difficulty steering DV 2320

[awoody201]

Hello.

I have a 97' deep V 2320 that i got last year about this time and was excited to use it so I launched it and just ran it as is for the first season. I immediatly noticed that it was extremely hard to steer. I have owned and crewed on larger sailboats my whole life, and have driven a handfull of small boston whalers etc. with no isssues. I talked with some guys at different boat yards and they told me i was probably over steering and a few other rookie mistakes of powerboating. After a full season of fiddling, and trying everything I am still frustrated with the performance. I Have the trim tabs even, and there is not any air in the lines(i had them purged). If i walk away from the wheel for even just a second the boat either hookss a left or a right. i find the only way to drive even remotly striaght is to constantly turn the wheel a little left a little right and so on. Is this just how it is or should i stick with something with a keel??!!

 

[Hannibal]

I was going to say top off the fluid and bleed off but ........

 

[awoody201]

yeah its driving me crazy, i keep hoping something is wrong. somethings got to be. argh.

 

[miky2884]

Is the skeg on the motor adjusted properly? That could be why younare getting pulling.

 

[Sully]

Is the skeg on the motor adjusted properly? That could be why younare getting pulling.

I would say this but....
Its not a sail boat...
Its tough to tell without first hand seeing what you mean
But I myself think that making adjustments with a outboard
Is normally within reason even with hydraulic steering and a deep V hull more so then a modified V
Could be your just used to a keel and a rudder :roll:

 

[Phil]

You are most likely oversteering. Just the nature of the beast, if you have twins it would track straighter. Increasing speed will help. Me, I just press the red button on the autopilot and sit back and relax.

 

[awoody201]

yes at very slow speeds it is the worst. once i get on plane it is perfect. its solid then. well i guess ill just give it another go this season. altho i cant help but keep thinking that im not that bad of a driver!

 

[awoody201]

Is the skeg on the motor adjusted properly? That could be why younare getting pulling.

yes I checked this too.

 

[Phil]

Think of it as pushing a shopping cart backwards. You are trying to steer a long deep V boat with the rear wheels (outboard.) That's why you are wagging your ass like a cheap hooker...

 

[Sully]

yes at very slow speeds it is the worst. once i get on plane it is perfect. its solid then. well i guess ill just give it another go this season. altho i cant help but keep thinking that im not that bad of a driver!

This is normal.
with a outboard and a deep V with a 8' 6" beam
you get into a 10.5 beam or larger some of that isn't present

 

[WAJSKI]

awoody201 I have a 2320 after runing 27-30mph trimed out I enter the chanel I have to remember to raise tabs and lower motor or steering is hard. I have trolled and find I need to make constant adjustment to go straight. I added a 9.9 kicker for trolling I still have to crab trolling motor to starboard to go straight. I think its just the nature of the boat at low (5mph) speed jmho

 

[miky2884]

Is the skeg on the motor adjusted properly? That could be why younare getting pulling.

I would say this but....
Its not a sail boat...
Its tough to tell without first hand seeing what you mean
But I myself think that making adjustments with a outboard
Is normally within reason even with hydraulic steering and a deep V hull more so then a modified V
Could be your just used to a keel and a rudder :roll:

It really doesnt have anything to do with it not being a sail boat if the zinc skeg is not adjusted properly you will get a really good pull, but this would only be when on plane not at low speeds.
I have a DV 2320 and interestingly I don't really experience this problem

 

[Hannibal]

yes at very slow speeds it is the worst. once i get on plane it is perfect. its solid then. well i guess ill just give it another go this season. altho i cant help but keep thinking that im not that bad of a driver!

This makes sense. Mine does this as well (2110). At speed, she turns on a dime and is very easy to control. When going slow - there is a lag between input and reaction. This is especially evident when trying to dock. I will turn the wheel and it will take a few seconds to react. Then by the time she noses in the direction I need, I am already steering in the opposite to correct. I definately do a lot of wheel spinning and shifting between F/R at the throttle.

Seems like a lot of work for such a small boat. This past weekend, while attempting to dock at a local waterfront resteraunt, I almost had a flush of embarasment in front of an onlooking audience as I navigated my "little" boat up against the dock. There was a lot of "adjustment" and eventual piling grabbing before she was settled in.

Granted, I am sure a lot of this is relative inexperience on my part but it certainly seems a complicated task ..... more so than I think it should be.

 

[Bryan 2530]

Is the motor on a bracket??

Try dropping your tabs all the way and trim the motor up slightly, that may help.

Other than that, I would say check your steering system. Your ram probably needs to be rebuilt, the center seal wears allowing fluid to pass.

 

[Brent]

With OB in neutral, how does the steering (full left and right rotation) feel?