Is tight normal

[wasnotwas]

Went on a spin in a shaft driven boat yesterday found the steering to be quite heavy and tight is this normal as i have only ever drove boats with outdrives fitted sorry the boat in question is a meery fisher 925

 

[sundancer9000]

heavy steering

Have seen some heavy stiff steering in an outdrive before, boat in question a maxum 1800 it had an outdrive! I cant remember why but it was fixed easily and was a trivial problem. Sorry i have no experience with big shafts.

 

[tinkicker0]

Went on a spin in a shaft driven boat yesterday found the steering to be quite heavy and tight is this normal as i have only ever drove boats with outdrives fitted sorry the boat in question is a meery fisher 925

Did these outdrives have power steering? Mine has none, and at low speeds, the steering is light and smooth.
At speed, the steering tightens up alarmingly.

Dunno about shafts, do shaft drive boats have balanced rudders? If not, I can imagine the steering getting heavy indeed at speed.

 

[benjenbav]

Mine has none, and at low speeds, the steering is light and smooth.
At speed, the steering tightens up alarmingly.

As the rudder sits behind the prop the steering will tighten up noticeably once the water starts flowing fast over the rudder unless some power assistance is put into the system.

If the OP's steering is too tight at slow speeds I think it would be something to look at more closely.