Advice on boat steering

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Rock Lopster

Member
I recently bought a boat with 2 30hp yamaha motors. Boat is a Kentkraft with a V hull.Took it out for a test and boat handles fine but as soon as u start to turn while on the plane she turns fine to a point then the stern digs in an the boat leans over and keeps going more or less straight no matter how u turn the steering. By that time u panic and slow down. Then she corrects and drives perfect. Theres no initial pull on the steering. So bad the back of the boat gets swamped.Kind of hard to explain. Its rather frightening. Think its why the previous guy must have sold the boat. I dont think its a adjustment on the torque skeg because theres no pull on the stearing. My thoughts are that the motors are a bit high and when the boat turns the planeing skeg of one of the motors comes out of the water and cant ger back down because of the force of the water threw under the boat. As its a big job to drop the motors im keen to hear some other options b4 I do something that might not fix the problem.
 
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Psy

Sealiner
:shock: ((wideeye))((wideeye))


1.motors could be offset (incorrectly spaced apart)
2. or water in the Hull


:walk
 
F

Foxhat

Senior Member
I skipper hamilton jet drives, I'd like you to try something as I can see 3 drainholes in your transom and I don't think it's water in the hull.

When you turn to port on the plane, power off a little on your port engine or alternatively speed up on your starboard and vise versa.

Your boat being a mono has the motor installation close to center and you might be cavitating on the outer motor.

Play around by planing on one motor only and see if you can simulate the fault.

Get to know your turning ability by exercising crossovers with your throttle controls from a slow speed to achieve a tighter arc and so on.

If you turning because you have a wave on the bow and you need to run, it's much quicker to tighten your arc by expertly controlling your boat by throttle, than to try turning at full throttle on both motors.
 
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Rock Lopster

Member
Hi thanks for the advice guys. If the weather allows ill go play a bit tomorrow. I checked the hull but no water so dont think thats a problem. I dropped the motors about 20mm just to see if it changes anything. Glad i did because i decided to service the push pull steering while the motors were loose and it had the wrong grease to start off with and was in a bad way once i got it apart. Anyways hope weather gives me a gap so i can test and let u guys know. Ill deffinately give the throttle thing a try as well. I recon knowing what your boat is capable of doing when turning will always be a plus one day when u need that quick turn to save your bacon.
 
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willem wikkel spies

Moderator
ok I searched the boat you have.

please see the following link:
http://boats.brick7.co.za/Kent+Boat

what is the recommended hp as I see the boat is not that big.
weight distribution etc amount of horses on the back could be evil twins.

too much power can also land you in trouble.

but please do the tests as asked and report back.
 
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Rock Lopster

Member
I checked the link out. My boat is not the same. But it is stamped with the Kent craft logo in the main console. Anyways like i said i dropped the motors.The plaining skeg or plate should i say is about 30mm below the bottom of the boat. I cant go any lower without cutting the transom which im defiantly not going to do. Anyway took her out for a test today. Gail force SE winds. Typical Port Elizabeth weather. Only boat out on the Swartkops river. As rough as iv seen that river and the boat handled it beautifully. Faster on the plain and comfortable ride. Big difference those 30mm make. At top speed she still inclined to lie a lil to one side but i did the control thing u sergested by just slowing the side that it was rolling from and shed correct and then shed be fine. Did quite a few sharp turns using that technique as well and she came threw with flying colors. Id still like to fit hydro foils as well i think it could only improve what already is a big improvement.
 
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Rock Lopster

Member
Anyways launching the boat today a guy comes up to me and askes where i got the boat from. Totaly random. Anyways long story short this guy knew the guy who braught the boat from up Durban area with this problem and he said he told this guy that the motors should be dropped. Anyway turns out this guy sold the boat to the guy that i baught it from who only had it just short of 6 months. Now the guy i baught it from swears high and low that he didnt have a problem and went out regularly with the boat. Somehow i think someone isnt telling the truth. Just funny how small the world is. Just glad the problem is managable and i can enjoy my fishing again. Thanks for the feedback guys. Ill load a pic of the boat when i can. Hopefully it will help someone with the same problem down the line.
 
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willem wikkel spies

Moderator
bly jy kom reg.
nou weer jou problem gelees "die aanvanklike een"

going straight even though steering input was given.

my groot worries is net die swamping ding.
yip, learn to manage the power input when you might have too much.

why do you want to fit plaining fins?
how long does it take to get onto the plane.

although your boat does not look like those in the link, is it not possible that it was modified to a centre console?
 
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Rock Lopster

Member
This is my boat. Planeing fins i think would help her be more stable getting up to speed because she still lies a little over just till shes at speed then shes fine
 

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willem wikkel spies

Moderator
YIP, she seems to be very short and small.
I think weight distribution need to be properly managed.

like you said, until she is up to speed all is well.
 
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pork pie

Member
I had a boat that did exactly that. The hull was "hooked" from being removed from the mould too soon. There was a pronounced upward curve along the chine lines when viewed from underneath. LETHAL!!!! It nearly threw me off afew times.
 
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