1990-1993 Weekender 250/270

[Joe Zumpf]

This boat definitely wanders a lot more than my Grady White did, and I'm not sure the actual wetted length is really that much different from a percentage standpoint. That was a single outboard with hydraulic steering, rather than the I/O with power assisted, cable rack and pinion steering. I think that plays quite a bit into the issue, there is just more play. Hull design as well, the sea ray seems to be more designed to ride on top, planing early with a lot of bow rise and pushing water at low speed. The Grady was very different, much less bow rise and it cut through the water better at low speeds. Tradeoff, in a following sea it was a massive handful wanting to bow steer aggressively when you fell off a wave. This boat is fine at speed, but trolling all day can get tiresome, and where we slip there is a 1 mile long no wake zone to get to the lake that you have to pay close attention to try and keep it moving where you want. I'll give tightening everything up a shot and see if that makes a difference, but if not we'll just live with it.

 

[Pirate Lady]

I have the '91 250 with the 7.4 and those performance numbers are pretty close to what I get. She sure likes to go through the fuel though.

Pics! Same boat here. Can’t complain about fuel, I typically run 2800 to 3000 rpm depending on chop. I use mine every weekend and used less than 2 tanks all summer.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Joe,
My wheel is dead slop from 10 to 2, every one of my SeaRay was. I don’t know why it’s so hard to make the steering tight like a car, I can saw back and forth for a large range and outdrive don’t move a bit. Not the age, had new SR with same slop.

 

[techmitch]

Joe,
My wheel is dead slop from 10 to 2, every one of my SeaRay was. I don’t know why it’s so hard to make the steering tight like a car, I can saw back and forth for a large range and outdrive don’t move a bit. Not the age, had new SR with same slop.

How is it when you are on plane and also at WOT.

 

[Pirate Lady]

On plane, it’s tight as her puss. Which is strange. It’s not variable tension steering.
Tight for reference…

 

[Joe Zumpf]

Joe,
My wheel is dead slop from 10 to 2, every one of my SeaRay was. I don’t know why it’s so hard to make the steering tight like a car, I can saw back and forth for a large range and outdrive don’t move a bit. Not the age, had new SR with same slop.

I can tell you mine isn't that bad. Less than 11 to 1.

 

[techmitch]

On plane, it’s tight as her puss. Which is strange. It’s not variable tension steering.
Tight for reference…
View attachment 137808

Correct in that you don't have V.A.P.S. but, if you didn't have any play at slow/no wake speed it would be treacherous at cruise not to mention WOT.

 

[keokie]

All single engine I/O V-bottoms I have owned or helmed had V- bottom wander. The best cure I found is almost all of them would effectively go straight if you got the wheel centered and held it there. They will tack side to side a little, but will self-correct and essentially go in the direction you point it. Working the wheel to counter the wander actually makes it worse... and is tiresome.

Try pointing the wheel where you want it to go and leave it there. It will drift to port and then starboard, but should go ultimately straight. If it wanders more to one side than the other, just a adjust the wheel slightly.

 

[Joe Zumpf]

Figured id make a quick update. Made a couple small changes this year. Changed the prop, and fixed my wandering issue at idle with the addition of an autopilot.

Yesterday we had a full load fishing a local tournament. 100 gallons of fuel, 24 gallons of water, box full of fish and ice, all rods singing in the wind, 3 people, and the bimini deployed. 3500rpms puts me right on 30mph on the GPS, and playing around I saw 39 on the top end before messing with trim too much at 4400 rpm. It's been in the water already for almost 2 months, even with bottom paint I know there's bound to be some slime and growth on the tabs and drive. I had seen 42 the week i put in in the water, half fuel and no growth. So far off to another great season, just need to fix my fresh water pump now as that quit.