Last year I bought a 1989 Tracker Guide V16 with 35Merc and console.  Everything about the boat was in top shape and the motor has been nothing short of perfect since the day I picked it up.  The only thing about the boat I don't like is that the steering wheel is very loose and I cannot let go of the wheel even for a second without it spinning to the right.  Now don't get me wrong, I would never let go while up on plane, but I do a lot of trolling for walleyes and wipers and would like to get the boat to track in a straight line for a few seconds while I make an adjustment to a rod holder or reel in a white bass etc. at 3mph or less.  If I let go now the boat will eventually make circles.  Is there an easy way to tighten the steering?

Thanks

Matt

There is a skeg on the motor to offset the torque steer you are experiencing. Rather than me trying to explain how to adjust it I recommend you stop by the dealership where you bought the boat and ask them. The adjustment is much easier shown than explained. You could stop by any boat dealer or repair shop, it only takes a second to show how to adjust or explain. For that matter it only takes a minute to adjust. The skeg is on the anti cavitation plate just above the prop. You offset the skeg to compensate for torque steer. This is a simple one bolt adjustment........Al

Steering wheel being loose can be caused by a couple of things.   First, make sure the nut holding it on is tight.  Pop the center out of wheel and make sure the shaft is turning with the wheel and no free play there.  If the wheel was loose, the keyway may be beaten out and giving you too much play.

If the wheel is tight and the shaft turns with the wheel, look at the motor and make sure the cable end moves when you rock the wheel back and forth.  If it does, find your free play back there and fix it.   If the shaft in the helm turns with the wheel but the cable does not move with the rocking of the wheel, your helm is probably worn out.

As for the constant hard torque on the wheel.  First, you probably don't have the motor trimed up enough.  Too much hull drag will creat tons of steering torque.   You can try adjusting the trim tab on the bottom of the anti-cav plate.   Looking down at it from the back of the motor, turn it counter clockwise.   The very rear part of the tab should be more to the starboad side

It sounds to me like one of three things. Either the lower unit trim tab isn't set right or and in my opinion more likely you aren't trimmed out properly. It might also be steering cables. Although I run a fiberglass my boat is the same age as yours and my steer cables seem to be nearing the end of their life.

Thanks for the replies.  I will try the anti cavitation fin adjustment as suggested.  This boat does not have any trim.........the motor is either up or down and this is done manually.  

Matt