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Posts: 135
Location: Irvine, KY | Ive fished all my life but am fairly new to the boating scene... looking for some help.
I recently purchased a used 18 foot tracker with a 90 horse merc. when I get my speed up and trim it out the boat wants to run to the right... I assume this is somewhat normal because of the direction the prop is turning. However, when I compensate for this and steer to the left the boat rides unlevel, with the left side down towards the water.
I know there is a small "fin" above the prop for correcting this so I dont have to correct the problem with the steering wheel - thus fixing my problem. The question is, which direction do I need to point the fin? its currently pointed slightly to the left (\) It seems to me that this is the whole reason the boat is running to the right.
Do I point it straight ahead? more to the left (\) or back to the right (/)? Or do I need to do something completely different?
Just trying to save myself some time. Thanks.
Edited by Muskiecut 4/22/2009 10:20 PM
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| More left. |
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Posts: 49
Location: St. Croix River, Mille Lacs, | ...more left |
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Posts: 181
Location: Valparaiso, Indiana | more left
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Posts: 232
Location: Sun Prairie, WI | Ok, I'll bite Why more left?? |
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Posts: 232
Location: Sun Prairie, WI | I'm serious, why more left, it would seem you would have to go to the right? |
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| If you were driving a tiller, which way would you move the handle if you wanted to turn right? Same difference. |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
As you had stated the boat turns easy to the right, so to equalize the "torque" created by the prop, moving the torque tab to the left will help to offset that tendency. It basically helps direct the water off the back end of the fin more to the left so that turning one direction or the other is fairly close to being equal.
When you adjust the tab, it is definitely a trial and error situation, but it shouldn't take too much to get things to equalize. Not too hard to do on the water so long as you have a dock or platform to use to make your adjustments.
Not sure if moving the tab will help take care of the boat lean...that may be more to the load in the boat, although if the motor was not mounted properly (tilted to one side or the other) that could have an effect too. To offset this, you may find a gear move is all it takes. Sometimes it takes moving a battery, etc as well.
good luck with things...nice little project
Steve
Steve
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Posts: 202
Location: Rhinelander | I have the same problem and asked my friend who runs a rig shop at a large marina. He said absolutely, it should help the lean by turning the trim tab. Here is another tip he gave, although it doesn't sound pretty, but it works. If the boat is aluminum you can go on the opposite side and hit the hull with a hammer to make a small indent in the hull. He said this makes a cup in the hull and creates more drag and leveling out the boat! |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | hodaghawg - 4/25/2009 7:25 AM
He said this makes a cup in the hull and creates more drag and leveling out the boat!
It would also cause more drag, pulling the nose of the boat down, and causing you to lose speed and fuel efficiency.
That's not something I would do unless you had a severe case of boat lean due to some problem you couldn't change (maybe a very large driver on the console side). I would move the little tap slightly. That should fix the problem. If not, try to shift weight in the boat by moving batteries and gear.
I always do permanent changes as a LAST RESORT, especially when dealing with expensive stuff like boats.
curleytail
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Posts: 202
Location: Rhinelander | I agree, just thought it was interesting that he mentioned it as a way to fix the problem |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Given that as an option, I would peen the trailing edge of the hull on the same side where the lean is...Will essentially do the same thing without hurting the efficiency of the boat. If the Boat is riveted, you can adjust quite a bit along that trailing edge if you have a hammer and a decent sized masonry chisel.
I had to have mine "tweaked" by the manufacturer using this process to deal with a porpoise. They "wedged" my hull right at the back edge to bring the bow down just a touch so it wouldn't porpoise.
Lots of things you can do with aluminum.
Steve |
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