuel, gear, persons) is on the boat, how fast you want to go, and of course the comfort level. (It just takes some practice and time on the boat.) (Also the 115hp is a bigger engine for the boat, considering the boat is rated for 100hp.)
jimh	posted 10-14-2014 09:33 PM ET (US) See your owner's manual: http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/manual9-17/operations. html#trim http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/manual9-17/operations. html#trimTab
Brianswhaler	posted 10-15-2014 12:29 AM ET (US) Thank you for the replays. Good info here I never thought that my motor would be trimmed wrong and cause (heavy steering) I will experiment with it when it comes out of winter storage! Sad day eh!
Dave Sutton	posted 10-15-2014 08:01 PM ET (US) If you have mechanical steering, the steering system will produice feedback into your hands. Trim until the wheel takes the same force to turn left from center as it does to turn right from center. This does not work with hydraulic steering but with teleflex cable steering it worls great. Dave .