HARD pull to the right

[jslade11]

I've been doing alot of research on the site and there seems to be several opinions on this subject. I just want to bounce my situation off some of the experts.

I have a 2003 22v and it's pulling pretty hard to the right especially at higher speeds. I feel like it's more than the prop wash, but I could be wrong. It's to the point where it's a little dangerous especially when somebody with not much experience is driving. When looking at the boat from behind, the center of my prop is offset to the right of the rudder about an inch. Is that normal? Also, is there any way (I don't want to grind on the rudder) to adjust your prop shaft so your rudder is less exposed to the prop torque? Or could this be a steering cable issue? These are a few of my thoughts/concerns.

If you have any additional questions, I'll do my best to answer them. Thanks for the help.

[zad0030]

I've been doing alot of research on the site and there seems to be several opinions on this subject. I just want to bounce my situation off some of the experts.

I have a 2003 22v and it's pulling pretty hard to the right especially at higher speeds. I feel like it's more than the prop wash, but I could be wrong. It's to the point where it's a little dangerous especially when somebody with not much experience is driving. When looking at the boat from behind, the center of my prop is offset to the right of the rudder about an inch. Is that normal? Also, is there any way (I don't want to grind on the rudder) to adjust your prop shaft so your rudder is less exposed to the prop torque? Or could this be a steering cable issue? These are a few of my thoughts/concerns.

If you have any additional questions, I'll do my best to answer them. Thanks for the help.

Grinding the rudder is the only fix I know of.

Yes the offset is normal.

You could change your prop. It might make a difference but thats a costly piece to replace just to try and see if the pull goes away.

Try to tighthen all of the nuts and bolts on the steering cable. Just a thought.

[skyski_tige]

One other thing you can check... Are any of your 3 tracking fins bent?

One of mine was bent somewhat and caused the boat to pull toward the right.

[jslade11]

Zad, are the bolts under the steering wheel and back at the rudder? How many can I expect to tighten?

Skyski, I'll double check my fins this weekend but they didn't appear to be bent when I checked a couple of weeks ago.

[da.bell]

Here is a long shot but is your prop shaft straight or is the alignment off from the V-drive?

p.s. Not trying to be perverted but can be taken that way. Sorry.

[dogbert]

Here is a long shot but is your prop shaft straight or is the alignment off from the V-drive?

p.s. Not trying to be perverted but can be taken that way. Sorry.

I'd look into this. It's definitely not normal on a V-Drive for the rudder and prop shaft to not be aligned.

Do you have any vibration at higher speeds? If so, it could be that your strut is bent and your prop shaft as well.

[zad0030]

Im Sorry!!

I just reread your post and realized you said the prop was offset to the RIGHT of the rudder.

You need to check your alignment.

[da.bell]

Ya, I have heard that the prop at times can be on the left hand side of the rudder but never the right hand side of the rudder.

[jslade11]

dogbert, I don't have much vibration at any speed. Maybe a little when I'm pulling somebody and I'm getting out of the hole. One thing I noticed, this is maybe what da.bell is referring to, is where the prop shaft comes through the hull (is there a name for this??) the shaft seems to hug the right side (driver side). Can this be adjusted? I brought a picture in and it's attached so you can see.

What's a good way to test alignment? Spray soapy water in the strut and turn the prop to see if it spins freely??

Thanks for the help.

[Tip]

I've got a 2003 22v also and my boat also pulls to the right, at 25 mph you don't want to let go of the wheel! I was told that the boat was rigged this way to keep positive pressure on the wheel to avoid wobble in the wheel which could make it difficult to keep a good straigh track. I don't know if it's true or not but it certainly makes sense so I went with it and it has not bothered me since.

[dogbert]

Sounds like an alignment issue. I'd have the dealer align it or someone who's experienced with performance towboats.

[720!]

pull

IMO, don't waste your time with checking everything. It's a matter of prop rotation and how the water flows across the rudder. The only fix is to grind the left trailing edge of the rudder. Nautiques used to pull left because they used a Ford which is a left hand rotation engine. If you don't know how to do this, take it in to a shop that knows how.

[zad0030]

IMO, don't waste your time with checking everything. It's a matter of prop rotation and how the water flows across the rudder. The only fix is to grind the left trailing edge of the rudder. Nautiques used to pull left because they used a Ford which is a left hand rotation engine. If you don't know how to do this, take it in to a shop that knows how.

Ok genius,

Natiques pull left, right in reverse, because they have a RIGHT hand rotating propeller. All others have Left hand and Nautiques still use right hand rotation.

[chpthril]

IMO, don't waste your time with checking everything. It's a matter of prop rotation and how the water flows across the rudder. The only fix is to grind the left trailing edge of the rudder. Nautiques used to pull left because they used a Ford which is a left hand rotation engine. If you don't know how to do this, take it in to a shop that knows how.

The Ford engine, the GT-40 as CC called it I believe, has the same rotational direction as any other engine. It's the trans and or V-drive that changes the direction.