Been out and put some hours on my new used 2003 200 pro with the rude 225 ho..I have a few questions..should there be a great deal of play in the wheel at high speeds..seems like i have to turn the wheel a great deal..also, the steering wheel has like a click to it when im turning it..i dont hear a click but it feels like it..All of you guys were right it does take some driver input..more than i figured.. coach
GO VOLS
No, you should not have a significant amount of play in the wheel. Is your steering system full of fluid? Sounds like you could have some air in the lines (just a thought).
Jason Phillips
You're steering nuckle in the tilt helm is failing.....see your dealer NOW! It will lock up if the link pin comes all the way loose.
Yep, listen to Todd and get her fixed!
One little hint about driving her, the biggest mistake most make with a Stratos is overtrimming them. They get in, mash the gas, and trim all the way up like a Triton. With a proper setup, you shouldn't need to go over 3/4 trim (roughly, all guages are a bit different) to make her fly right. If it feels like the bow is a bit high and "flighty", bump the trim down and she'll settle down and usually pick up some speed. The proper trim angle will make all the difference in learning to drive the boat...
Here's examples...
Proper trim angle (notice the running angle of the boat)
Slightly over trimmed...notice how high the bow is
ab is correct but he is also showing off the purdy stratos
Listen to Todd!!! Mine was doing the same thing last year...Get it fixed now...
Once you get the steering fixed, the driving takes some getting used too, but you will learn to drive it where you do not even notice you are correcting the chine walk... You will need to learn to catch it before it starts walking bad, or you will not catch back up once you let it start...
Where is the motor set? If it is too low, it will make it walk worse...
I stole this from another post but it is good advice:
"When the boat is about to reach the chine walking speed, put your hand in the top dead center of the steering wheel. Then gently turn it to the 10 o'clock position. This will lay the boat over on the port side of the pad.
After a second or two, smoothly take your hand from 10 o'clock to the 2 o'clock position. You will feel the boat lift up, and settle on the starboard side of the pad.
After a couple of seconds, take your hand from 2 o'clock, back to 10 o'clock.
Keep repeating this and you will start to "walk" the boat. What you are actually doing is controlling the torque produced when the prop blade comes over and grabs fresh water.
You will find that driving it in that manner will cause the hull to "float". By this I mean it will float from one side to the other, and you are controlling the "chine" walking, not it controlling you.
You should never have to fight the steering wheel and be jerking it all over the place."
Modified by 201pro at 6:00 AM 11/24/2007
Thanks guys..called a local dealr..he said air in the line and i said know way and told him what Todd said..and he was like ok bring it on in. will do this week..need to have it ready by next wkd..so we will see..Thanks for all the help!..coach
GO VOLS
Question for you guys. I don't know if it is my prop. But I could not get my hull to lift like that no matter what I did. I'm running a 24" Raker, it jumps out of the hole great. But I have to drop the motor down to get her on pad the I can trim my plate back up, and I can trim all the way out. But I still don't lift like that. Could it be lack of lift on my prop. or just a power issue?
Thanks,
Chris
A lot of it depends on where your motor is set...What is the prop shaft to pad measurement? ..The prop may need more cup to give you the lift you need...What rpms and speed are you getting...
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