www.iFourWinns.com

Last year I went from a 1998 Bayliner 1750 with a 3.0 to a 2009 Horizon 180 with a 4.3. Can't believe the difference in the quality of workmanship, although I did enjoy the Bayliner as my entry level boat. However, my 180 has a considerable amount of more bow wander than the Bayliner. Maybe because its new and not broke in yet but I do have about 15 hours on it. Any suggestions or solutions? Or do I just have to live with it and hope it gets better. Thanks guys. I love this site. Good info!

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

This can really be a number of things, but here are a few to consider:

1. Is the boat loaded evenly from port to starboard?
2. Does your outdrive have an adjustable trim tab?
3. Have you tried adjusting your trim while underway to see if anything changes?
4. Just because you have the steering wheel "centered" does not mean the drive is centered.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Are you noticing this at speed or while at idle going slow? If it's when you're going slow:

I think the biggest difference is you've gone to a boat with a lot more rear weight bias. I've noticed the same idle speed bow-wander with different boats I've owned. Here's what I've found so far: My longer boats with outboards wandered the least. My shorter boats with car engines wandered the most.
Try moving some weight forward while you're idling around, see if the wander goes down. Your bayliner had a lighter engine than your new Four Winns, so your rear weight bias is probably greater.

If your bow is wandering while you're at speed, you'll want to have that looked at. Make sure the steering and/or outdrive isn't loose somewhere. Also, make sure you're not trimmed all the way down at speed. When you are up on plane you should have trimmed up to get the bow out of the water a little.

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Previous Four Winns: 2003 Freedom 180, 150 Johnson XL, purchased new July 2005, sold Sept. 07
Current Four Winns: 2002 Horizon 170, 115 Yamaha V4, purchased May 2010 from family friend.

Thanks for the reply guys. I only notice it at wake speed when going thru channels or coming into the breakwater to trailer. I don't have any instability at all when up on plane or any other time. I told the dealer about it not having an adjustable trim tab when I bought it and he said because of the FW hull configuration, I didn't need one. Weight distribution isn't an issue. It does lean to the right slightly but that's just because of my big ass in the driver's seat. I guess its just a small price to pay for a "sweet" boat.

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

All I can add is that I experience the bow wander as well. From what I understand, it is a trait of some vee bottom stern drive boats. I think the problem is more pronounced on boats with deeper vees, which the 180 is (at least in it's class, from the research I have done). Like you say, small price to pay for a sweet boat....

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

It also comes down to your single prop. My 205 Sundowner with my SX drive had bow wander. My boats with the DP or Bravo III have had zero. Good luck and enjoy the boat. Isn't your boating season like July 1st - July 31st way up there?

I've noticed my FW takes more up-trim than my 18' Maxum did at speed to really get the bow above the waves. Are you refering to mid-speed operation when the strakes and bow are periodically hitting waves/wakes at an angle, or across the whole speed spectrum. My 210SS needs almost full up-trim to get it set where I like to run, and that's saying a lot with the added bow lift from a high-5 prop! However, when I want to turn the wheel to the stops at full speed, I drop the trim to the bottom, and crank like hell.... It turns like on rails!

The point of the story....when I "cruise" with the trim full down, it will wallow about left and right with the waves, jerking and pulling.... not a fun feeling.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

FWIW, even my 348 tends to wander a bit if I'm going too slow. When it's just 'in-gear' it'll go about 3mph and will tend to wander a little. If I bump it up to around 5 it tends to track much more consistently. I've got inboard props, not sterndrives. I've tried it with tabs down and it didn't make a big difference. But I'd also have to factor the freeboard (added height of the hull above the waterline) being pushed by the wind.

As for adding tabs I'd say give it a try. I added a pair of fixed ones to my 8'6" dinghy and it made a world of difference. No real comparison here, just an observation that tabs can do a lot more to affect your ride than you mix first guess.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I wander at idle speed too. Just the nature of boats, I believe, or at least stern drive powered ones.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Real trim tabs, like Bennett's, can be installed on a Four Winns Hull. I have had them on two boats, one of which had more serious Bow wander at idle (not a Four Winns), and they solved the problem. I now have them on my 240 Horizon and they pretty much eliminate the bow wander. To do that you put the tabs DOWN with idling.

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

My 180 does the same thing. My fathers old 18' crownline did it too, like everyone else said it has to do with the stern drive. If you hold the wheel straight it will correct itself but i find in narrow channels i need to over compensate for it.

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2006 Horizon 180 3.0 Volvo SOLD
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee

My boat at a pace of say under 10 mph produces a pronounced wander for sure. But although it dances side to side it basically still maintains a moderately straight course. The trick is to leave the wheel alone. The wander disappears at a slightly faster speed. No concern except when the police boat is right behind.

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2007 Four Winns Horizon 190 Season Four
Frontiersman 18.5' freighter canoe with sail rig
No fuel problems if you just float. Bugger that, I'm burning fuel this season.

As for the Admiral... A happy wife is a happy life.

Wet Dogg............surprisingly most of our 170" of snow is gone and Lake Superior and the inland lakes are almost clear. March came in like a lamb and is still great...........BUT last year on April 21st, we got 28" of snow and blizzard like conditions. Can't really plan anything up here until late May but I'm a thinking I will be boating early this year.

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

Bow wander significantly decreased when I switched over to the 4 blade prop.

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

Same here.

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2002 Horizon 190 5.0gl