Low speed handling.

[R&T Babich]

chpthril - I'll bet when turning to the right the steering cable is being pulled thru the casing and when turning left it is being pushed. We have no ballast in our boat and I can't tell any difference either direction. More weight, more force, more friction, but maybe your cable is getting old.

[chpthril]

I've noticed on our's, that when loaded down with peeps/ballast, the wheel is easy to turn to the right but harder (more resistance) to turn to the left.

I spent 10 yrs in I/O's and have been re-learning to drive an inboard over the past 18 months and I'm still fine tuning my skills.

Hang in there, take your time.

[R&T Babich]

Hi, Sam - we know the feeling. We got our 21V last Oct. and it sure drives different that a sterndrive. Each trip out it gets better. The best tip we got from this forum is the hard-left when a skier drops. Turn the wheel hard-left just before pulling back the throttle and the wake is a lot more manageable. Our 6th trip out was the longest and not a single wave over the bow. Our steering is also 3 turns lock-to-lock. Backing up is still a pain. The only time it goes left is when it's coasting with the rudder hard over, but it's not useful around the dock. When I'm circling around someone in the water at idle it seems to turn sharper when I start the turn then put it in neutral and let the back end spin around. Not a huge improvement, but it seems to be a tighter circle. This all takes practice. We love our new boat and wouldn't go back.

[spharis]

I have 3 full turns lock to lock as well.

The handling is the nature of the beast. The pivot point of the boat is actually the tracking fins on the hull center. The prop wash hitting the rudder is what causes the hull to turn. In reverse, the prop wash goes the other way. The only turning in reverse will come from the water travel over the rudder, which is very minimal. The reason you turn better to the right in reverse is Newton's third law. Every action has equal reaction. The prop rotation (and the trans torque) to one side causes the boat to pivot the opposite direction. This is very similar to hovering a helicopter, and having to hold left or right pedal (depending on the manufacturer).

One more thing to consider is that some designs of the steering offset the rudder to the right (very minimal) so there is resistance on the steering while traveling straight. This makes it easier to steer in a straight line. This may be why it feels a little sharper turning right. I know my steering is offset ~ 1" from center.

[samw]

I am new to the whole inboard boat scene. I have found it a little difficult adjusting to not having much control at very low speeds. Does anyone have any suggestions?

FYI-01-21V limited
I also have a question. when I back off my trailer I am not able to get it to back to the left. I know the torque will pull it more to the right but I think I should be able to back to the left a little. Can any explain why this is?

Also how many turns do you have from left to right from center. I thought I read some where it should be something like 4 turns? Mine is like 1.5 turns to left or or right from center. I can also turn sharper to the right then I can to the left. Could that be some of my trouble and how would I correct that? I just replaced the steering cable. I have the rudder in the center when my steering wheel is the center position.

Thanks again,

Sam