Eisboch wrote:
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:47:54 -0400, HK wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:55:04 -0400, John H.
wrote:

On Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:20:07 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:14:26 -0400, John H.
wrote:

was a blast. We went to a boaters' beach in Belmont Bay. Shared the
place
with about 50 other boats and had a great time. Went over to our old
stomping grounds in Mattawoman Creek only to find the 'beach' overrun
with
hydrilla. No boats anywhere.

Weather was great, little breeze (just enough to pinpoint the 'knob
drift'
problem), and nothing but wakes over one foot. The new Yamaha ran
like a
top. One of these days I'll see how fast it'll push that Key West.
We're
still very happy with the boat.

Oh, and I didn't feel too 'foolish' either!
Knob drift?
Yeah, the thing Harry was complaining about on Chuck's Island. The
position
of the knob, when going straight, will vary with the direction of the
wind.
It doesn't mean there's a hydraulic steering problem or anything else,
although I suppose it could.
Um....that's not a "problem" as such - it's entirely normal when
adjusting for windage you will naturally turn into or away from
windage changing the position of the wind.

Remember you have what is essentially a bay boat with no real draft to
keep you from moving when the wind gets up. - in particular if you are
just "cruising" along at a relatively slow speed. You will have
better control as you speed up.

Eventually, your helm will make a 360 degree turn on you - the
hydraulics aren't pressurized so there will always be some slop in the
system and it will vary with air temp - even your console will have
some effect on the expansion and contraction of the steering control's
hydraulic fluid.

That's one of the little annoyances of light hydraulic steering on
small boats. In the eight years I've owned the Ranger, my helm has
spun around 360 or eve more than that.

Why did you opt for the knob?
The wind is NOT the issue. Good grief.
The wandering knob syndrome is normal for Seastar hydraulic steering
systems. It's mentioned in the manuals that come with the steering system.
Yesh - and who told you that?

It wasn't the manual.

And I'd love to debate the relative positions of the helm when
steering into or away from wind, but I don't feel like it.


Frankly, I don't know what Harry is talking about. Every boat I've owned
with hydraulic or cable steering, from the Navigator, the Grand Banks, to
the Scout and Boston Whaler will have different helm positions to compensate
for windage while maintaining a course. Harry needs to take a ride on a
boat with rudder position indicators, set a course, put the autopilot on and
observe the rudder positions when running with wind on the beam.

Eisboch




We're not talking about the same thing here, I don't believe.

I'm talking about the engine or rudder being entirely amidships, in no
apparent wind or current, and the knob on the wheel being wherever the
hell it feels like being. You and Herring talking about the engine or
rudder being used to maintain a course during the impact of wind,
current or wave action.

There's a difference, a big one.