Geoff34
New Member
I have a Princess 25 which I use on rivers at around 5 mph. Unfortunately I have to constantly tweak the steering left and right to keep it going straight. Any suggestions to correct this?
Princess 25
- Thread starter Geoff34
- Start date
stelican
Well-Known Member
Put ballast in bow you can experiment by putting crew ut bow first.
Corona Mia
Well-Known Member
I’m guessing it’s got a single engine and outdrive?
If so……….I’m afraid it’s always going to lack directional stability at very low speeds.
There used to be ‘rudder plates’ that you could bolt onto single outboard engines to solve similar ‘wandering’
problems. Not sure if they would fit an outdrive?
stelican
Well-Known Member
See my earlier post it is easily cureable
oldgit
Well-Known Member
My first proper boat 
A little beauty, well constructed mine powered by a VP V6 175 HP? petrol with single 280 T outdrive, used both on non tidal and coastal waters.
At full blast it could with the wind behind it get up to nearly 17 knots.
It is a problem with all/most outdrive boats especially at displacement speeds to need to have to constantly keep an eye on the heading especially in breezy conditions.
Personally thought my P25 did not suffer unduly from this compared to my later P33 and other outdrive boats.
Things definately improve a little once the boat goes faster.
Adding ballast to the bow might result in a completely different set of difficulties.
Crew standing on the foredeck did cause the boat to become difficult to steer, possibly as the outdrive rose to the surface of the water ?
A little beauty, well constructed mine powered by a VP V6 175 HP? petrol with single 280 T outdrive, used both on non tidal and coastal waters.
At full blast it could with the wind behind it get up to nearly 17 knots.
It is a problem with all/most outdrive boats especially at displacement speeds to need to have to constantly keep an eye on the heading especially in breezy conditions.
Personally thought my P25 did not suffer unduly from this compared to my later P33 and other outdrive boats.
Things definately improve a little once the boat goes faster.
Adding ballast to the bow might result in a completely different set of difficulties.
Crew standing on the foredeck did cause the boat to become difficult to steer, possibly as the outdrive rose to the surface of the water ?
Last edited:
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
If it has trim tabs try lowering them to the lowest position, this does improve directional stability a lot a low speeds.
Geoff34
New Member
unfortunately it doesn’t have trim tabs
stelican
Well-Known Member
Ballasting the bow works well on the river but not wise for sea work.My first proper boat
A little beauty, well constructed mine powered by a VP V6 175 HP? petrol with single 280 T outdrive, used both on non tidal and coastal waters.
At full blast it could with the wind behind it get up to nearly 17 knots.
It is a problem with all/most outdrive boats especially at displacement speeds to need to have to constantly keep an eye on the heading especially in breezy conditions.
Personally thought my P25 did not suffer unduly from this compared to my later P33 and other outdrive boats.
Things definately improve a little once the boat goes faster.
Adding ballast to the bow might result in a completely different set of difficulties.
Crew standing on the foredeck did cause the boat to become difficult to steer, possibly as the outdrive rose to the surface of the water ?
We sold alot of boats on the Thames and it worked well.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Assume the outdrive is a 270 and no method of trimming outdrive leg.
On my boat with the 280 T it was possible to trim the leg .
On my boat with the 280 T it was possible to trim the leg .
Geoff34
New Member
Thanks
Hi it does have a 3 position leg, However I was told that the adjustment was only if you were having problems at high speed due to engine toque. Might be worth a try!!
Thanks
Corona Mia
Well-Known Member
Hi Geoff.
I’m sure your boat will run ‘straight and true‘……once you’ve got up to speeds over 8 knots!
Your outdrive leg will then be generating some dynamic stability, as it gets this from the speed
of the the water flowing over it.
Unfortunately……if you’re on a river or canal you won’t make many friends!
Especially any ‘rowers’ or ’fishermen’ (especially those standing thigh-deep in ‘waders’).
Re: your point about the engine torque.….I wouldn’t worry about it.
With a single engine motor this is usually corrected by a (very) small ‘trim-tab‘.
But it’s not designed to stop the boat ‘wandering‘…..only to make the steering load lighter
when travelling at a lot higher speeds (and higher propeller torque loadings) than you will ever
want to achieve at ‘river’ speeds.
jfm
Well-Known Member
It's normal. Nothing wrong with your boat. Any boat at slow speed will need the steering wheel tweaking constantly to follow a straight course.
If you want to go to town you could fit an autopilot and/or a rudder lever in your chair armrest, but that's a v expensive and only partial fix.
If you want to go to town you could fit an autopilot and/or a rudder lever in your chair armrest, but that's a v expensive and only partial fix.
Alicatt
Well-Known Member
Don't know if this would help: About Ruddersafe - Ruddersafe-Shop.com - Ruddersafe Shop also available for Volvo Penta outdrives
Or something similar
Or something similar
PCUK
Well-Known Member
The answer is to fit a pair of small keels (skegs) right aft. They will keep her perfectly straight and not affect steering performance. This is from experience of several boats and works a treat. Epoxy coated mild steel skegs wont be costly to have made and will transform the boat.
