how do you tell if a nose cone has been installed straight?

I dont have experience with them but i would say that if it looks like it is not on straight then it probably not

it looks straight. but the boat pulls the faster you go the more pull. just seeing if there is a way to find out if it is straight.

Not knowing what boat or power your running I would more than likely be looking at some possible play in your gimble, chine walk or a slight hook in your hull that is causing the pull your feeling. Single engine boat with decent power over stock, hull not designed for the higher speed, lack of a stable hydraulic steering system depending on speed, slop in gimble or cables if stock steering can all lead to some drift or pull. Considering the dinamics of a power boat, it's not like driving a car. Most add on nose cones are a pretty tight fit before being welded in place so to get one on crooked enough to have that effect is unlikely however possible in my 2cts worth.

thank you for your 2cts. the boat is a 1970 19 monza. running a 351w built and a 280t volvo drive. i added the trim to the boat when i redone the motor. but now it pulls. the worse part about the pull is if i have to get out of the throttle fast it will hook the other way. now with that said, i bought the drive with the nose cone on it. the nose cone is bonded on the drive. the glue cracked and i ground it out to see no welds. still has the stock steering. and there is some play in the gimble, but the pull gets worse the faster you go.and the higher i trim it. its a even pull if that makes sense. but i am adding drew marine`s side winder steering stabilizers. anyone use these? have any comments on them? good or bad. held a 10 foot straight edge to bottom don't seem to have any hook in it. now could it be just torque steer? just wanted to know if there was a way to measure to see if it is straight. thanks

Seen you have a 19 Nova and just thought I'd let you know, if you don't already here are a couple of sites where these guys are highly devoted to preservation of the Nova's.
http://www.supernova19.com/index.html

http://www.chinewalking.com/

As far as the nose cone usually they are just epoxied on and they are formed to fit the drive tightly. You can probably stand back and look down it and see if it is off. If the boat don't run over 65-70 then you could just take it off because it's probably not helping anything anyway. They do look cool at the ramp though.

What speeds are we talking about? If it's as drastic as you say, I would lean towards some play in the steering system and/or gimble assembly. I don't think your producing enough torque to be as extreem reaction as your feeling. Possibly the torque is being applied and moving the steering/gimble slop and then when you let out of it , it flops to the other direction. "0" plat side to side and up and down. With such an old boat I would guess it's a combo of both.

running 65-68 on gps. i agree the slop is a big prob. anyone use the drew side winder stablizers?

No, its not a big problem, "IT IS THE PROBLEM!" Forget the stabilizers. Bandaid on an artery. Do yourself a favor, either rebuild the gimble and replace the cables or look into a full hydraulic system. Still need to fix the gimble either way. Something "WILL" break and that's never fun. Trust me, been there!

but see i did rebuild the hole gimble when i put it on. even powder coated it. replaced every bushing and bearings. cant seem to find where the slop is. now the helm is still 1970. but dont seem to be there. most slop is in the pins that conect the rods like the holes are a small bit bigger. but i should not waist the grand on the drew stuff and just put it a full hydraulic system?