Steering my 20i onto the trailer

[Utemachine]

I just bought and 04 switch I after owning stern drives my whole life. My Four Winns was a piece of cake to guide onto the trailer while my Tige seems to be all over the place. I figured a direct drive would be even easier than a stern drive. It seems as though you have to keep it under power to get it to go straight. Am I doing something wrong? What's the trick?

[dingleberry]

Spend time out in the middle of the lake to practice. While direct drives are very manueverable, they are much different than stern drives.

You have virtually no steering capability forward unless you are providing some forward thrust (similar to a jet drive in that respect). Most of your steering response comes from the prop wash pushing across the rudder. Take away the prop wash, by being in neutral, and your steering is virtually gone. So you need to apply just a little bit of foward power in order to turn.

Also, when in reverse you do not have the prop wash forced across the rudder. So, due to prop rotation, it will always want to reverse to the right (unless you really get moving quickly in reverse, then you can get a tiny bit of directional steering...but not much).

Practice, practice, practice and you will get it. One good piece of advice for docking or trailering - never approach anything faster than you would be willing to hit it. Keep it slow, think ahead to address any wind or current, and make adjustments in small increments.

[dom w. forte]

I just bought and 04 switch I after owning stern drives my whole life. My Four Winns was a piece of cake to guide onto the trailer while my Tige seems to be all over the place. I figured a direct drive would be even easier than a stern drive. It seems as though you have to keep it under power to get it to go straight. Am I doing something wrong? What's the trick?

I keep the fenders of my trailer just above the water and idle in gear all the way onto the trailer, reach over the front hook it to winch power it in and shut it off, I have the same year and model bought it new in 04 have 1000hrs, still going strong.

[Joeprunc]

I was use to my parents Four Winns too till I got my own old ski boat. I've learned to get a longer running start to make sure your going straight, and throwing it in and out of gear to keep it straight and slow. Once I get past the trailer guides, I shut her off, and winch the boat on from there. I've seen a few boats tear up their prop trying to throttle onto their trailer (drifting to a side and catching a bunk).

[Duncan]

I was use to my parents Four Winns too till I got my own old ski boat. I've learned to get a longer running start to make sure your going straight, and throwing it in and out of gear to keep it straight and slow. Once I get past the trailer guides, I shut her off, and winch the boat on from there. I've seen a few boats tear up their prop trying to throttle onto their trailer (drifting to a side and catching a bunk).

Agreed re longer staright away and in and out of gear.

But I cannot winch up (have snapped a strap trying). Perhaps the ramps I have used are shallower. The one good thing about having to power up is that you are usually by necessity on the bunks which prevents sliding around too much. That said, I have to keep my wheel hard port to counteract the prop rotation effect. Otherwise the bow goes right of the front roller.

[gcalkins]

Similiar, but different.

Long, straight approach. You can not hurt anything if you are going SLOW. Approach from downwind or downcurrent if applicable.

Set the trailer a little high in the water so that the bow of the boat settles into the bunks maybe near the trailer wheels. Settle the boat on center and with the boat in idle, back the trailer slowly under the boat. Stop about 1 or 2 feet from the bow, shut everything down and winch up the boat.

[jwanck11]

I keep the trailer fenders just under the water, unlike the majority of posters I come in with some speed and power the boat on the trailer. I have found that having speed helps me control the boat, but I tend to do a lot of boating in rivers where current makes it difficult to come straight on. It's all about practice, practice, practice, and keeping control of nerves!

It makes me nervous just thinking about you trailering your boat!

I boat on a river too but thankfully the current is not that strong.

[Utemachine]

Thanks guys. I was expecting to direct drive to manuever much better than a stern as you have a rudder. This is all great advice, thanks for the input!