292 fastech handling?
 

I have about 10 hours on the boat so far. We were lucky enough to have some 70 degree weather down in coastal alabama this weekend so I took the boat south. I am really amazed on how this boat handles the coastal waters, seems like the faster you go the smoother the ride is. It took me a few big boat wake crossing to get comfortable with how the boat responded, while I was waiting for the big bang to come it didnt. lol.

BUT

It may have just been the wind/current (narrow section of the ICW) but while over 60mph i continually have to adjust heading of the boat to keep it going straight. sawing the steering wheel. I do not have hydro steering, only the stock mecruiser style. May have been a bit over trimmed but if I lower the drives too much it increases the amount of driver input, if i tab down a bit and adjust the drives to get them "nuetral" it settles down but I still have to saw some.

Do you guys get this feeling? Almost as if the bow is getting pushed around by wind or current and when I correct I over correct and have to recorrect and it happens over and over.

May just need hydro steering or more seat time.

I have hyd steering, but I can take my hands off the wheel at 70 mph and track straight as an arrow.

Same here. I have Latham hydraulic steering and she tracks straight and never have to saw at the wheel in any condtions. I have not driven a 292 with stock steering so don't know if what you are experiencing is normal. May want to have it checked out to make sure everything is tight, etc.

I highly recommend upgrading to hyd steering in the future though. K-planes are a nice upgrade too.

That is great you are able to get some time behind the wheel, especially this time of year!:drink:

Too much tab will do that,as too much trim.Are you trimming to neutral?

Put on external full hydaulic steering and she will ride like a new boat. Had a 292 SR1 that did the same thing. Added the hydraulic steering and never will own another without it. With the boat out of the water, if you can move the drives left and right any amount, that is the issue.

I am trimming to what I think is netral, I do not have mech indicators so my only reference is how humped up the prop wash is, the crappy dial indicators plain suck.

I can move the outdrives side to side on the trailer, maybe some slop in the cable???? I guess I need to start looking for a steering system.


Thanks

I HAVE A 1991 292 SR1, I had the same problem.The wheel I could move a 1/4 turn before it takes out the slack by that time you need to move in the other direction. I put in a full Imco hydraulic system and it is like driving a corvette.It has no feed back and tracks straight as an arrow.I highly recommend external hydraulic steering. A friend of mine has a new 353 and it wanders at high speed,it has the stock teleflex power steering.External Hydraulics is the way to go.....

Looseconnection, where did you put in this weekend? I took mine out for a spin to get the fluids moving this past Friday. The weather was fantastic in Pensacola!

[QUOTE=looseconnection;3584392]I am trimming to what I think is netral, I do not have mech indicators so my only reference is how humped up the prop wash is, the crappy dial indicators plain suck.

I can move the outdrives side to side on the trailer, maybe some slop in the cable???? I guess I need to start looking for a steering system.


Check the cable but in all honesty, thats the way they are. You can put full hydralic on it or live with it. There is no way Formula should have not put hydraulic steering on these for the price they went for.

As for what is nuetral with the boat on the trailer run a string from the bottom of the first step (front) to the transom. when the drive is level with that string that is nuetral trim. Which .....and some will say otherwise is were a stepped hull should be run.

diverkr: cotton bayou in ob. went out friday, what a nice day ran down to mobile bay and back to a buddys dock for a few cold snacks then a long idle back to the trailer. Saturday---fog day--- idled to the icw, fog cleared and went to the new tacky jacks, ate then headed towards ob, fog moved back in real heavy and we made it to Barbers Marina and decided to go back to the wharf and rent a slip, best 40 i ever spent. there was a barge aground from bear point to orange beach, they went the wrong way and headed towards ob. sunday got the boat from the wharf after shaking the fuzz from the party and just ran all over the place to get some bread crumbs on the gps incase I get fogged in again. got back to the ramp, dead truck battery, got a jump and salt awayed then sucked 7 gal of anti freeze down and headed north to the frozen tundra of north alabama.

lets get up and ride this summer, glad to know of another 292 close by.

ED no pun intended:
I have a good sense of how steps work on a hull, just havent spent much seat time in the boat yet. I will do the string thing and make reference on the crappy trim dials. I know drew marine makes stabilizers typically seen as a band aide, but since I am not adding power or changing anything else it may help calm the drives down.

Thanks for all the input. I really need to get some picks and post them so I can offically join the Formula Family.

LC

The sensors that those dials use if original are probably going to need to be replaced soon. So if you are seeing strange reading that may be why. I had to have mine done last summer.

I keep going back and forth on wether to add hydraulic steering to mine. I will make handling better but I also want something bigger/ faster just don't know what so as it really won't increase value for now I am keeping the cable steering.

I would love to get some K planes on my ride, I am sure it would significantly change handling. I've got some ProChargers that may go on very soon!

Hydraullic steering is a must.

I'm currently adding K-Planes
 

diverkr...I'm currently adding Mercury Racing 280s K-Planes to my 2007 292. Best price I found for the entire kit (tabs, pumps, wiring harnesses, and schematics) was at perfprotech.com $2330.00. Be sure to buy the hydraulic hose kit, about $150.00 for 30' set, as well. The kit lists from Mercury Racing for around $3600.00 . Good luck!...dave

Thanks for the info! I am thinking K planes are about a $5000 project once installed.

K-Planes
 

Even with the cost to repair the gel coat on the transom, I don't think I'll reach $3k for this project. I think you'll find that the 292 should have had 280's from the factory (it is an option today). Many OSO 292 owners have broomed the Bennitts (junk!!), for K-Planes, and even their wives rave about how well the boat rides in the tough stuff. Let me know if you decide to go this route, there are many OSO members with great advice. Check out the 2003, February issue of Powerboat Mag, where they detail the entire process...........good luck........dave

Our last Formula 271 came with Bennetts, they sucked!!!! I had them swaped out and installed 280's best move ever. I didn't realize what a big difference Latham full hydraulic steering made until we bought our 353,:eek: big difference..... if you are keeping the boat make the investment..just my,.02.

I had a 07 292 and experienced the same play at those speeds and was going to go hydro steering and k-planes to improve the ride but instead sold it.

steering play
 

the tiller arms in the top of the gimbal assemblies are loose! Unfortunately its easiest to tighten the tiller bolt with the engine removed. Running with this condition often does unrepairable damage to the square receiver hole in the arm and tiller shaft. We tighten the tiller bolt on every mercruiser engine job we do.

Are you doing all the work yourself? i.e. removal, gel, and install?

I don't think you can get a new 292 with K planes or hydraulic steering.

In 2005 I ordered my 292 with hydraulic steering. It is not shown on the option list but is available. Formula would not install K-planes on the 292 so I had them installed in 2007. Great upgrade.

K-Planes
 

I'm doing all the work myself. Most of the screw holes are covered, but the two 3/4'" hydraulic holes will have to be plugged and then gelcoated. In talking with Formula last fall, they stated that if you were to order a new 292, they would put K-Planes on for, obviously, an additional cost. I've got all the parts to do this project, however my out-building were I store the boat is not heated, so I'll be waiting till early spring to complete the job. Just too cold to work in the boat in northern Michigan........dave

Here yah go 292 owners, be to the best of my knowledge the only 292 with scoops.





http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/o...ml#post3590492

That and hydro steering may be a bit too much this year and its only january. LOL.

Plus i took the wife thru a repower of the old boat last winter, dont think she would want to go thru it again this year..........

How in the hell do you keep your tansom so clean? I cant help but get a water line and some soot.... Nice hardware for sure.

It's a struggle to keep my transom somewhat clean.

Just dropped my boat off today for the ProCharger install. Updates to follow.

May look into getting a set of Lenco high performance trim tabs, heard they are a great product at a good price.

Look forward to seeing the updates. Are you refreshing the motors or just bolting on and hoping for the best? I would atleast do some head gaskets.

How fast are the lencos vs. bennetts?

Good Luck.

Is that the main problem with the Bennett tabs, they are slow to respond?

Port motor was recently refreshed. Might look into the head gaskets on stbd motor. The shop I took it too recommended the Lencos vs the K planes due to price. They have some pretty sick boats there including a 353 with 600s that they are bumping to up to 800 hp.

Bennetts just dont have enough surface area for high performance applications, IMO

Hemeite: bennetts are slow, and like diverkr said they dont have the surface area. I know kplanes are real fast and that is great for changing water conditions.

LC

loose: thanks for the explanation. Makes sense, I noticed that on my new to me 260SS, the Bennetts are very slow. On this boat it's not critical but I imagine on a faster boat, response time and size of the tabs could be critical.

Thanks. I use Roll-Off cleaner and Lime Away on the drives and polished parts. Also Collinite heavy duty paste wax for protection. After the wax just mild boat soap keeps it clean for quite a while.

Nice! Looking forward to updates. Good luck.

After checking out the Lenco website they appear to be an electrically powered tab. The whole system is contained on the exterior of the boat. Curious how they compare to typical hydraulic tabs as far as quickness. I am guessing it will eliminate the pumps and some additional parts/plumbing associated with the Bennetts or K planes.

Lots of go fast fishing cc use the lencos, They have always caught my eye. I am 70 wot so I feel that lencos would be fine but what about 80? Another great thing is electronic indicaters no cables to corrode.

A little off topic in this thread, but I started using a product called Power One this year. Takes water lines and built up stains off in seconds. Just spray on and rinse off for most, you may need to lightly wipe for stubborn stains. Works better than any acid I have ever used, and it is not harsh. Gloves are not required. Got it here.

http://www.power1one.com/Fountain_of...outh_Home.html