www.iFourWinns.com

Smart tab will help out reducing the wander as well

4-blade might be the way to go for me unless I can treat the bow wander as a minor nuisance. Thanks guys.

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Jim
2009 H180, Mercruiser 4.3/190 HP, Alpha 1
2001 Silverado
Ironwood, Michigan

Hi,

I have noticed on the last few occasions my V278 steering is quite loose. Its got to the point that the stern drive can be moved to one side if I cross a wake and then flops back and forth so I end up doing a slow S shape. This happens at high speeds but it is also loose at low speeds. Trim tab use helps keep it stable but I know my boat and it not quite right. The steering fluid looked full so Im guessing I need to adjust (tighten) the cable. Any ideas where the stern drive end of the cable is, or am I barking up the wrong tree here??

Thanks,
Oliver

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Oliver
'06 V278
Singapore

I have the same boat with the 3.0 mercruiser, they all seem to suffer from it at low speeds. What does help a little bit is to move people from the back to the front of the boat.

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

Thanks but this is something that has deteriorated a lot in the last few months. It needs to be sorted!

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Oliver
'06 V278
Singapore

I too went from a Bayliner to a FW...I noticed it at first too...the Bayliner was a lighter shallower boat that handled more like a sports car....tighter turns with some skip, little quicker out of the hole and less bow wander at idle...you now are in more of a sports sedan..heavier, deeper riding, smoother in turns (more of a squatter) and better wave cutter. The heavier boat will wander more at idle, but oversteer makes it worse due to lag in response.

Part of it is the boat characteristic and other part is you getting used to it....at least it was for me.

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

I agree. With the dual prop drive, it counteracts the rotation of the prop. Which will help in docking too becuse the boat will track were you steer it. Thats if the wind low. This new boat is bigger with a bigger engine, so your feeling it more.

I have found that tabs will not help you in this. This is very normal for single prop drives. BUT, I would install "smart tabs" There cheap, easy to install & they work in getting the boat on plane quicker. I would use the composit ones, because you won't have to worry about bonding or installing some type of zincs to it.

This sounds like an Unsafe condition. The next step may be for the steering to disconect completely!

You could have a clevis pin that is coming out, or a cable that is about to break, or a pinion that is loosing teeth... You could start by having someone move the drive side to side while you look behind the engine to see what is moving and what seems to have "slop", but this sounds like a good job for your marina.

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

This is something you need to get looked at sooner than later, because you yourself have noted that its gotten worse and you should not see that kind of play in the outdrive. Mine has hardly any play at all and its 25 years old. I'd be looking at the drive and the pivot/bell housing first, see if you can lift the drive up and if there is play where the pivot/bell housing mounts to the transom mount. Also you may have play between the steering arm and the steering actuator. In any case, get a good mechanic to look at it.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II