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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

helm under motor power

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southern cross
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USA
123 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/12/2006 : 09:11:46

my 1982 c-25 has the motor on the starboard side (which I believe is the correct side from the maufacturer). Under motor power my tiller wants me to go left in the worst way. Has anyone else ran into this? Not a huge problem with the tamer, but when I am at the helm I often get tired of extra effort just to hold her straight.

Puravida,
Zach

southern cross 1982 C-25
TR FK #2867

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 09:32:19

Zach,

It sounds as if you need to simply turn your outboard to center the thrust. Next time out, using the outboard tiller only, steer the boat straight but do not touch the boat's tiller (the boat's tiller should center itself nicely). After doing this, the boat's tiller should be centered and require no extra effort to hold a straight line course.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 09:39:27

If you let go of the rudder, the boat wants to turn to port?

You need to turn the outboard a bit. Move the engine tiller (in your case, to port) until the boat goes straight without using the boat's rudder.

Since I steer with both outboard and tiller when entering/leaving the slip, I go through this exercise every time I take her out.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 09:54:45

Yup--like Clam, I "trim" the outboard every time out till the rudder is neutral. The starboard-mounted engine will naturally tend to push the nose to port, so it just needs to be steered very slightly to starboard (handle to port). Then you'll have finger-tip steering. You might need to adjust the steering damper on the engine (on some, a screw; on others, an arm that moves horizontally) to make it a little easier to make steering adjustments, or to get it to hold its position.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/12/2006 09:55:16

dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
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Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 10:27:39

Since I too, steer with my outboard, recentering it is something I do without actually being aware that I'm doing it. Sometimes while motoring, I'll reposition the outboard a little off center to counteract the effects of a crosswind and/or chop to again have a neutral helm.

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Downbucket
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188 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 12:49:47

Hi:

Can anyone tell me where in the owner's manual or any Catalina 25 publication it states that the motor must be mounted on the starboard side? I cannot see what difference it would make which side of the transom the motor is mounted.

Will

Edited by - on

southern cross
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Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 13:22:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Downbucket
 Hi:

Can anyone tell me where in the owner's manual or any Catalina 25 publication it states that the motor must be mounted on the starboard side? I cannot see what difference it would make which side of the transom the motor is mounted.

Will
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Not sure where but, I read (in more than one place) when looking to purchase a C-25 that the original design for the older ones was for the motor to be mounted on the starboard side. Something to do with the way the boat's balance is designed. I do not think it makes much of a difference seeing as how many of us use different size outboards with different weights. But, I do remember reading this (maybe in this forum?).

Thanks guys for the response on the helm issue. I had not thought of re-centering the boat with the outboard (makes a lot of sense, maybe that's why I did not think of it

). My new motor allows me to lock it into place (and I do not use the motor to steer at all) so I will adjust the motor to compensate and lock it down in it's new position.

Many Thanks,
Zach

Edited by - on

dlucier
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Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 13:23:38

Edited by - dlucier on 04/12/2006 14:00:27

djn
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Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 14:07:00

My 1977 has the motor on the port side. I balance it by storing both battarys on the starboard side. My new slip is tight going in and out (it is a short dock and we have to back in) so I am looking at the easy steer system. Cheers.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 15:30:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 The truth is, in the beginning, Catalina Yachts mounted the OB bracket on the port side and when the fuel locker redesign came around, it was easier for the factory to mount the OB bracket on the starboard side.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Also, it's easier for us old codgers to install a new mount, not having to crawl into the "dumpster". (Did that a few times for other reasons.) I also like having the outboard tiller handle toward the center of the boat, but that's just me.

Dennis: Have you checked out the internationally acclaimed "Arlyn's Soft Link"? (Should be in the Tech Tips.)

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/12/2006 15:31:02

djn
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Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 16:03:43

I have not Dave, but I will now. Cheers.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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5902 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 18:29:08

On boats built before about 1980, the motor mounts were installed on the port side. Owners complained that the weight of the motor on that side caused the boat to list to port when it was sitting in its slip. After 1980, they were installed on the starboard side, to correct the list. Most pre-1980 boats list noticeably to port, unless the owner has added water to the starboard water tank, or has added batteries to the starboard side, to counterbalance the weight of the motor.

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bjoyce
1st Mate

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Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 18:55:14

Is there a chance that prop walk could cause the bias?

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 21:14:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by bjoyce
 Is there a chance that prop walk could cause the bias?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Prop walk will indeed push the stern to starboard (in forward gear) turning the boat to port, but much more so when the boat is accelerating from a stop or low speed. Once under way and not accelerating, its effect is insignificant. But even if it were a factor, the solution would be the same--turn slightly to starboard.

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southern cross
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Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 21:33:05

Edited by - on

dlucier
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Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 21:36:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 On boats built before about 1980, the motor mounts were installed on the port side. Owners complained that the weight of the motor on that side caused the boat to list to port when it was sitting in its slip. After 1980, they were installed on the starboard side, to correct the list. Most pre-1980 boats list noticeably to port, unless the owner has added water to the starboard water tank, or has added batteries to the starboard side, to counterbalance the weight of the motor.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Here's the real story about why the motor mount was moved from the port side of the boat to the starboard side in the early '80s. The original design for the fuel locker placed the fuel tank in the big portside locker on a tray built into the locker. This was OK unless there was a fuel leak of any sort. The leak would disburse gasoline fumes throughout the boat - much to the displeasure of both skippers and crews.

In the early '80s Catalina redesigned the portside locker and molded in a seperate fuel tank locker on the portside of the cockpit and aft right at the transom. This fuel tank locker is completely seperated from the inside of the large portside locker and is part of the portside cockpit seat. This solved the fumes problem nicely.

However, since the outboard bracket was an option that dealers could order installed by the factory or sell as an aftermarket item at the dealership, Catalina did not install the bracket until the boat was pretty much completed in the production process. With the earlier design, it was easy to drill through the transom on the portside and secure the washers and nuts on the inside of the cockpit locker. But, with the new fuel tank locker obscuring access to the transom on the portside, Catalina began installing the OB bracket on the starboard side of the transom. The install crew would have one person crawl back in the quarterberth to secure the nuts and washers while another person held the bracket and bolts outside.

So, the change was for convenience during manufacturing......pure and simple.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

Edited by - on

southern cross
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Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 21:43:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 On boats built before about 1980, the motor mounts were installed on the port side. Owners complained that the weight of the motor on that side caused the boat to list to port when it was sitting in its slip. After 1980, they were installed on the starboard side, to correct the list. Most pre-1980 boats list noticeably to port, unless the owner has added water to the starboard water tank, or has added batteries to the starboard side, to counterbalance the weight of the motor.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Here's the real story about why the motor mount was moved from the port side of the boat to the starboard side in the early '80s. The original design for the fuel locker placed the fuel tank in the big portside locker on a tray built into the locker. This was OK unless there was a fuel leak of any sort. The leak would disburse gasoline fumes throughout the boat - much to the displeasure of both skippers and crews.

In the early '80s Catalina redesigned the portside locker and molded in a seperate fuel tank locker on the portside of the cockpit and aft right at the transom. This fuel tank locker is completely seperated from the inside of the large portside locker and is part of the portside cockpit seat. This solved the fumes problem nicely.

However, since the outboard bracket was an option that dealers could order installed by the factory or sell as an aftermarket item at the dealership, Catalina did not install the bracket until the boat was pretty much completed in the production process. With the earlier design, it was easy to drill through the transom on the portside and secure the washers and nuts on the inside of the cockpit locker. But, with the new fuel tank locker obscuring access to the transom on the portside, Catalina began installing the OB bracket on the starboard side of the transom. The install crew would have one person crawl back in the quarterberth to secure the nuts and washers while another person held the bracket and bolts outside.

So, the change was for convenience during manufacturing......pure and simple.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hmmmm, so Catalina did move the motor bracket to port? "You say tomato, I say potato" (Ali G.)

Zach

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dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
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Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 22:02:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by southern cross
 Hmmmm, so Catalina did move the motor bracket to port?...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Actually, to starboard.

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southern cross
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Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 22:14:13

I appreciate you guys helping me out with this problem. Took her out today and re-centered everyhting. It worked like a champ..

Zach

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 22:39:21

You're welcome! At this time of year, with boats still on the hard and temps too chilly for most paints (and paint strippers), we're likely to overkill every topic!

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southern cross
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Response Posted - 04/12/2006 : 22:53:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 You're welcome! At this time of year, with boats still on the hard and temps too chilly for most paints (and paint strippers), we're likely to overkill every topic!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Luckily, I don.t have that problem. Here's a pic from today.

I love the south.

Puravida,
Zach

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