skibum
Well-Known Member
This is interesting. My boat has always been a royal PIA to steer at slow speeds the entire time I've owned her. From what I've read, it is perfectly normal.
I just finished overhauling my transom assembly. New bellows, senders, swivel shaft, shift cable, etc.. While my mechanic and I were working on it, I mentioned that I forgot to order the rear anchor pin, which is the large bar that the trim cylinders connect to. Mine was bent. Probably due to the marina hitting the skeg on the ground when lowering my boat onto the rack. The racks are low, so I usually put my drive up a couple of degrees to prevent contact with the ground. Sometimes, I forget. He walks over to his truck and comes back with a brand new one, which we installed.
I took my boat out yesterday. While at the fuel dock, I saw Sandy's Beach go by followed by xravenx. (I had to catch up with my buddy or I'd have come looking for you guys, John). When I got to the no wake zone, I was thrilled to find that my boat now rides at 6 MPH with minimal wandering. I rode for quite a while in the no wake zone. It was the most pleasant, relaxing, slow cruise experience that I've ever had. I am shocked. I did not expect that issue to go away. No more working the wheel like a mad man to go in a straight line. :smt038
The only reason that wanted to replace that pin was that I could see the drive kick a little to the left as it came up when I had someone operate it while it was on the rack. I thought that maybe it contributed to the left lean as I came up on plane (which also seems to have been reduced by a good bit). I assume that this was a case of off-center thrust.
So... If your boat wanders significantly, pull that pin out and roll it on a flat surface. If it's bent, replace it. It can be found online for about $35.
I just finished overhauling my transom assembly. New bellows, senders, swivel shaft, shift cable, etc.. While my mechanic and I were working on it, I mentioned that I forgot to order the rear anchor pin, which is the large bar that the trim cylinders connect to. Mine was bent. Probably due to the marina hitting the skeg on the ground when lowering my boat onto the rack. The racks are low, so I usually put my drive up a couple of degrees to prevent contact with the ground. Sometimes, I forget. He walks over to his truck and comes back with a brand new one, which we installed.
I took my boat out yesterday. While at the fuel dock, I saw Sandy's Beach go by followed by xravenx. (I had to catch up with my buddy or I'd have come looking for you guys, John). When I got to the no wake zone, I was thrilled to find that my boat now rides at 6 MPH with minimal wandering. I rode for quite a while in the no wake zone. It was the most pleasant, relaxing, slow cruise experience that I've ever had. I am shocked. I did not expect that issue to go away. No more working the wheel like a mad man to go in a straight line. :smt038
The only reason that wanted to replace that pin was that I could see the drive kick a little to the left as it came up when I had someone operate it while it was on the rack. I thought that maybe it contributed to the left lean as I came up on plane (which also seems to have been reduced by a good bit). I assume that this was a case of off-center thrust.
So... If your boat wanders significantly, pull that pin out and roll it on a flat surface. If it's bent, replace it. It can be found online for about $35.
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