Steering effort 21 vs 23 foot Maristar hull

[bigmac]

My buddy has a 2004 X-10. As I was driving it yesterday, I was struck by the fact that his boat has noticeably less steering effort than my 2004 Maristar 230VRS. His boat also pulls a little to the right, which I think AFAIK is more normal than my boat, which doesn't pull either direction. I am aware that turning left normally has more effort than turning right on these boats, but his is proportionately less in both directions. I also note that a right turn on his boat doesn't make as much noise as mine. I did make sure that the dealer rechecked the engine alignment before I picked it up, and they did adjust it.

Does my buddy's 21 foot X10 steer with less effort than my 23 foot Maristar because mine is longer/wider? Or is it because his boat has 40 hours on it and mine has 8 hours? Or is it because the rudder is out of adjustment?

[Leroy]

Welcome bigmac!

What is the nature of the extra noise? Water, transmission, motor?

Is the less steering effort true when both boats are not moving? Could just indicate tighter cable or prop shaft.

My 230 steering wheel turns freely not moving, give it a spin and it goes another 1/2 or so. There is little pull on mine.

[6ballsisall]

Mine turned pretty hard at the beginning of the season when I dewinterized it, I thought I had a cable problem. A lube job on the rudder and it was all good. Might give that a whirl, perhaps the dealer forgot to do that when the prepped it?

[Maristar210]

BigMac,

I was searching this topic with relationship to my 210 versus my buddies x9 which also turns noticably better. Did you conclude the rudder was the issue?

Thanks - Steve

[88 PS190]

bigger question, how do 2004's have so few hours?

[bigmac]

BigMac,

I was searching this topic with relationship to my 210 versus my buddies x9 which also turns noticably better. Did you conclude the rudder was the issue?

Thanks - Steve

Blast from the past...I posted that steering question on about the second day I owned that boat. It must have been about 12 hours after I wrote that that my fuel pump went out.

The turning effort was rudder - solved with the '06 rudder. The noise was the cast prop...solved with a CNC'd prop.