THE BOAT DOCTOR
Q:
WHICH PAINT? Hi Boat Doc. I need to repaint the bottom of my Sisu 22. Any recommendations on which paint? I’m new to the powerboat scene and not sure about the differences from sailboats. We haul the boat out of the water for four or five months every winter. Thanks! Eleanor Via email
A:
Hi Eleanor. I wish I could give you a short answer. Bottom paint is not a one-size-fits-all product. One chooses a coating based upon the location where the boat is kept, upon the use of the boat and, finally, on aesthetic or performance concerns (if any). The location matters because the amount of growth and critters that can accumulate on your hull will vary with the specific water in which you dock or moor. Polluted or very salty waters will generally produce a lot more fouling than clean and/or brackish water. Cold water causes less fouling than warmer water. Of course, there are myriad water types when you apply all those factors. Use affects the paint selection in that a boat that is used more often tends to collect less fouling. A coating (paint) that works for someone who uses the boat three times a week can prove ineffective for someone who uses the boat twice a month. (continued on page 34)
Some paints are less expensive but need to be reapplied every year and leave a thick buildup of leftover paint that can rob speed and efficiency. Other paints cost more but wear away and leave no performance-robbing buildup of wasted paint.
The online “bottom-paint selector” from Pettit Paint walks you through the decision process pretty well, in my opinion. It might better illustrate my point. Visit pettitpaint.com/perfectpick.
The best thing you can do is speak with other boaters in your specific area who use their boats at a frequency similar to yours, and use what they use (or a paint equivalent to what they use). If you don’t have any boating friends, ask around at docks and marinas and call a local yacht club or fishing club.
Good luck.
STEERING PROBLEM
Q:
Hi Boat Doc. My brotherin-law bought an older 18-foot-long bateau with an equally old Yamaha 70 that runs well for fishing the lakes and bayous of south Louisiana. We took it out the other day, and I noticed a problem with the steering. When turning to starboard, the motor swings fully for the turn; however, when turning to port, the motor seems to swing only about half as far as it does to starboard. Is there any way of adjusting the steering bar, or do you think the boat has the wrong steering cable? Thanks in advance for your advice.
Donald Kring
Louisiana
A:
Hi Mr. Kring. Properly working steering is essential to safety, so I put your question and images in front of the engineering team at SeaStar Solutions, a leading manufacturer of marine steering systems. This is what they had to say:
All steering cables move an industry-standard
81/2 inches. Here are some items to check:
• The tilt tube may be able to be adjusted slightly to account for the offset (see photo on page 36).
• The link arm may not be the proper unit for this engine (the link arm is above the cable output).
• The link arm may be
installed in the incorrect tiller hole.
SeaStar Solutions also advised checking with the engine-maker’s technicalhelp personnel or engine manual.
Apply the advice above first, and then consider that a cable that “pushes” fully (turns starboard) but doesn’t “pull” fully (turns port) usually indicates that one or more strands of the cable inside the jacket have broken and are catching. It may be time to replace the cable.
That said, and to make sure, here is a complete troubleshooting method: First, disconnect the steering cable from the link arm on the motor. Then turn the wheel to see if the cable fully extends and retracts. If it does move fully, your engine must be hanging up. Turn the engine by hand and find the obstruction.
If the cable does not extend or retract fully, go to the helm and disconnect the cable from it. Turn the wheel