Wandering Boat

Dannie Zimmerman · 05-18-06, 04:33 PM

This may be normal, but I'll ask any way. I have a 17' Fisher Marsh Hawk
w/90hp Merc. At slow speeds, the bow wanders back and forth causing
you to really work the steering wheel to keep the boat going straight. I
fish in lakes with alot of stumps and very narrow boat lanes. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Dannie

flbassman · 05-18-06, 04:51 PM

Mine does that too, but I got a tiller, so I believe it's just me.

Bender · 05-18-06, 06:42 PM

Mine does that too, it is a "slightly" imroved vee, close to flat bottom. Yours looks like a nice boat with a fairly deep vee.
What condition is the skeg in? I don't know if that would make it inconsistant though, more of a pull. That is as far as my ecperience goes though, the boat guys on here will reveal the answer.

bassintom · 05-18-06, 08:13 PM

is it possible you're steering is loose...maybe you have some play in the steering system.....i changed my steering over to the no-feedback system(not hydraulic) and i can do 60..let go of the wheel,open a gatorade and a sandwich and still be going in a straight line..check your steering.

zooker · 05-18-06, 08:43 PM

also check the lower unit some have a skeg just above the prop i have had mine move.needs to be straight. you may want to invest in a set of hyrdofoils string rays are my personal favorites. they help you pop up on plane at lower speeds. let you run a lower rpm while on plane-helps with gas milage- on tiller moters it almost completely reduces the force nessary it takes to steer..trust me i love both of mine and have them on tiller moters..

zooker

1FASTLASER · 05-19-06, 05:57 AM

You could be dealing with slack in the steering and/or a skeg problem. Check out the steering play and as well the condition of the skeg. Got any of the skeg knocked off. All boats will wander some when off plane. Thats the nature of them. Things you can do are as stated....Take slack outta steering,set the trim tab correctly, make sure you dont have a bent skeg and in the worst scenario change over to a NoFeedback steering system. What system do you have rotary or rack and pinion. If you have a older boat with one of these systems you will still have some wandering no matter how well you correct the above mentioned items.

bassintom · 05-19-06, 09:57 AM

the no-feedback system will fix the wandering problem.that's the only place the problem could be as i see it...it will compensate for and other problems..before i got my NFB system even with the tab adjusted correctly it wandered.so i put a fin on it,didn't do much other than improve my planing.got the NFB system and it's perfect even above 65mph.

bass kicker · 05-19-06, 07:01 PM

i would also say skeg problem or lose steering

hey tom gotta love that no feed back steering

Floridafisherman · 05-20-06, 09:30 PM

my recreational boat does it to

Dannie Zimmerman · 05-23-06, 05:29 PM

I think I found the problem. There is 4-6 inches of play in the steering. I tried
to adjust the cable at the motor end, but there is none. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Dannie

1FASTLASER · 05-24-06, 06:01 AM

Ok bud. Hate to tell ya but you only have 1 choice here. You HAVE to replace to cable. The cable due to being a few years old has stretched. You definatley have a rig that this poses a saftey issue with. They sell the cables independantly or with a new helm. It is very easy to replace the cable and/or the helm. If you need any places to find the correct steering system or how to measure give a holler.

Dannie Zimmerman · 05-24-06, 06:32 AM

Thanks. I was afraid that the cable was the the problem. I'm sure glad I joined this forum. Y'all are alot of help. I guess I will take a day of sick leave
during the week and fix it. Don't want to do it during the weekend and lose any fishin time.

1FASTLASER · 05-24-06, 06:34 AM

No problem buddy. Just let us know if we can be any help with anything. If you have trouble finding a cable lemme know as I have several conatcts via the good ole puter.

bassintom · 05-24-06, 07:02 AM

this place has the lowest prices i can find on steering systems...go with the no-feedback system...you won't regret it
http://www.surplusunlimited.com/

1FASTLASER · 05-24-06, 07:13 AM

Another good place ishttp://www.boatbandit.com/. This is another one that I use as well as surplusunlimited.

05-18-06, 04:33 PM	#1
Dannie Zimmerman BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Leesville, Louisiana Posts: 45	Wandering Boat This may be normal, but I'll ask any way. I have a 17' Fisher Marsh Hawk w/90hp Merc. At slow speeds, the bow wanders back and forth causing you to really work the steering wheel to keep the boat going straight. I fish in lakes with alot of stumps and very narrow boat lanes. Any ideas? Thanks, Dannie

05-18-06, 04:51 PM	#2
flbassman BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Jacksonville Florida Posts: 2,840	Mine does that too, but I got a tiller, so I believe it's just me. __________________ R.I.P. Zooker

05-18-06, 08:13 PM	#4
bassintom BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: washington(northwest) N.J. Posts: 3,958	is it possible you're steering is loose...maybe you have some play in the steering system.....i changed my steering over to the no-feedback system(not hydraulic) and i can do 60..let go of the wheel,open a gatorade and a sandwich and still be going in a straight line..check your steering. __________________ A man's gotta believe in something...I believe I'll go fishing.

05-18-06, 08:43 PM	#5
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	also check the lower unit some have a skeg just above the prop i have had mine move.needs to be straight. you may want to invest in a set of hyrdofoils string rays are my personal favorites. they help you pop up on plane at lower speeds. let you run a lower rpm while on plane-helps with gas milage- on tiller moters it almost completely reduces the force nessary it takes to steer..trust me i love both of mine and have them on tiller moters.. zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

05-19-06, 05:57 AM	#6
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	You could be dealing with slack in the steering and/or a skeg problem. Check out the steering play and as well the condition of the skeg. Got any of the skeg knocked off. All boats will wander some when off plane. Thats the nature of them. Things you can do are as stated....Take slack outta steering,set the trim tab correctly, make sure you dont have a bent skeg and in the worst scenario change over to a NoFeedback steering system. What system do you have rotary or rack and pinion. If you have a older boat with one of these systems you will still have some wandering no matter how well you correct the above mentioned items. __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

05-18-06, 06:42 PM	#3
Bender BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brighton, MI Posts: 2,414	Mine does that too, it is a "slightly" imroved vee, close to flat bottom. Yours looks like a nice boat with a fairly deep vee. What condition is the skeg in? I don't know if that would make it inconsistant though, more of a pull. That is as far as my ecperience goes though, the boat guys on here will reveal the answer.

05-19-06, 09:57 AM	#7
bassintom BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: washington(northwest) N.J. Posts: 3,958	the no-feedback system will fix the wandering problem.that's the only place the problem could be as i see it...it will compensate for and other problems..before i got my NFB system even with the tab adjusted correctly it wandered.so i put a fin on it,didn't do much other than improve my planing.got the NFB system and it's perfect even above 65mph. __________________ A man's gotta believe in something...I believe I'll go fishing.

05-19-06, 07:01 PM	#8
bass kicker BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beamsville,ONTARIO,CANADA Posts: 2,023	i would also say skeg problem or lose steering hey tom gotta love that no feed back steering __________________ Rob Downs St. Catharines BASSMASTERS

05-20-06, 09:30 PM	#9
Floridafisherman BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 89	my recreational boat does it to

05-23-06, 05:29 PM	#10
Dannie Zimmerman BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Leesville, Louisiana Posts: 45	I think I found the problem. There is 4-6 inches of play in the steering. I tried to adjust the cable at the motor end, but there is none. Any suggestions? Thanks, Dannie

05-24-06, 06:01 AM	#11
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	Ok bud. Hate to tell ya but you only have 1 choice here. You HAVE to replace to cable. The cable due to being a few years old has stretched. You definatley have a rig that this poses a saftey issue with. They sell the cables independantly or with a new helm. It is very easy to replace the cable and/or the helm. If you need any places to find the correct steering system or how to measure give a holler. __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

05-24-06, 06:32 AM	#12
Dannie Zimmerman BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Leesville, Louisiana Posts: 45	Thanks. I was afraid that the cable was the the problem. I'm sure glad I joined this forum. Y'all are alot of help. I guess I will take a day of sick leave during the week and fix it. Don't want to do it during the weekend and lose any fishin time.

05-24-06, 06:34 AM	#13
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	No problem buddy. Just let us know if we can be any help with anything. If you have trouble finding a cable lemme know as I have several conatcts via the good ole puter. __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

05-24-06, 07:02 AM	#14
bassintom BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: washington(northwest) N.J. Posts: 3,958	this place has the lowest prices i can find on steering systems...go with the no-feedback system...you won't regret it http://www.surplusunlimited.com/ __________________ A man's gotta believe in something...I believe I'll go fishing.

05-24-06, 07:13 AM	#15
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	Another good place ishttp://www.boatbandit.com/. This is another one that I use as well as surplusunlimited. __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

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