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boat pulls to the left

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the4js

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Hi guys I have a 25' Skipjack I just picked up and it pulls hard to the left. When underway it seems hard to turn to the right or its not as responsive as turning to the left. If I let go of the wheel it will turn hard to the left.I tried adjusting the little rudder tab above the prop but it didn't help. Any suggestions?
 
if it pulls to the left then the tab needs to be turned to the left...dont forget you have a pivot point between it and the boat...if it was me i would turn it all the way to the left and see if it over corrects...then i would turn it all the way to the right in case i got my thinking hat on backwards that day...if no change then i would put it back to a little to the left and start looking elsewhere for the problem..it may be that the trim is adjusted wrong...normal operation for a boat is this...if you are trimmed in too far the boat will pull to the right...bring it to your running speed and trim it up...the trim should be adjusted where right below porpoising you should be able to take your hand off the wheel and the boat runs true..at that point you should run true at all speeds..after doing this then the little tab may need adjusting if you still have a pull...but the boat should not end up with what you got if the tab and the trim dont get rid of it...i dont know much about inboards but there are people on here that do...you could have wear or some slop or wear that i am not familiar with.
 
papyson said:
if it pulls to the left then the tab needs to be turned to the left...dont forget you have a pivot point between it and the boat...if it was me i would turn it all the way to the left and see if it over corrects...then i would turn it all the way to the right in case i got my thinking hat on backwards that day...if no change then i would put it back to a little to the left and start looking elsewhere for the problem..it may be that the trim is adjusted wrong...normal operation for a boat is this...if you are trimmed in too far the boat will pull to the right...bring it to your running speed and trim it up...the trim should be adjusted where right below porpoising you should be able to take your hand off the wheel and the boat runs true..at that point you should run true at all speeds..after doing this then the little tab may need adjusting if you still have a pull...but the boat should not end up with what you got if the tab and the trim dont get rid of it...i dont know much about inboards but there are people on here that do...you could have wear or some slop or wear that i am not familiar with.
Click to expand...

This approach gets my vote. If you can make it worse, then you know how to make it better.
 
OK...... with the 280 drive, you need to have a good clean trim fin/torque tab in place.

As the others have said, if the drive tends to turn the boat towards Port, then the trim fin/torque tab also needs to be adjusted towards Port as to counter "prop thrust"!

Keep in mind that your correction will be more effective at one speed, and not at all speeds...... so choose your poison.

Here's what the 280/290 trim fin/torque tab will look like

http://bpi.ebasicpower.com/presto/?ID=408&catname=Trim Fins
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thanks for jumping in Rick and Bondo...i was hoping you would...
we could use a way of flagging someone in particular when you want him to look at a problem...
 
my statement ''at this point you should run true at all speeds'' needs a little clarification... you will run almost true at all speed while on a plane...adjust trim to run true at your running speed....if the boat pulls while you are plowing water you have a choice of trying to trim it out or living with it...i prefer to live with it if the boat comes out of the hole good and holds true once i am up...that way i can fish spot to spot without ever touching the trim..and if you have a boat that wont come out of the hole good while trimmed like that you are probably underpowered...
 
Papyson, The4j's drive is a Volvo Penta 280!
Unless he has the rare 280PT drive, he will not have power trim.


But I agree with you..... adjust the trim fin/torque tab while at planing attitude!
Any steer torque below that attitude shouldn't be an issue!



.
 
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The boat is big. It doesnt jump out of the hole. It has a Panther 350 engine thats getting tired and cruises at 20-23mph. Even at that speed I cant let go of the wheel. I tried to adjust the tab on our last outing but I went the wrong way. In reading I will adjust it towards the way it pulls. The out drive is not the power trim model its up or down. I noticed that the scag on the bottom is flat from dragging the ground or being left down when pulling it out of the water. Its not rounded like some of the others Ive seen. Not sure if that has anything to do with it or not.

Thanks for the help so far guys, this is great info. Im know I will need some help when I do a repower this spring.
 
RicardoMarine said:
That's called "pinging"..... such as "Ping Bondo" or "Pinging Bondo" in your thread title!
Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... Unless ya want Good info, then "ping Ricardo",.... :D ;)

With these Non-trimable Volvos, don't ya have a trim pin, simular to an ole outboard motor,..??

Maybe the4js should be experimentin' with his,..??

'n the prop should also be Swapped, just to see if it's causin' some of the problem,...

I've seen props that induce heavy torque steer before, donno why, but certain 1s most certainly do,...
 
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the4js said:
The boat is big. It doesnt jump out of the hole.
You'll want to install a Duo Prop lower unit!
It will change the characteristics of your boat tremendously!

It has a Panther 350 engine thats getting tired and cruises at 20-23mph.
There is an alternate build that you can do with the SBC....... don't settle for the GM version!

Even at that speed I cant let go of the wheel. I tried to adjust the tab on our last outing but I went the wrong way. In reading I will adjust it towards the way it pulls. The out drive is not the power trim model its up or down. I noticed that the scag on the bottom is flat from dragging the ground or being left down when pulling it out of the water. Its not rounded like some of the others Ive seen. Not sure if that has anything to do with it or not.
With the skeg being worn down, it would explain part of your steer torque that you were feeling!
Click to expand...
 
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