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Author Topic:   Steering Resistance & Motor Trim

SteviLad posted 06-04-2004 01:44 PM ET (US)
I notice, as I'm getting used to the handling & performance of my Nantucket 190 with a 150 Optimax, that once I'm up on plane there is alot of resistance in the hydraulic steering until I trim the motor up a bit. I never noticed this on my Dauntless 14 with a 50 HP Yamaha. Is this normal? The boat planes quickly....matter of 2 or 3 seconds, & performs great when up on plane. The hull design keeps the boat stable even in chop that I expected would be very uncomfortable. It finally stopped raining here, & yesterday in 78 degrees, sunshine, & calm winds, I had the boat @ WOT with 5 people on board, & the smart gauge showed 44 MPH @ 5500 RPM's & motor trimmed up. have to double check with a GPS sometime. What a great boat.....cruising at 3500 RPM's smart gauges read we were burning 4.5 GPH...not too bad!
newt posted 06-04-2004 04:12 PM ET (US)
Stevi,
I am not familiar with hydraulic steering, but I can say that it is quite normal to have resistance in the steering from the motor torque. You can adjust the angle of the triangular zinc that's mounted on your engine to counter the hard steering. It may take a couple of tries to get the zinc set to the angle that provides neutral steering at your desired trim.
You may not have noticed the steering torque on your previous boat due to the lower horsepower or the zinc tab may have been set at the right angle.
As a sidebar, I am not sure there is one perfect setting for the zinc. On my Montauk I trim farther out when running on the smooth river water, and the zinc tab is set for neutral steering when trimmed out. In ocean chop its often more comfortable to keep the bow down, and that means I am fighting steering torque.
Good luck!
JohnJ80 posted 06-04-2004 07:10 PM ET (US)
I think I know what you are talkikng about. My boat has the motor skeg properly adjusted and I have no feedback steering.
When i get the boat properly trimmed out, the clutch in the NF steering doesn't have to hold because there is no torque against it. That happens when I have the boat and motor properly trimmed for the speed I'm running at.
I haven't looked at why that is and what contributes to the forces, but I would bet it has something to do with having the thrust properly aligned with the boat and having the drag due to the lower unit reduced to the optimum amount.
When i do this, I also notice that the motor seems to run easier. While this is all qualitative, this seems to imply that this is the proper trim position. So, I have been using that as my gauge for proper trim.
J
jstachowiak posted 06-04-2004 10:33 PM ET (US)
There has been much discussion on this and you are right. Trimmed down gets you up on plane quicker, but there is steer resistance, until you trim out. You will also notice an increase in RPM and speed when you trim out.
AQUANUT posted 06-04-2004 11:41 PM ET (US)
well hydralic steering normally functions differently that no-feed back steering helms..and even better than "the rack and pinion steering systems available on many vessels
with the use of hydraulic steering usually there is minimal resistance felt...regardless of attitude of engine [tilt/trim] as compared to no-feed back type systems..
I am wondering if you have a fluid problem..it was properly filled from the helm?

Clark Roberts posted 06-05-2004 08:37 AM ET (US)
I second AQUANAUT's comments! Teleflex Seastar literature remommends rebleeding helm several times if you experience hard steering. This can solve the problem and follow with a reblead of the slave cyl. Just follow the written instructions! Ahhhh, the joy of all that hyd fluid on everything... at least that's me. Happy Whalin'.. Clark... SCN

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Author	Topic: Steering Resistance & Motor Trim
SteviLad	posted 06-04-2004 01:44 PM ET (US) I notice, as I'm getting used to the handling & performance of my Nantucket 190 with a 150 Optimax, that once I'm up on plane there is alot of resistance in the hydraulic steering until I trim the motor up a bit. I never noticed this on my Dauntless 14 with a 50 HP Yamaha. Is this normal? The boat planes quickly....matter of 2 or 3 seconds, & performs great when up on plane. The hull design keeps the boat stable even in chop that I expected would be very uncomfortable. It finally stopped raining here, & yesterday in 78 degrees, sunshine, & calm winds, I had the boat @ WOT with 5 people on board, & the smart gauge showed 44 MPH @ 5500 RPM's & motor trimmed up. have to double check with a GPS sometime. What a great boat.....cruising at 3500 RPM's smart gauges read we were burning 4.5 GPH...not too bad!
newt	posted 06-04-2004 04:12 PM ET (US) Stevi, I am not familiar with hydraulic steering, but I can say that it is quite normal to have resistance in the steering from the motor torque. You can adjust the angle of the triangular zinc that's mounted on your engine to counter the hard steering. It may take a couple of tries to get the zinc set to the angle that provides neutral steering at your desired trim. You may not have noticed the steering torque on your previous boat due to the lower horsepower or the zinc tab may have been set at the right angle. As a sidebar, I am not sure there is one perfect setting for the zinc. On my Montauk I trim farther out when running on the smooth river water, and the zinc tab is set for neutral steering when trimmed out. In ocean chop its often more comfortable to keep the bow down, and that means I am fighting steering torque. Good luck!
JohnJ80	posted 06-04-2004 07:10 PM ET (US) I think I know what you are talkikng about. My boat has the motor skeg properly adjusted and I have no feedback steering. When i get the boat properly trimmed out, the clutch in the NF steering doesn't have to hold because there is no torque against it. That happens when I have the boat and motor properly trimmed for the speed I'm running at. I haven't looked at why that is and what contributes to the forces, but I would bet it has something to do with having the thrust properly aligned with the boat and having the drag due to the lower unit reduced to the optimum amount. When i do this, I also notice that the motor seems to run easier. While this is all qualitative, this seems to imply that this is the proper trim position. So, I have been using that as my gauge for proper trim. J
jstachowiak	posted 06-04-2004 10:33 PM ET (US) There has been much discussion on this and you are right. Trimmed down gets you up on plane quicker, but there is steer resistance, until you trim out. You will also notice an increase in RPM and speed when you trim out.
AQUANUT	posted 06-04-2004 11:41 PM ET (US) well hydralic steering normally functions differently that no-feed back steering helms..and even better than "the rack and pinion steering systems available on many vessels with the use of hydraulic steering usually there is minimal resistance felt...regardless of attitude of engine [tilt/trim] as compared to no-feed back type systems.. I am wondering if you have a fluid problem..it was properly filled from the helm?
Clark Roberts	posted 06-05-2004 08:37 AM ET (US) I second AQUANAUT's comments! Teleflex Seastar literature remommends rebleeding helm several times if you experience hard steering. This can solve the problem and follow with a reblead of the slave cyl. Just follow the written instructions! Ahhhh, the joy of all that hyd fluid on everything... at least that's me. Happy Whalin'.. Clark... SCN