boat pulls to starboard

[skeeter91]

i have had this problem ever since i got my boat.a 1991 skeeter 175,18.5ft long.running a modded 150gt johnny,25p raker prop,a 5in jack plate set at 3.5 in below the pad.the boat wants to go right all the time,at any speed.i have checked the level and how square the lower is to the pad and it is right on the money.the boat does have dual cable steering,which i plan on upgrading to hyd. this winter.the boat will probably run upwards of 70mph but at 65,it feels like it is going to pull the wheel out of my hand.can anybody give me any advice on what might be causing this and how i could fix it?

[frederick55]

It's called torque feedback and is corrected with a torque tab.

[skeeter91]

i have already adjusted the tab as much as possible,and then some.my torque tab has been modified to get a little more adjustment,but it hasnt helped much.

[STV_Keith]

Depending on the steering you have now, some of the cable setups have a tension knob to add tension to the cables. This makes it harder to steer/turn, but alleviates some of the torque as the tension knob takes up some of the duty of holding the wheel in one place.

The feedback will go away when you go to hydraulic steering.

[vnemous]

I dont think they are talking about the anode tab on the bottom of the cavitation plate. They are talking about a tab added to the skeg to counter act the torque of the prop.

[skeeter91]

i was hoping that hyd. steering would help curb this problem.in the meantime,if i add a tab to the skeg,will it affect the top end speed much?based on what i have seen,these tabs also require drilling holes in my skeg,yes or no?

[vnemous]

you may go faster as the lower unit will run straight instead of trying to turn. There is lots of info on here about torque tabs. You can buy one and rivet it on, weld it on or build your own out of epoxy. Up to you.

[gm250]

Do you lose speed putting one on if its to big

[vnemous]

Do you lose speed putting one on if its to big

I would think you lose more speed with the drive running through the water on an angle than the little angle and thickness of the tab JMO

[skeeter91]

thanks guys,this helps alot,looks like i have another winter project,i think i will add a nose cone with a low water p.u. while i am at!

[mistah_max]

you'll need to lift your motor up alot if you want to run a coned lower. what speeds are you running now? a coned lower will actually slow you down if you dont need it. I'd add a tab and lift the engine untill it starts loosing water pressure. after that you'll get a better idea if you need a nose cone or not with that engine/hull combo.

[skeeter91]

i have since been told this mod is really only a benefit for surfacing props,which is not what i need.i am curious as to how having just a streamlined,or "sharp" nose cone would affect performance and why.

[staylor]

If you need a lot of positive trim for best top speed- then dragging a coned lower thru the water at the high trim angle will reduce your top end several mph. Boats running 80+ that do not need a lot of trim to achieve best speed can benefit from a cone in that it reduces the chances of prop blow out at very high speeds- and adds some stern lift. If you're running 65-70 with a typical amount of bass boat trim to carry the bow, then you don't want a cone. As others have posted- your steering torque at top end can only be reduced by either changing your trim angle- which may cost you speed, or by adding a skeg mounted trim tab to counter the torque and eliminate the motor crabbing to one side at speed. I run skeg torque tabs on all my boats and have never lost any top end- and frequently end up picking up a mph or so from the motor now running straight.
Doug

[skeeter91]

thanks doug, that makes perfect sense.i am in the process of getting a tab for my skeg now,i just need to make sure i put it on the correct way for a standard rotation outboard.

[staylor]

Skeeter-The tab goes on the starboard side of the skeg as far down on the skeg as you can. It may need to be cut down in height with a hack saw if it gives you too much torque compensation. Thus, it's best to install with only a few of the rivets- or run small screws and nuts thru the holes just for a test. Put your existing cav plate tab back to center. Run the boat for awhile and see how you like it. In most cases of boats in your size and power range you end up cutting about an inch off the tab for optimum steering. To avoid the "oops, too much" issue, I usually buy 2 tabs!
Doug

[skeeter91]

thanks doug,can you recommend a source and type of tab?

[staylor]

Lately I've been buying from Bob's Machine Shop- the rivet on tabs are found at their web site under engine performance items. Price is $15. each, called a Torque Tamer. Just search for "Bob's Machine Shop" on-line.
Doug

[skeeter91]

thanks for the advice and info doug!will order today.will update my results soon~