problems trying to get my dawncraft 27 to go left

[keithh]

After a unbelievable 13 year total rebuild from a empty windowless shell my Dawncraft 27 (Newdawn) is moored in Shardlow marina I took it out of its mooring today which is very tight for the length of the boat just wanting to turn it round to do finishing touches before safety survey it has a longshaft Honda 15 with a extension rudder fitted but the boat does,nt want to go left causing me serious problems today ended up having to pull it into a temparary empty space till I can rectify this.Its the first boat I,ve tried to operate for years having a small callumcraft in the late eighties.When we set up the engine to the steering we noticed there was more lock one way than the other but not a massive difference.Any advice or contact with other Dawncraft 27 centre cockpit owners would be greatly appreciated.

 

[The Bagdad Boatman (waits)]

load a sand bag on thr bow space to take the bow down. Worked well with our Creighton. Work out why the tiller/ engine is restricted on one lock, add extra spacers.

Edited December 18, 2015 by The Bagdad Boatman (waits)

[Iain_S]

The Honda is centred on the transom?

Side to side weight distribution can have a big effect as well.

[The Boater]

It is important that the steering cable is set up to give equal amounts of lock by adjusting the outer cable in its retainer to achieve this. Any difference will be very noticeable when trying to change direction.

[Jeffers71]

I'd agree - an issue with too much slack on one side of the steering cable and probably ballast distribution - other half had ballasted ours perfectly when he was on our boat, but developed a slight list when i got on!

[Rebotco]

Instead of struggling with left turns, why not do 270 degree right turns instead?

No faffing about with ballast or cable lengths .......... as long as you don't get dizzy too easily!!!!

[Graham.m]

Was the rudder truly centred when you set the cable?

 

Will the cables take the rudder from stop to stop?

 

When was the boat last out of the water?

Edited December 18, 2015 by Graham.m

[Guest]

Shot in the dark: Many years ago a good friend had a Loftus Bennett fibreglass cruiser fitted with a Chrysler outboard. The outboard had an accessory rudder fitted, but this had not been mounted straight on the engine (as in viewed from above.) This made the boat truly awful to steer, and had the effect of turning in one direction much easier than the other. The prop steer and rudder steer were fighting one another, and once rectified it was a truly different boat.

Just a thoguht.

Edited December 18, 2015 by Guest

[keithh]

thanks for all the replies the the boat as far as I know has been out of the water for approx. 33 years was put in in August then just doing finishing off for safety certificate,I,ve put some ballast in front.I had to replace the transom after some kind person sawed the old 1 off to steal the engine.So that was replaced with oak seems fine the engine is central,I,ve only moved it a couple of times seemed to handle ok but straight away thought the left turning seemed limited which as got much worse till it won,t go left at all when it was first fitted we thought the engine turned both ways to its bump stops so I need to check if somethings gone out of adjustment.The other point I,ve wondered about it seems to sit lower in the water than other Dawncrafts I,ve seen I,ve tried to balance the weight up although I,m a big fella and there,s a large battery at the back on the left plus a leisure battery in the centre cockpit on the left I tried to rig it up so all the electrics are on one side and the gas and water heater and pipework are on the other side with the gas bottle in a metal locker under the passenger seat when you look at the boat it seems quite level,sorry for going on just trying to explain the set up

[John V]

I have a 17'6" Shetland that I use for sea fishing. It is powered by a 40Hp outboard with a large fuel tank and 2 heavy batteries. Originally it's handling was truly dire.

moving the batteries forward to amidships and centralising the fuel tank helped considerably. The helm is to Port and when I am the only one on board it has a slight list to port, for this reason I store my tackle box forward to starboard to compensate. Even with everything balanced it is possible to make fine adjustments to course by moving (even a little) from one side of the centre line to the other. Obviously this is exaggerated by being up on the plane but it might be a pointer to part of your problem (Though by the sound of it there is something else going on as well)

[twbm]

If you can post pictures of the engine position from above when static on full left lock and full right lock, plus one of going ahead straight, I think diagnosis may be easier. As discussed it may be the trim, and when you are going ahead straight, there isn't, erm, enough left turn left to turn left. Likewise if a rudder extension is bent to the right.

 

Edit: Try setting the engine at dead centre, then move off. If all else is good, but the boat turns what would probably be a pretty sharp right, then it's trim, both port starboard and possibly front back - the less of the bow that's in the water the less it acts as a 'damper'. Playing about with a few heavy water containers, or volunteers, is probably the quickest way to test for necessary adjustments.

Edited December 19, 2015 by twbm

[keithh]

There,s one or two things to consider in the replies for me to try hopefully before Christmas but maybe not.Will be back on as soon as I can to say how its gone.At this stage my wife won,t go back on the boat until its sorted which will spoil all our plans.

[FadeToScarlet]

Is it a member of the Labour Party? They seem to be having difficulties going left too at the moment.

[Scholar Gypsy]

Just picking up a few of the comments above, do you have a rudder extension? ("adda rudda" or similar).

 

We forgot to put it back on one year, and the boat became unsteerable. (Here it is, with me steering in about 1973).

 

[John V]

Is it a member of the Labour Party? They seem to be having difficulties going left too at the moment.

 

 

Norty norty !!! you might find yourself on the norty step for making controversial political comments in a boaty topic......

[keithh]

I,m already a bit of a lefty haha very good,I,m hoping to go back down to boat tomorrow so I can say what I found I,ve even persuaded my missus to come with me she swore she was never going back on it the other day I have been wondering whether to take the extension off to see how it steers without it.

[Paul G2]

I,m already a bit of a lefty haha very good,I,m hoping to go back down to boat tomorrow so I can say what I found I,ve even persuaded my missus to come with me she swore she was never going back on it the other day I have been wondering whether to take the extension off to see how it steers without it.

 

I was going to suggest that you could tell her that you need her help - that you need her to move around the boat to see if the weight placement affected the steering.

 

Upon further thought, though, it probably wouldn't be too good an idea to suggest to the wife that you think she would make good ballast.

[John V]

thanks for the chuckle Paul

[GoodGurl]

After a unbelievable 13 year total rebuild from a empty windowless shell my Dawncraft 27 (Newdawn) is moored in Shardlow marina I took it out of its mooring today which is very tight for the length of the boat just wanting to turn it round to do finishing touches before safety survey it has a longshaft Honda 15 with a extension rudder fitted but the boat does,nt want to go left causing me serious problems today ended up having to pull it into a temparary empty space till I can rectify this.Its the first boat I,ve tried to operate for years having a small callumcraft in the late eighties.When we set up the engine to the steering we noticed there was more lock one way than the other but not a massive difference.Any advice or contact with other Dawncraft 27 centre cockpit owners would be greatly appreciated.

 

it sounds like you need a new steering cable we had a 30ft dawncraft centre cockpit and every year we had to oil the cable as it would sieze after not being used for a long time.

[tidal]

Probably a bit off the wall but after you've tried all the other things listed above (which are much more likely) do check that the new transom is actually square to the boat and that the engine is too. the latter in both orientations

Sounds daft I know but I've seen it happen and it can give the effects you describe

[keithh]

Was going to go back to boat today but bad weather and other commitments stopped me probably be after Christmas now the steering cable seemed free I do wonder whether its gone out of adjustment somehow,the new transom was fitted in the same grooves has the old one but I will be checking all these things thanks for all the response hope you all have a happy christmas

[keithh]

So went back to the boat yesterday successfully cleared a plastic sack from round the prop which had caused the engine to cut out also discovered that the steering cable had pulled through the wood panel so has,nt been operating properly I have a steering cable mounting bracket which I never fitted stupidly thinking it was,nt needed,providing I mount it in the right place I think it should cure the steering problem hopefully in the next few days.I have a new problem but think it needs a new thread

[Graham.m]

So went back to the boat yesterday successfully cleared a plastic sack from round the prop which had caused the engine to cut out also discovered that the steering cable had pulled through the wood panel so has,nt been operating properly I have a steering cable mounting bracket which I never fitted stupidly thinking it was,nt needed,providing I mount it in the right place I think it should cure the steering problem hopefully in the next few days.I have a new problem but think it needs a new thread

 

That is worth a greenie. Did not assume and checked again

 

Finger crossed things steering wise are vastly improved

Edited December 30, 2015 by Graham.m

[John V]

Good !!!.....now agog waiting for the next one

[keithh]

I,ll see if I can get some photos of my beloved (not quite so beloved at the moment) Newdawn but I,m a bit of a dinosaur so it might take a while