Steering/Rudder Questions. HELP!

[Z3CO23]

Today I had my RZR on the water for the fist time since purchase and could not get the goofy side surf wave to clean up at all. After playing with it a few times I discovered that while going straight my steering wheel was in a left position. When I turned the steering wheel to what most would consider a "straight" position, the boat would turn right and the wave would clean up nicely but I could not drive the boat straight. I was literally in a full right turn to clean the wave up.

I took the boat off the water and checked the rudder and steering position. I put the steering wheel in a straight position and the rudder is exactly straight. I put the steering wheel to the left and right and the rudder turned exactly as it should.

I put the boat back on the water and under power on the water the same thing happened. When going straight wheel is in a left position.... 9 oclock postion or so, and the boat drives straightish...... i'm assuming rudder position is slightly left. When I tried to clean up the goofy wave again, I turned the wheel to a "straight" position and the boat turns hard right like before.

I'm assuming that while going straight my rudder is in a slightly left position under power and this is what is causing this. I have read the threads on the forums about adjusting the steering under the steering column but wont this cause my steering at cruising speeds to off If I adjust it for slower speeds.

New boat owner and very confused. Any help would be great!

[boardman74]

The goofy side is harder to clean up because of the prop torque. That is what side the prop turns to and hence throws the wash that way. Your steering wheel doesn't have a "straight" in terms of speaking. As long as the rudder turns roughly the same right as it does left it's adjusted right. What speed are you running? How was your boat weighted and where were your passengers at? What was your TAPS setting? Goofy side is for sure harder to set up.

But if your steering is free and turns evenly side to side there is nothing wrong with it just because the steering wheel isn't straight. Keep in mind to go straight the steering wheel would have to be the same whether you are riding on the right side or the left. I doubt there is anything wrong with your steering and its just a set up issue. Unless there is something bent damaged underneath, but if all looks ok then its fine. But again if there was damage it would be damaged when you were utilizing the regular side to surf also.

[Z3CO23]

Thanks for the reply. I set up the regular side first and it was perfect, had no problems. The pocket was nice an clean and hardly any wash at all. Went through taps 1 to 6 and speeds from 10.0 to 10.6 and all were great. I have the surf system and had the front full and the port rear full (all 600 pounds). It was just me driving and my wife in the boat.

I emptied the port side totally and then filled the starboard side. I did the same thing as the port side.... taps 1 to 6 and speeds from 9.8 all the way to 11. I could not get anything to clean it up. If I turned the wheel right it would take away the prop wash and clean up the face but I had to have the boat in almost a full right turn for it to clean up... driving straight was pure prop wash. I tried putting 25% in port tank and that didn't help either. Just me and my wife in the boat as well. I was very frustrated.

I inspected everything... from rudder to shaft to prop, everything looks good.

I was left scratching my head.

[boardman74]

The wake will always change as you turn the boat. Steering and the rudder aren't your issue. Sounds like its in your set up. My son rides goofy and the wave just isn't as nice as regular and I don't think it's gonna be. Here is the set up we use on our 13 RZR without the VX. I run the front full both sides. Rear starboard full(tank+I have 400's total 650) taps usually on 5 for goofy and any passengers on the surf side. Also what is your water depth. Anything shallower than 10-12 feet makes the wave do weird things and crushes the size.

If you run light all the time like we do(usually 1-2 adults is it) you might want a 400 or 550 on the rear seat on the surf side. The RZR needs a little more weight than just the stock ballast, so if you don't have it in people you need it in ballast. Goofy is never going to clean up as nice as regular, but you should be able to get the face clear, maybe just not as long.

[mdamon]

The goofy wave on the RZR will not clean up, I struggled with it a lot last year until I made a surf flap like several others have done and my goofy wave is now amazing. Under 50 bucks and a little time the flap makes a huge difference. I'm still on the fence if I will upgrade to the VX, I'm trying to find one to test out before I spend the money, but my current wave is really great.

My stearing wheel is never straight either, it all depends on speed weight and I'm sure several other factors.

[Z3CO23]

I have heard about the surf flap. What supplies do I need to buy and how hard is the install?

[barry1me]

http://youtu.be/ObhJln1RMHs

This is my RZR goofy wake. The driver was turning a bit away from the surf side which hurts the wake as well. It will clean up a bit better if I fill opposite surf side hard tank also.

[Duncan]

I have heard about the surf flap. What supplies do I need to buy and how hard is the install?

Here is one example of a wave flap install. How you mount it will depend on your swim platform brackets. Our 2009 brackets just happened to have super convenient cut outs.

[Ewok]

The reason the steering wheel does not appear to be straight when you drive ballasted for surfing is because to drive the boat straight you are fighting 3 things.

1. The P-Factor due to the rotation of the prop

2. The torque effect of the rotation of the prop

2. The listing of the boat makes the boat want to turn in the direction of the list.

Some other boat manufacturers offset the rudder and some add a small trim tab to the rudder to help counter the P-factor and torque, the listing of the boat and coutner acting the turning tendency is how a surf wave is created behind the boat. The listing of the boat is causing the boat to yaw in the side of the weight. counter acting that yaw with the rudder is what causes a nice surf wave behind the boat. The Surf Gate and NSS also cause a yaw to the boat which must be corrected for with the rudder in order to produce a clean surf wave.

[mdamon]

http://youtu.be/O6c-_gn83PE

Here is a video of my RZR with the surf flap on the Goofy side. You can see part of the flap past the swim platform, I just installed FAE and moved the flap back for room, so now it sticks out some. Prior to the surf flap my wave looked pretty close to the one in the video posted from barry1me.

I used a piece of aluminum u-channel to attache the flap, you should be able to figure it out from the picture but let me know if you have any questions.

[Z3CO23]

http://youtu.be/O6c-_gn83PE

Here is a video of my RZR with the surf flap on the Goofy side. You can see part of the flap past the swim platform, I just installed FAE and moved the flap back for room, so now it sticks out some. Prior to the surf flap my wave looked pretty close to the one in the video posted from barry1me.

I used a piece of aluminum u-channel to attache the flap, you should be able to figure it out from the picture but let me know if you have any questions.

Awesome! This looks like it would work perfect. Just one question. What material did you use for the flap?

[mdamon]

Its a stall mat used for horses or cows to stand on. I got it at farm and fleet for $40.00

[Z3CO23]

Its a stall mat used for horses or cows to stand on. I got it at farm and fleet for $40.00

Thanks. My RZR is a 2011 and it looks like the brackets to my swim platform are different. I have 3 holes in my brackets which are pretty large in size. Did you just drill you own holes in the brackets where you needed them?

[mdamon]

I just drilled my own holes and then when I installed the FAE I moved it back and drilled some more. I also like the way Duncan did it and it looks like he used the holes all ready in the brackets.

[NHarp1]

Wow! I am impressed how it cleaned up the wake. I think it looks amazing. Looks like a winter project. I will need to look for some of this material. Is there a web site for the rubber and sheet metal or stainless?