Steering on starcraft fishing boat

notify starcraft or a marina near you

Hi Alfred.

Your answer will depend on the fishing boat.
For really small boats, with an outboard motor on the back, the motor will be on a pivot joint, and have a handle in front. You point the running motor side to side to steer the boat.

Larger boats with outboards will have a steering wheel with a mechanical linkage to an outboard motor or motors that will pivot them side to side to steer.

Larger fishing boats, especially commercial boats, will have an inboard engine and prop shaft, a fixed external propellor or propellors, and a rudder that is connected with a mechanical linkage to the steering wheel or ships-wheel to move the rudder side to side and steer the boat by deflecting how the water flows by when under way.

Hoping this helps.

D

inboard or outboard motor ??
unbolt the steering cable from the steering point of the engine or leg unit , then try turning the wheel and if it moves then try moving the engine or leg unit and see if it moves !?

Is your steering using the cable / pulley and springs, or has it the through the tube steering? If it's the later, undo the nut that holds the cable to the transom bracket, Then try and turn the motor, If the motor won't budge, the pivot is seized, If the motor moves, your cable is seized or the steering box needs help! How to remove your steering wheel, There will be a cover hiding the nut in the centre of the wheel!

Check at transom end that the steering cable is not overextending and pushing clear of the tube, kinking and causing the jam.

The propellor can cause transverse thrust and the heavier the prop the greater the sideways pull. There are other factors like blade width and trailing edge cup. Is this the right prop for your boat? Some legs have a tension adjustment on them, and try that little fin again the other way,just one more time. Cheers Timo.

If you are talking about the small tab under the cav. plate.Its job is to counteract the effect that the prop has on steering.Because the props. spin in one direction,they create a sideways pull on the motor due to the prop biting into the water and trying to pull all with it.2 motors on the 1 boat often have a different gearbox fitted,and one will spin in the opposite direction and this counteracts torque steer.To adjust yours,work out where you drive the boat most.Speed etc.Higher speeds have more effect.If it pulls right,adjust it left.One bit at a time.I think yours will have an allen key or hex screw above the tab.Loosen it,move the tab.Takes only minutes.I hope this helps

If you find the hull identification number which is always stamped on the right side of the transom then the last two numbers indicate a year. Ex. BUJ5C45208 Would be a 2008.

wiring diagram for a 1990 heritage 1600 starcraft boat type this in and do a web search. Is the wiring for the boat are for the motor? Jim Retired OMC Mech