wandering steering on 270DA

[marks737]

I have a '95 270DA. At low speeds the bow likes to wander back and forth requiring constant steering inputs to correct. Is this a normal single eng. stern drive characteristic or is something out of whack?

 

[AKBASSKING]

Are you on step?

 

[MLauman]

I have the same hull and drive and haven't experienced anything significant without some outside influence (wind, current, etc). You might check for slop in your gimbal bearing or steering cable.

 

[CliffA]

your boat is much larger than mine but this may still help....try lowering your trim tabs all the way when at slow speed....i read this tip when i researched trim tabs and tried it...it made a noticeable improvement on my boat...

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

For a new boater with a single IBOB -YES this is very common. What is happening is that you are unknowingly waiting until the swing is well underway before responding with steering changes - then you are overcorrecting by steering too much. With more experience it will become 2nd nature to provide small steering changes the moment the boat starts to even think about going off track.

If you want to try something similar, just push a shopping cart backwards in the store for a while, especially around some corners or obstacles. Sounds weird, but it will give you some sense of what your boat is doing. Don't knock it till you try it!

I think your boat is fine.

 

[Loneranger]

Usually you do not need to correct for the wondering bow you describe with steering input. At low speed a boat's bow with wonder right to left but usually ends up coming back torwards a midline on its own. A lowered trim tab should help with bow porpoising even at slow speeds.

John

 

[magster65]

Bow steer.
It's very common and yes I agree, use the tabs and have the drive trimmed all the way down... adjust your steering input to predict the natural sway and you will all but eliminate it.

 

[jwws007]

check for side to side play in your outdrive, it can be play in your gimble ring. replaced mine last year

 

[Big Pete]

I was told on another forum that its common for single prop deep v boats , so dont worry your steering wheel will not come off or anything, they tell me you get used to it . OR we can fit a dual prop its all to do with the spin and cavitation or something..

 

[Dave S]

My 260DA does the same thing. Mine has less wander with the outdrive trimmed up. Lowering the tabs helps as well as others have suggested.

Dave

 

[JohnEGraham]

I have the same problem being very bad at first. It was a combination off worn parts and normal Zig zaging. I had the parts repaired the Gimbal bearing and steering cables.
Before Boating I played Golf and I Had the same problem "Hit it to the Left - Right - Left -Right..." We called this Military Golf John G