steering issue?

[Doug W]

I've noticed that at times, my boat doesn't steer well to starboard but always turns sharply to port. It was bad enough on one tack that I had to jibe instead of turn starboard into the wind. Usually, I only noticed it under power not under sail. I cannot find anything binding. Has anyone else with a newer notice this?

[Catigale]

Everyone seems to be leaning left these days..

(sorry, but if you are going to slow pitch, Im going to have to take a swing...)

Seriously - at low speed the rudders have almost no effect - a little bit of asmmetry in the engine steering will be pronounced. At closer to hull speed of 6 kts, this difference will be less noticeable.

[bigbirdcdl]

You did not say if the motor does not turn as far or if it is just the handling of the boat. It may be prop wash. Check the direction of the props rotation.

[restless]

You know the little trim anode that sits just above the prop.. I've been told that this can be quite crucial in balancing the thrust of the engine. The only way to find out is to rotate it a bit and try it. If it is bang out of alignment it can put alot of back pressure on the steering gear.
Hope that thought helps

[vizwhiz]

The tire on that side might be a little low...

[seahouse]

What restless said... sounds like your trim tab needs adjusting. Be aware that this adjustment is also sensitive to speed, so do your comparisons at the same speed or you might be adjusting forever. Put datum marks on it (if there is not a scale on it already) so you can tell how much you change it each time. It MIGHT need adjusting in the direction opposite to what you think, depending on the acuity of your intuitive powers.
- Brian.

[Doug W]

While under way, I couldn't see anything binding. This evening, I crawled into the back of the rear berth and found that the bundle of cables from pedestal to engine hangs down and the steering bars catch on it. Whew!

Thanks for your inputs!

Doug