Hunter 41AC Steering Problem

[young80]

My boat has always had a slight wonder to port under power but after haul out for bottom paint, a new Cutlass Bearing and shaft alignment it now has a hard pull and if the helm is released it will turn hard to port. Have never had to tighten friction to keep this from happening in the past. Any other Hunter owners had this problem and if so was a correction to the problem found?
I did have the boat hauled out again and there is no damage to the rudder and no indication of bearing damage on the rudder. Have a three blade fixed pitch prop so it is not prop problem.

 

[M_Michaels]

Do you have an accurate tachometer? Is your engine rpm correct at wide open throttle? If your wot rpm's are low, you may have an over pitched prop (or a prop with excess diameter). The excessive blade pitch (or diameter) may well cause the torque steer that you are experiencing.

 

[Rick486]

On our 44DS, which is similar to your 41, we have a left pull under power. I believe it is caused by two factors.
1. The propeller shaft is not aligned with the center line of the rudder by design so that the shaft may be removed without removing the rudder. The propeller and shaft is to port of the center line of the boat by a handful of degrees at most so that the shaft may be, and has been, removed along the port side of the rudder. This alignment results in a moment pushing the bow to port under power.

2. The prop wash and prop walk of our 18 inch max prop, which is right handed rotation, also contributes to a port turn under power.
Your 41 may be similar.
Rick

 

[young80]

Thanks to both
M__
RPM fine, no apparent damage to Prop. This issue didn't occur before first haul out. Cruised 3 months in the last 2 years and a lot of hours under power with no heavy pull to port only started after re-launched after bottom paint.

Rick
I agree your statement is correct, my prop is fixed pitch clockwise. I have talked to 2 prop shops and that would not cause the problem. Like I mentioned prior to haul out I did get a light pull to port but after relaunch it turns hard port if I let helm go.
The yard hauled the boat back out of the water and no visual problem that could be causing the port turn.

 

[Stu Jackson]

young, Rick's right, especially his #2. Almost all boats do this with standard prop rotation (I forget if it's rh or lh).

In your case, it could be from actually going faster with new bottom paint. Also, who knows what kind of restriction might have been present where your rudder meets your hull when your boat was hauled and was cleaned out by the yard. A simple pressure wash could have blown away a lot of gunk at that important interface.

At low rpms all boats I've been on seem stable but once up to cruising rpm it increases noticeably.

I would urge you to not use the wheel brake to counter this. You'll just wear out the brake pads. Do you not have an autopilot?

 

[young80]

Stu, Thanks
Makes sense that some gunk was dislodged but this is 2nd bottom paint since I bought the boat and no change before. Regarding the speed issue at 2 to 3 kts I get the hard turn to port, not as radical as at 5 to 7 kts but a steady sharp turn at the slow speeds. This is my 5th Boat with no such problem such as this until now. First 2 boats were tiller last 3 wheel. Yard told me that it was time to use the wheel brake and I agree with you. I do have an auto helm but same as brake, I would think that it would be overworked.
Thanks again and talk to all of your buddies this is a real mystery.

 

[Terry Cox]

Our boat came with a fixed three blade and has always had helm, whether under sail or power. Under power, especially if the boat is moving at around six knots (1,800 RPM), the boat will turn sharply to starboard. It will do the same at a lower RPM, just not as strong. Under sail at higher wind speeds (25+) very strong weather helm and will round up if I let go of the wheel, which is what it is supposed to do.

Over the years I've never observed anything below the water line that might contribute to this behavior (bent this or that, misalignment, etc.), so I just deal with the idea that it boils down to original boat design. Why yours changed between haul outs is hard to explain. Ours, I just live with it and enjoy the time while on the water.

 

[Valerio]

Terry the h41 is a very well balanced sailboat if you have weather helm you have too much sail up.

 

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[Rick D]

I think it's time to get a top tier marine surveyor or marine architect involved. As you note, some is normal; yours appears not. Good luck.

 

[young80]

Thanks Rick,
I have talked to 2 of the top Surveyors in San Diego, they have no idea and are awaiting the reason if I ever find out.
Like mentioned the Yard pulled the boat out and there is no apparent change in anything that could cause the problem.
Now I will be seeking advise from a marine architect, Perry is still active in Seattle it is worth a try.

 

[Rick D]

Thanks Rick,
I have talked to 2 of the top Surveyors in San Diego, they have no idea and are awaiting the reason if I ever find out.
Like mentioned the Yard pulled the boat out and there is no apparent change in anything that could cause the problem.
Now I will be seeking advise from a marine architect, Perry is still active in Seattle it is worth a try.

There are some big names in S.D. too.

 

[Terry Cox]

you have too much sail up

Hi Valerio, yes, that I know, but the thread has more to do with helm under power. My point to the poster was some boat designs, such as ours, has helm that has little or nothing to do with something wrong below the waterline. Why his changed, no answer, but with me I just sail on.