steering problem

[chumslicker]

Just bought 23' maycraft 01 merc saltwater.

This boat once it gets over 2800 rpm will about throw you out of the boat if you let go of the wheel. It wants to jerk hard to the left, and damn near have to have a death grip on wheel. Under 2800 rpm you can steer with one finger. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might cause the boat to want to pull left?

[WhitestoneCharlie]

My 87 Yamaha has a zinc which looks like a fin on the bottom of the motor. You have to offset the tab to keep the motor from pulling at higher speeds. Maybe your Merc has the same. Check with a Merc dealer.

[Baybreeze]

That is most likely it, had the same issue on a Mariner in the 80's, had to overcompensate the angle due to boat weight distribution.

[jasonco51]

After you get the zink adjusted, try triming your motor up and down till you find the sweet spot, then rip out the cable steering and put in a no feedback hydraulic system.

[home cookin']

if it's a deep V hull, you may be trimmed with the bow too low. It will dig and veer--dangerous.

[Phoenix29]

I have to agree with Home Cookin, it sound like your getting on plane then pushing the bow down at the higher rpm's. Try triming up as your rpm's come up, also if you have trim tabs on the boat make sure they are up, they can have the same effect when running higher rpm's.

[BIRDDOG987]

Had the same thing happen with my 18 ft maycraft. Get it trimmed out good and you shouldnt have a problem. I was running with one of those dolfins and it was bow steering bad and just about slung me out too....