WanderFin report and a Question-gctid397340

[Guest]

I installed the twin WanderFin on my 2010 Bayliner 175 last winter and am finally getting back to this forum to report my experience.

It did indeed do away with almost all of my low speed wandering. Being a novice boater, I also greatly appreciate the increased steering control around the docks etc. I noticed that I am now quicker to get up on plane and my speed appears to be the same. Where I have the trim set is much more of an issue now. The trim changes seem tohave greater effect.

A negative: my torque steer is a lot worse. I do not have power steering so I was used to some annoying torque steer. Now it can be a downright pain at certain trim levels and maneuvers etc. I guess I do not get the physics involved here cause I am not sure why this increase in the torque steer. I think the torque steer occurs under the same conditions as before, but it is just more pronounced.

Question: So is my best solution to install a "no feedback" system? I would expect a conversion to power steering would cost me a bundle...

[Guest]

Tpautler wrote:


A negative: my torque steer is a lot worse. I do not have power steering so I was used to some annoying torque steer. Now it can be a downright pain at certain trim levels and maneuvers etc. I guess I do not get the physics involved here cause I am not sure why this increase in the torque steer. I think the torque steer occurs under the same conditions as before, but it is just more pronounced.

Question: So is my best solution to install a "no feedback" system? I would expect a conversion to power steering would cost me a bundle...

The Wanderfin acts as a rudder or a set of rudders, depending on the model you installed. At high speeds, water is passing along surface area that was not there previously. As surface area increases, so will friction -- and thus resistance to changing the position (i.e., steering) of the surface area.

[Guest]

My boat came with one of these lift-fins and during the last checkup (the first) the mechanic took it off and refused to install it again. I also had a hard time to steer the boat and since it is gone it is a lot easier to steer w/o power steering.

The other effect you have to see is that the lift-fin puts extra strain on the outdrive by more drag and the uplift it provides which will then stress the I/O mount in the transom even more.

Bottom line I unfortunately have to agree with the mechanic even if the extra lift was nice. To gain back a bit I will switch to a Solas Amita 4-blade prop and if this doesn't help enough smart tabs will be the next step.

There's a system similar to the wanderfin from the Netherlands (http://www.course-keeper.com). They designed it in a way that the additional rudder surface gets lifted out of the water at higher speeds where you don't need additional help. Due to the drag it may lower your top speed a tiny tad (assumption/guess!) but it will not impact the steering force at higher speeds and at lower speed you won't feel it. Years ago I had the opportunity to drive a boat with that system installed in Europe and it worked very well. Cost is about the same but it doesn't look as sleek.