There's been a lot of off topic discussion of trims tabs on Markbano's engine mounting post, so I'm starting a new topic with some more info on the subject. I did some looking last night, and I confirmed my suspicions of there being a "built in trim tab" on the skeg. My 200 HO Evinrude skeg is not symetric. The right side of the skeg (starboard if you want to be all nautical) is for all practical purposes, flat. While the left (port) side is convex. This is not due to someone backing into a rock, as the right side is VERY close to flat/straight. This is designed in, and my only guess would be that it is meant to be a torque steer compensation (non-adjustable trim tab). Any one else have thoughts?
It sounds like it. The late model merc high performance lowers have a pronounced torque tamer cast in. It is also common to add a welded on tab to the skeg of a stock lower that is going to be used in a surfacing high performance application. The surfacing prop applications seem to produce more torque steer. You may not need an additional tab. jim
Here is some more food for thought. The steering pull changes with the up down trim of the motor. I run a wedge so I have about 5 degrees of extra "tuck". I try to position the steering trim tab for slow running tucked full in because I spend a lot of time there. This produces a tab setting of full deflection. Actually, it is more than full deflection because my tab is modified for more deflection. So, on the top end that tab setting is wrong and I get a lot of torque steer. This does not bother me because I don't run up there much. I can compensate for it up to a point by changing engine trim, but not for full speed. If I changed the tab to a more neutral setting it would improve the top end trim and add a little torque steer at the bottom end. jim
