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A couple problems for the experts

rhino1653

rhino1653

Member
Questions from my weekend. Hopefully someone can shed some light on the issues I'm having. Any help would be much appreciated.

Question 1.

I can only steer in reverse one way. I turn the wheel hard left and the boat turns great. I turn it hard right and I just go straight back. At idle, with a little gas, always the same. the drive is turned the correct way. I would assume it has something to do with the P factor from the propeller, but can't imagine it is supposed to be that bad. Anyone else have this problem?

Question 2.

The boat leans hard left at low speeds with the drive trimmed most of the way down. As I gain speed and trim up to lift, it levels out. I think I've read about this problem on here before, but couldn't seem to find the thread with a search. I can correct it with the tabs, it's just a pain to deal with. Anyone know anything about this problem and/or a fix?

Please please someone have an answer. Thanks.
 
At low/ med speeds my 24 leans to the left also- all those fat girlfriends are to blame:D

I'm pretty sure its prop rotation that causes it... think about it- the prop rotates right and tries to rotate the boat left as a result. Draggin tabs is the solution, or you could always try a LH rotation prop to see if it helps (you can run the drive in reverse and not hurt anything from what I understand- I've never tried it) I think prop rotation and pitch are to blame for your reverse manuvering dockside... mine turns and backs ok, but the drive needs to be trimmed down most the way, or else it is tough to get it to turn.

Its never bothered me to bad, but the bow lifting 3blade mirage props cause it to lean more than the bravo prop I tried- which doesn't work worth a crap on my boat. I've not tried other 4-blades yet.
 
Kinda what I figured. The lean I can deal with, but the reverse issue I really need to figure out. Even trimmed all the way down, its won't do it. Every once in a while if the wind and wake are perfect, I can make it turn. Makes docking a real pain in the *ss. There has to be a way to counteract it.
 
All boats back up that way the bigger a single I/o is the worse they get. Prop testing on my boat I had a prop that made the boat lean real bad more than other props. The boat would not straighten until on plane at fast speeds.

What prop are you running
 
I'm running a 24P bravo 4 blade. Any fixes or at least Bandaid's for the reverse steering problem that you know of Red?
 
You might experiment with various trim angles on the drive, from trimmed down to trimmed up. No guarantees, but it'd be easy to try out.
 
rhino1653 said:
I'm running a 24P bravo 4 blade. Any fixes or at least Bandaid's for the reverse steering problem that you know of Red?
Click to expand...

The stock bravos are usually very good and best on a Checkmate deep V. I had a bad lean problem with a labbed bravo.

Seat time is the only cure on reverse and keep everybody in the boat very still. A Checkmate seems to wobble on top of the water when backing up. Its sucks but it is what it is. I always backed mine up countless times at bars on the Lake every trip. Just when I thought I got good at it the boat always seem to show me its going to do what it wants to.

A good reminder for you when you think you want a faster engine that means a bigger prop, which means it will back up faster and make it twice as hard.
 
P-factor is correct that is what causes that. That is an aeronautical term sounds like you may be a pilot. Get used to it. Plan for it. When I go to dock, I steer toward the dock at about a 45deg angle, then reverse and cut the wheel to where the outdrive is pulling the back of the boat toward the dock. With just a little seat time, you will find what works best for you. Figure that you may have to crab in reverse, just a quirk of the boat. I think it has alot to do with a light nose and a heavy stern. Makes the nose want to swing around with the stern the center of the circle. Like the others have said, correct lean with tabs.
 
Not a pilot. Actually a Jet Mechanic. Done quite a bit of Prop work in my day. Guess it's just something I'll have to get used to. I appreciate all the info.
 
Thanks to all for this thread. I've only had the 270 Conv. out one weekend but can sure relate with what is posted here. I was really surprised by how much someone moving a foot on the rear bench made with the boat lean.

I had someone tell me that the reverse/steer situation can be helped by having the tabs down, but haven't had a chance to try that yet.

I have some more ideas to try next time out.
 
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