2020 g23 steering

[Rhodes2nowhere]

I’m new to the g series but have had many SANs in the past. Even with a level boat if I take my hand off the steering it immediately takes a hard right. Is this normal ?

[greggmck]

Many new owners ask this question. Its totally normal and a result of the 17" prop torque.

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[scottb7]

That is not my experience. I think the prop torque is more about the leaning of the boat then the driving straight. The leaning unfortunately is normal for nautique g series.

However, when you let go of the steering wheel it may not go straight but it should NOT take a "hard right". You should check your rudder trim tab. My boat boat used to always run straight and I noticed the rudder trim was strongly adjusted to one side. So as an experiment I centered it back and sure enough it made a big difference so I put it back where the original owner had it, and now it runs pretty straight again.

[Evening Shade]

My GS20 does the same thing. I think scottb7 is correct in that you can adjust the tab on the rudder to reduce this problem. I've never taken the time to do it on my boat because it doesn't really bother me.

[Rhodes2nowhere]

Here was one of the Scenarios, driving along and I reached to grab my kiddo and as soon as my hand left the wheel everyone in the boat when flying to the left bc it turned so hard to the right. This is after I added 250lbs to port.

[mulde35d]

Here was one of the Scenarios, driving along and I reached to grab my kiddo and as soon as my hand left the wheel everyone in the boat when flying to the left bc it turned so hard to the right. This is after I added 250lbs to port.

I have a 2020 G23 and one of the first things I did was adjust the rudder trim tab as far starboard as I could. This coupled with 200 lbs ballast under the port passenger seat and now the boat only slightly turns right when I let go of the steering wheel. But as others have said, due to the torque on the prop it will nearly always turn right to some extent.

[greggmck]

My last 3 G23s had the rudder trim set properly from the factory but of course you should check yours too. If the boat pull VERY hard to the right then something is wrong. But most new owners find the right turning tenancy to be abnormal it is not.

Because the prop torque rolls the boat to the same side as the driver in a G23 it can take about 400 - 500lbs of weight to offset rotational torque (250 lbs from prop rotation + driver weight). This causes pressure on the driver side, increasing drag and inducing a tendency to turn right.

[Gtsum2]

My 2020 slightly pulls right. I assumed it was normal (and sounds like it is)


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[wrut]

2020 G23. 18" prop. 800 lbs of lead with 200 more on the port side. Trim tab adjusted as far as it can go. Still pulls hard right. Been that way since day 1, I have always been told it was normal.

[greggmck]

I did an experiment tonight in my 2020 G23 with the ZZ6. Rudder trim set to max position to neutralize the right turning tendency. Punched in Back to Dock with NCRS Set to 1. Empty ballast, four people on board, three on port side plus 800 lbs of lead as I have illustrated so many times. Throttled up, let the boat plane off (about 16-18 mph). Once the boat was stabilized I let go of the wheel. In 4 seconds the boat went to full right turn with the steering wheel at the stop position. As the turned progressed I reduced the throttle so I would not upset the boat. It would have gone full stop in 3 or fewer seconds had I not managed the throttle.

Is this pulling hard or easy to the right? In any event it is the normal behavior of the boat from the torque created by the 17 x 17 prop plus 2:1 transmission, as well as the asymmetric thrust due the angle of the prop shaft. Keep your hands on the wheel!

[wrut]

I did an experiment tonight in my 2020 G23 with the ZZ6. Rudder trim set to max position to neutralize the right turning tendency. Punched in Back to Dock with NCRS Set to 1. Empty ballast, four people on board, three on port side plus 800 lbs of lead as I have illustrated so many times. Throttled up, let the boat plane off (about 16-18 mph). Once the boat was stabilized I let go of the wheel. In 4 seconds the boat went to full right turn with the steering wheel at the stop position. As the turned progressed I reduced the throttle so I would not upset the boat. It would have gone full stop in 3 or fewer seconds had I not managed the throttle.

Is this pulling hard or easy to the right? In any event it is the normal behavior of the boat from the torque created by the 17 x 17 prop plus 2:1 transmission, as well as the asymmetric thrust due the angle of the prop shaft. Keep your hands on the wheel!

Yup, this is my exact experience. I have always assumed normal due to prop torque and coach everyone who drives the boat to have the hands on the wheel at all times for this very reason. To the original poster, I don't think you have anything odd going on. This is mine and many others experience with how the boat operates.

[Rhodes2nowhere]

Thanks so much guys. I have had many 210 SAN back in the early 2000s and just never experienced the pull like this before. This definitely eases my mind. I will also be adding some weight to the port just to help balance the boat easier

[vision]

There must additional design elements that contribute to this handling characteristic of the G23. I drive a friends 2018 Axis A24 with PCM drive train and 17” prop and you can take your hand off the steering wheel and it will stay perfectly straight, even heavily ballasted.


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[scottb7]

I tested mine again last night. When weighted side to side by adding more weight to port. It ran perfectly straight with no hands. Be reminded this is after adjusting the trim tab on the rudder.

[Rhodes2nowhere]

Which way did you adjust the rudder? I’m guessing port