2020 g23 steering

[wrut]

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

"Tunable Rudder The Tunable Rudder* is designed to offer easy steering adjustment. This system uses a composite tuning foil which is located at the upper aft corner of the rudder blade. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to adjust the foil. Loosen the two screws in the relief slots of the tuning foil. If the boat is pulling port (A), rotate the foil to port (B) and tighten screws. If the boat is pulling starboard (C), rotate the foil to starboard (D) and tighten screws. Always remember that movement of the trailing edge of the foil to one side will cause the steering to pull to the opposite side. After each adjustment, test run and adjust again if necessary."

[greggmck]

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.

Perhaps you should mention that you have a 2014 G21 which is a completely different hull than the boat we are discussing?

[greggmck]

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

To offset a right turning tenancy rudder trim should be adjusted to the max starboard position (when viewed from the rear). In this position the foil pushes the rear of the rudder to the port causing the rudder to add a turning force on the boat to the port side, reducing the tendency of the boat to turn to the starboard.

That said, yesterday I did the same experiment again in calm, glassy water. The boat had much less tendency to turn. It took about 6-7 seconds to pull to the right to full stop. I suspect this is because the hull had more friction from the smooth water and that drag required greater force to turn the boat. The first time I did my experiment stated above, the water was slightly choppy with an 6-8 knot headwind so the hull had much more air underneath with less friction. The wind also contributed to the boat wanting to turn more because once the boat turned broadside to the wind it also contributed a force to turn the boat. So the tendency of the steering to pull will be impacted by conditions.

Regarding the Axis driving straight. All shaft driven inboard boats have this tendency to turn to one direction and the larger the prop/pitch the greater the turning force. We use this force every day to dock the boat. A left turning prop wants to turn the boat to the right in forward and to the left when in reverse. When we dock we approach at a 30 degree angle to the dock on our starboard side and use turning force of the prop to pull the stern to the starboard side. When in forward this same turning force cause the stern to pull to the port side inducing a right hand turn. The difference we feel is in part due to the design of the trim tab used to offset the turning force. The rudder tab on the Axis is probably larger or has more range of motion than the one used on the G23 and can completely offset the turning force at speed and/or the steering cable has some mechanical compensation to reduce rudder input. I understand Nautique completely removed rudder input to the steering on the Paragon so perhaps this will also trickle down to the G23. Or at least they should make a rudder foil that is larger with greater range of motion.

[scottb7]

Perhaps you should mention that you have a 2014 G21 which is a completely different hull than the boat we are discussing?

You got me. The thread name is "2020 g23 steering".

Although it would appear you and I have very different definitions of the word "completely". As it relates to the issues discussed in this particular thread I am guessing there are more similarities then differences, and I am pretty sure my data point is germane.

[greggmck]

You are correct. You and I have very different definitions of facts. When a poster asks why his 2020 G23 pulls to the right I don't believe experience in a 2014 G21 answers his question. I do agree however your experience is worth noting. I also think you should have disclosed that you probably have never driven a 2020 G23 and in your 2014 G21 you have a different experience. I think this an important "fact" because consider that in the six years your boat has been around the rudder assembly, steering cable, and steering unit have experienced some corrosion and have developed greater resistance to rudder forces than the system a new 2020 G. Therefore when YOU take your hands off the wheel you have a "completely" different experience.

Also likely is that in the early years Nautique used unique rudder assemblies for G boats compared to the ones used on the direct drive ski boats. Why do I say this? Because I have examined the rudder assembly on my past 4 G23s and they have a rudder trim foil that has been designed for a Right Hand rotating prop (like the ones used on direct drive boats). It's possible that when the G series became popular some supply chain manager at Nautique decided it was cheaper to use the same rudder assembly on all boats. And this change on the newer higher volume Gs could explain a different driving experience. It is also equally likely that the foil has changed over the years. We know Nautique often changes suppliers and parts. Think drive shafts... Of course this is all speculation and I state it as such.

But it is a fact that if you examine the rudder foil on a late model G 23 you will see that the foil will articulate much further to the port than it can to the starboard. This is consistent with a rudder assembly designed for Right Hand prop rotation. But Gs have a Left Hand Rotating prop and require a trim foil that can articulate a significant amount to the starboard side to offset prop torque and asymmetric thrust and the current foil cannot. As a result the new boats do have a right turning tendency.

[Rhodes2nowhere]

Few updates. So the rudder was not all the way to the right but close to it. A friend would just bought a gs22 was pretty shocked when he drove it and noticed that the auto steering was reading 2 bars to the left when we were driving straight. So when I use auto Thrusters I can’t drive straight It always turns left or hard right. Is there a way to reset straight or is this normal as well?

[2019 G21]

Few updates. So the rudder was not all the way to the right but close to it. A friend would just bought a gs22 was pretty shocked when he drove it and noticed that the auto steering was reading 2 bars to the left when we were driving straight. So when I use auto Thrusters I can’t drive straight It always turns left or hard right. Is there a way to reset straight or is this normal as well?

My 2019 G21 with NISA is also two bars to the left when I am driving straight under 4mph. So you cannot drive the boat straight with the NISA set to auto otherwise you are zig zagging back and forth. My dealer was not successful last year at getting the "dead band" set correctly for the steering assist when I took it in last year to have it fixed. I am taking boat back to them next week to let them have another go at fixing it. I only use the NISA in manual mode as in auto it drives me crazy trying to drive the boat straight as you end up all over the place. Its a bummer spending so much money on a cool feature and not have it work correctly. Sure love NISA in manual mode though. NISA is so handy when your boat is weighted and your maneuvering around at really slow speeds. Especially on windy days or in a current.

[Rhodes2nowhere]

Totally agree it’s such a nice feature and have only been able to use it manual mode. Backing up in auto is nearly impossible hahah

[Emry88]

Glad I found this. Just took delivery of new 2020 G23 and the pull to the starboard side was terrible. I adjusted the rudder and it is slightly better but at low speeds without weight it still pulls. I also notice the steering is somewhat harder to turn port side than starboard. The wheel turns 1.5 rotations to make a full turn vs 2.75 turns starboard. Just seems off.

any thoughts on steering?

[Rhodes2nowhere]

Update. With added port weight and the auto thruster adjustment fixed the boat is better

[2019 G21]

Update. With added port weight and the auto thruster adjustment fixed the boat is better

Do you know what they did to adjust the NISA in auto mode so that it was not 2 bars to port when boat was going straight? I have mine back from dealer but have not got to try it out yet.

[Rhodes2nowhere]

For that the wrong engine selection is chosen in dealer settings or the sensor could be aligned wrong. Is what the tech a Nautique told me to tell them

[2019 G21]

For that the wrong engine selection is chosen in dealer settings or the sensor could be aligned wrong. Is what the tech a Nautique told me to tell them

I got my boat back in the water yesterday and my steering in NISA is now centered perfectly after taking boat to dealer. I really love that NISA. Can't imagine having a boat without it after having it. Not sure what my dealer adjusted. I dropped it off and they had it adjusted, took it to lake and tested it and had it back for me to pickup in just a couple hours. I sure love my dealer. Every time I go in there its a great experience.