Rudder Position

[Familyman]

As part of some service I had done, they had to remove my steering wheel on my 211. Now the wheel needs to be at the 9:00 position in order to go straight. I know I can remove the wheel and put it at 12:00 but noticed that when I do that the rudder is not parallel with the boat (in order for boat to go straight, the ruddder is not).

I hadn't noitced this before. Is this normal due to the prop rotation or is something out of alignment?

[AuMDLST]

RE: Rudder Position

prop rotation

[NCH2oSki]

RE: Rudder Position

You should be able to align the steering wheel closer then that. Take it back and let your dealer know they need to do a water test and some fine tuning. It sholdnt cost you a thing.

[DanielC]

RE: Rudder Position

Because of the angle the prop shaft has to the direction of travel, the starboard side of the prop provides more thrust than the port side of the propeller, on a right hand rotating propeller. The greater thrust is what makes a Nautique back to the port side of the boat.
The rudder is not exactly straight when your boat is going straight ahead. The rudder is turned slightly to the starboard side to counteract the greater thrust generated on the starboard side of the boat.
You normally do not notice this, because the boat is test driven, and the steering wheel is indexed to the boat going straight, even if the rudder is not actually straight down the centerline of the boat.
The position of "straight" will change at different speeds, or different loads. If you index the steering wheel straight at slalom, or barefoot speeds, the wheel will be crooked at slow wakeboard, or pulling a 70 pound girl on a swivel ski.
I would think moving the hydrogate will also cause a slight change in steering wheel position to make the boat go straight. Most people do not really notice if they are driving truly straight, and do not notice slight changes in steering wheel position.