Commander Hawke Bow Steer

Discussion in 'Powerboats' started by Joe Surgenor, Aug 29, 2007.

  1. Joe Surgenor
    Joined: Aug 2007
    Posts: 1
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    Location: California

    Joe Surgenor New Member

    Has any of the forum readers experienced "bow steer" in a Commander Hawke? the boat has a Dominator jet and a 496 HO (415HP). The boat is good at any spped up to 45 but at 50 mph @ 5000 RPM the boat steers to the right and does not seem to respond to left steering input. After the boat slows it regains normal steering.
    Joe
     
  2. marshmat
    Joined: Apr 2005
    Posts: 4,127
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    Location: Ontario

    marshmat Senior Member

    Never driven a Hawke or anything similar, so I can't speak from experience. It does sound, though, like you have the common jetboat problem of inadequate directional stability. Basically, at 50+ there's not enough boat in the water for it to know which way is forward. High-performance jetboats often have a small fin hanging off the pump to help with this, as seen on the Aggressor pump shown below. Tracking fins and micro-keels of various sorts seem to be among the various devices used to solve this problem, but I'm afraid I can't offer any more than that at present since I've never seen this boat.
     

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