Just test drove a 94, very bad pull to left.

[MANJA]

I'm looking at buying a 94 Ski Nautique open bow. I went and test drove it on saturday and it has a very pronounced pull to the left, so much so that if you loosen your grip on the wheel it will slip right through our hand and **** near spin out. I have searched and found the reasons for having some pull or load, but this is very bad. My cousin has worked in many ski shows and driven many boats (nautiques, mastercrafts etc)and after discribing it to him he agrees that it is exessive. My brother owns a tige and a friend has a centurion. They all pull a little but not like this Ski Nautique.
When we got back to the dealer I looked the boat over very close as the salesman had no ideas. It looks like the rudder is new as well as the prop shaft and prop. The trailing edge of the rudder looks like it was made (cast) with the driver side cut at a 45* angle, there are no file or grinding marks on it. From what I have read it seams that it should pull to the right (driver side).
Will having the wrong rudder or prop cause these problems. If you let off the throttle it will go straight just fine. The steering cable operates very freely.

I'm wondering if this wasn't repaired with the wrong parts.
Any advice would be appreciated thanks.

[darrel409]

RE: Just test drove a 94, very bad pull to left.

Its probably not parts. All the SN's 90 til the tuned rudder(97?), struts, shafts and props are interchangeable. May just need the rudder grinded.

[Osmosis]

RE: Just test drove a 94, very bad pull to left.

My first thought was the rudder... Needs to be tuned, not sure how you do that, but based on what you are saying, the rudder sounds like it is not aligned properly. IE, one side allows water to flow past it easier than the other causing unbalanced forces, etc., making the rudder turn as soon pressure is released from the steering wheel.

Good Luck!

[skiinxs]

RE: Just test drove a 94, very bad pull to left.

To me what you describe is completely normal, but I like a lot of load on my rudders. With the newer boats you can adjust by moving the adjustable tab. On the older ones you adjust by grinding. When you grind on the right side trailing edge on a Nautique you reduce the load, grind on the left you increase the load. (Think of it like this, the curved top of an airplane wing creates lift, when you curve the trailing edge of a rudder, you create "lift" or pull on the rear of the rudder on the side you grind on. Pull on the rear of the rudder translates into the boat wanting to turn to the same side). Due to the right hand rotation, when set up properly a Nautuque will pull to the left. Left hand rotation boats (MC, Malibu, etc.) will pull to the right when loaded properly. If you are more concerned about not have a load on the rudder than you are about tracking, grind the right rear trailing edge of your rudder. Do it a little at a time until you get it the way you like it.
Dave

[MANJA]

Thanks for the replys. I have only owned jet boats thus far.
I guess my concern is that in searching through this site most people refer to filing only a little bit. This rudder is already at a 45* angle almost all the way acrossed the back, cut towards the drivers side. It seemed an excessive amout from what other people were posting. I wanted to make sure it was angled on the correct side since 2 different posts that I found gave different opinions.
The front skag has a very slight bend in it towards the left side with it being flared out a little, maybe 3/8 of an inch.
I guess my big worry is buying someone elses problems. I dont want to have to spend another grand to fix slopy work.
Another issue is that the rudder has a very small amout of play in the shaft. Is this an adjustment or is there a bushing that needs to be replaced in the rudder box. It was not taking on water through the packing.
My wife really likes this boat and I am looking forward to getting behind it.
Thanks in advance. Darrell

Ok last ? when running this boat up to top speed it would take a long time. It kept gaining rpm and speed very slowly. I thought that it would top out like it just ran out of gear(car). I was wondering if it might have a prop that had to much pitch(bite). What is a standard prop for this boat.

[darrel409]

It should have a strong pull all the way up to max rpm, 4400-4800 depending on motor. What motor is in the boat? What is your top speed and rpm? I believe the stock prop was a 14X16 OJ Legend. ACME props are good replacements 422 4 blade and 470 3 blade... TRBenj has or is about to do some serious prop testing on the same hull. This the one?

[MANJA]

No that is not the boat I was looking at. Don't want to cause that person/seller a problem. The boat that I've been looking at and drove is located at a dealer in Castaic.
As to what speed I was running at I dont know since both speedos were messed up. The tach also didn't seem accurate. thanks, Darrell.

[MANJA]

Allright so I fixed the problem. I bought a 98 air natique instead. drove it today at San Vicente, it ran bitchin. The fuel injected motor just flys. And this boat steers great. Thanks to all for the replys. Can't wait to get back on the water this weekend. Darrell.

[dyoungman1]

I have a 98 SN which I purchased this year. This is the first inboard I have owned and I noticed that my boat turns to the left with no effort at all, but it takes a litlle more effort to turn to the right. I am not complaining I just wondered if that was normal?

Dave

[DanielC]

Most tournament boats are set up with a slight pull. That way you are holding against something to keep the boat straight in a ski course, and you are not going back and forth through the little freeplay that any steering system has.

[darrel409]

98 will have a tunable rudder