New guy here, and have a question that may have been addressed before, but I have searched this website and did not find the problem I have. I did find related issues to steering difficulties in the wind, backing into a slip to reduce drift etc…
I have a 2000 X with a 50 hp Mercury that I have owned from new. The problem is when I turn the wheel I get a delay of between three to five seconds before the boat responds. I can see the mechanics of the steering moving with the slightest turn of the wheel. So it is not related to “slack” in the mechanism. I have tried it under all circumstances (full ballast, half ballast, rudders up, rudders down, keel down 6”, no keel, and every combination imaginable) and nothing seem to help. I used to sail on a lake in Colorado, so it was not that big an issue, but I now sail in Florida and it concerns me because the lack of response in an emergency situation. Does anyone have any ideas?
Hello,
In my experience slow steering response is the way of boats, especially powerboats. That's where the saying "ease her into it" came from. Boats don't respond like vehicles on wheels there is a lot of slip. Some people experience PIO because of the delay and their over compensating for it. It's one reason why accidents happen, add human error and it is often too late to get the boat to respond before something bad happens. I am always amazed at how fast things can go wrong. Remember, there are other forces at work, for and against you all the time, besides where you are pointing the wheel.
That being said, my Mac responds pretty fast when the boards are down. Having the thrust turn with the rudders only makes it that much better. Not going too fast in the marina is always a good idea. Out in the open, boards up, more speed makes for better steering control.
Have you tried popping a little burtst of thrust into the turn ratio?
I have noticed what you are talking about in that reaction time is not only slow but sluggish at times. The idea is ... turn rudders to the desired direction, then give the engine a good grunt of throttle, then back off. The idea works well. What happens is, the applied force from the prop puts the necessary burst of energy needed to direct the forward momentum across the rudders and daggerboard. Force applicable to rudders and daggerboard coupled with direction applied by the prop will put the boat into the desired turn ... and I do mean immediately!
Takes getting used to, so practice it well young Luke and may the force be with you!
You will see a big difference with an with the CB position....without the CB down IME the boat skates when you helm hard (which feels like no rudder)
With full board it pivots around the board and you perceive helm action right away.
Try full board down, no ballast and report back if this feels better..
On edit: is your motor turning with your rudders??
My experience has been that the X at slow speed, say less than 4 knots, is a greased pig with no board down, no rudders down, and the engine only doing the steering.
In dramatic contrast, when the board is fully down, the rudders both fully down and connected to the engine, the X will turn tightly and instantly around it's own center at idle speed with my four blade, big eared cupped prop, or in a little larger but still tight circle with the 3 blade prop.
It seems to me you are describing side slip which can be alleviated by having more foil surface in the water, either rudders or board. I find that it helps a lot to have at least one foot of board down to prevent sideslip and to act as a pivot point when turning very acute angles. I also find that in crosswind or cross sea situations eve at high speed it hellps to have one foot of board down to keep the boat tracking on it's own without constant adjustment.
If I have misconstrued your post, try again to describe what is actually happening under specific conditions.
So when you say delayed response, I presume you are not talking about when the outboard turns. The rack and pinion is connected directly to the outboard so that should turn right away. Other than all the correct posts about putting more CB and rudders down, its possible that your prop is too small for a Mac. Smaller boats are much more nimble than a Mac. Most people swear by the larger props (such as big foot) for low speed maneuvering.
It might seem too odd until you try it.... in tight quarters or in congested areas, the Mac can be driven in reverse to great advantage.
(given these parameters) .... one or two rudders down, motor and rudders linked in tandem control, centerboard or daggerboard at least half down, going medium slow to almost idle-slow ..... preferably large prop, but will work ok even with smaller one.
It is like front wheel drive in cars .... pulls the boat "forward" ....
You are right in "front" facing forwards, stand or sit facing the transom with the pedestal in front of you, the steering is natural, left for port, right for starboard turning, and the boat has the resistance of the flat stern moving against the water to slow it and make the motor control more effective. Being in front at the stern gives a much better vantage point of where you are going, as opposed to normally having to watch the high bow's wide swing and estimate proximity to where you want it, from 25 feet back at the helm in the cockpit.
With the rudders in "front" of you, you will be able to see their angle and make your corrections more confidently. It does not take long to get used to the temporary change in gear lever direction, down is "forward" and up is "reverse".
You will be closer to the dock when you enter, in reverse, and able to jump off over the cockpit coaming sooner to stop the boat from hitting the end. Or closer to the mooring buoy, and able to pick it up without leaving the cockpit, the wheel, and the motor controls.
I got so used to it, I prefer landing at any dock that way, - in reverse.
One more plus is that you are set to go, forwards on departure.
"does not take long to get used to the temporary change in gear lever direction, down is "forward" and up is "reverse". "
In my case, the old ways die hard:
After backing out of our slip the conventional way for as long as I owned MACK'S MAC (7 years), I decided to give the face aft method a try. Luckily the First Mate had already left to get the trick and trailer so I don't have to take constant heat about slamming the throttle into forward ( my Merc tends to stall if I shift too timidly) and ramming the bow into the dock. Lucky too that I still had the ballast in, so it couldn'get up much headway in the 18" before hitting the dock
Thanks to all for the insightful and helpful responses. I have been sailing the MAC for seven years and have always used the steady as she goes method in the marina and never had a problem. That said I still am not happy with the steering response. It hardly instills confidence. I did put a fender in the open water and practiced docking to it for the whole first day I had the boat.
To answer Catigale’s question the motor is turning with the rudders. They all seem to be aligned with each other.
To Night Sailor you got the situation perfectly.
I will try some of your suggestions and let you know how it goes. Sounds like more “board” in the water and a bigger prop might make a big difference. I also want to try backing into the slip, if anything it sound like it could be fun and might freak a couple at the marina out.
Wayne wrote: I also want to try backing into the slip, if anything it sound like it could be fun and might freak a couple at the marina out.
Yes, go for it. It does cause consternation among sail and motor folk alike on the docks when you can turn your Mac around on it's keel (boat and rudders fully down) going forward or reverse. Slow or idle speed and steady does it. They're envious. So called "real" sailboats can't do that:-)
Please do practice in open water again, driving in reverse, and with the motor controls being effectively reversed.
(While backing, and facing the direction you are going in, the forward gear will be down now, and reverse will be up, and the gear and throttle control will most likely be for your left hand to shift. ) It will be confusing at first.
Night Sailor wrote:So called "real" sailboats can't do that:-)
Maybe not one with a full keel, but a "real" sailboat with a fin or wing keel can turn a lot tighter than a Mac powersailor. So can an outboard powerboat. I've owned all three. And I'd imagine so can a "real" sailboat with a centerboard, daggerboard, or swing keel, such as the earlier Macs.
Because of the twin rudder linkage setup on a Mac, the rudders can't swing as far as a sailboat rudder, and the outboard can't swing as far as on an outboard powerboat. Lock to lock:
Delayed steering response on the Mac frustrated my wife to no end. She loves the instant response of the C-18.
