low speed control

19' Thompson with OMC 350 and OMC 800. At idling speeds or just higher the back end of the boat will "wobble" from side to side. Constantly steering back and forth to keep going straight or at least in the same direction. Great pains when putting back on trailer. Power steering unit functioning fine. I can't really tell if there is any play in it but would imagine there should be specs I can "measure". Any ideas how to correct or check this?

 

have you owned the boat for a while and the problem has just started or have you just got the boat and noticed this problem, the reason i ask is wandering at low speed is normal for most stern drive single engine boats. but if it is as bad as you say there might be some play, tie off the wheel or get someone to hold it, then give the leg a good shake from side to side, you will soon know if it has excessive play.

 

That can be normal for the boat. They are designed to steer at planing speeds.

 

You can try to move temporary some heavy items to bow (like wife or similar) to chance the center of gravity slightly forward. This should help a little in idle speeds.

 

what will his wife say when he tells her she is a heavy item.

 

It sounds like you're experience level is modest, as this is a very common low speed handling trait of many powerboats. Simply put, the hull design needs a substantial rush of water flowing past it to keep running "true". If it's slowed to displacement speeds, she'll plow along and the bow will "root" around like a horny bull. You could install a substantial skeg, but this has limited returns and offers up other issues.

The best thing you can do is learn to operate at higher speeds and work the shifter at the last moment to keep from bashing into stuff.

 

As far as the wife I'm thinking it would be more beneficial to hook a short tow rope between the 2 tow points and then another in the center of that one. Tow her in a "center point" of that rope thus giving an equalizing "drag" affect to the boat. Just gotta hook her up while shes sleeping!