Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

The steering on my 08 Basstracker Regency 22 with the 115 hp Merc 4 stroke is hard to turn at higher speeds, especially to the right any ideas?

Do you have hydraulic steering? Does the motor turn hard when not moving? have you tried adjusting the trim above the prop? Mine turned hard to left until I adjusted the trim tab. That's all I got.

Glenn

It does have hydrolic steering and it does seem to move pretty easy on the trailer so I'll try the trim tab trick, any hints on which way to turn it? And thanks

Now your asking the tough question. I think you want to turn the back of the trim to the left, that should ease right turn. Don't know how far, that requires trying until it works.

Glenn

Thanks I'll try that next trip out

get correct sized trim tab wrench, and tie a string to the closed end.. you'll need that tied around your wrist in case you drop it in the water....

loosen, adjust, tighten... one 'notch' at a time, until steering feels equal at most speeds... if you get it right the first time, that's just luck. use two hands.. one on the wrench, and one on the trim tab, so you can control its position best, and not tighten it 'between' notches.

once you get it set, shouldn't need further adjustments - unless you install something that effects the water flow/resistance over/under tubes...

Thanks I'll do just that, hey I noticed your running a 15 pitch prop and I think someone else said they are too, I'm turning a 11 pitch 4 blade spitfire and if I have more than 4 on board it'll slow from 25 down to 19mph and only 5600 rpm, I'm thinking something else could be wrong:-(

If it's hard to turn to the right, adjust the trim tab to the right off of center . I would go mid way , tighten it and try it. If it's still a little tight , go one more notch to the right. You will hit the magic setting and all will be even. If you go too far, you will notice as the left steer will be hard to do. At that point back it off one notch. It may never be perfect but will be better for you.

I'm running a 13.75X15 prop on my boat. Easy to over rev if I'm loaded light.

Glenn

Thanks Waterlogged, there has to be something out of whack on my Toon, is your motor set all the way down on transom, mine has one more hole to go before it's all the way down, if I ran your prop mine would maybe turn 5400 rpm and go 16 mph

The motor is set all the way down on the transom.

Glenn

Great thanks, that's my next project