2001 292 fASTECH Steering slack
 

Have had the new to me out twice this season and i absolutely love the boat, I do have a 4-6" slack in the steering that would be great to get out without dropping thousands on external steering! Is there a solution for this or?? Also my boat does not have tab indicators and just the dial drive indicators, Ive been starting with tabs down drives down, get on plane drives to neutral but then where are you putting your tabs?? do you leave them down, although i can only go by feel without indicators!!

Is your steering loos at the helm or back at the gimbal assy? need more info. Why are you putting the tabs down? for what reason? I always left mine up un less I had lost of people on my boat and it listed to port or stbd and put down one to level the boat or when skiing. I trimmed the drive for max speed and ride. Drive in on take off then trim up.

The 292 Fastech needs the tabs full down to plane, empty or full. Your doing right, full tabs, drives in, come up on plane, drives to neutral, then trim tabs up just enough to maintain level attitude without porposing. You don't need gauges at all, just "feel" the ride. I drove my old boat for ten years without trim tab or drive indicators...its by feel. I use almost full tabs at 3000 rpm, half tabs at 4000, one-third tabs or less over 5000. I usually run some amount of tab in all conditions, even at full-tilt on flat water. It seems too flighty without it, but I like to trim the drives a touch up from neutral for a full speed run. In the low 70's there is a hint of chine walk until you drive through it and I max out stable at about 76 mph gps. Get that steering checked!

Pond runner thanks for the info, the drives are tight, the slack im talking about is in the steering wheel i can turn the wheel i would say 3-4" before it will turn?? All is fine but when im running fast i dont like the play in the wheel!

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Mine was the same way from new. Its just a cheap system, a lot of the play is in the helm itself, but the only way to fix it is the pictures above. I have no play now. Shame on Formula for sending these boats out like this.

Oh, and for the most part you are trimming correctly. I run my boat with very little tab once over 40. Mine will bow steer with too much tab.

No tab for us at anything over 3k. Starts to bow steer. I put drew marine sidewinders on still the 1/2 inch slack but runs true and feels hydraulic like. Make sure your trim on throttle is moving both drives or just use rocker switches. Trim the drive even with hull and put in the water. Dont touch trim and get a buddy in the cabin to plane off. Once up on step look at prop wash and burn the image to you memory. Rember how the boat feels. The hull should feel slighty loose but not like a bass boat. Asjust tabs to modify trim of the boat. Level attitude is best.

Thanks for the info guys I will run way less if any tabs, as i was getting bow steer and at 60+mph bow steer with the slack in the steering I wasn't to comfortable! I did have a very calm day and had it running 67mph gps and had more to go I see no problem with this boat getting to 70mph! Me and wife 2 kids half tank of gas probably 4700-4800rpms

;)

Guess ill have to upgrade account to post pics of the boat?

Expensive date-Nice looking installation. Have you had it in the water yet?

No, few more little things to do. Might be out next weekend.

Too much tab tab / bow steer will make the steering feel even worse than it is.

Its like a different boat, did a 130 mile run last weekend was so much more stable and much less side to side rocking that I used to get if running with other boats in there wakes. Highly recommended upgrade.

Great to hear you really saw a big difference! So are K-Planes next on the list??!

IMO these 292's should not leave the factory without hydraulic steering and K-Planes...

Depends, if I decide to keep it a while I might repower this winter. Would probably do them even thought I hardly ever use my tabs while running. And yes part of the reason this boat is not highly regarded by some is that they (Formula) cheaped out on a few things. The guy who did mine could not believe how much play I had, and there was nothing worn it was always like that. I should not have accepted the boat but I honestly did not know any better at the time.