I have a 35GTR on an 18x44 Go-Devil Boat. This is not the surface drive boat, but the long tail model with the rounded chines. I had the transom raised to meet requirements for the surface drive.

Question: My motor takes LOTS of strenth to steer, and just to go straight. Seems like lots of torque. Never driving a Gator Tail motor, I drove my paran's boat the other day. He has the whole outfit from Gator Tail (Both boat and Motor) and I could literally drive his boat with what seemed like one finger. You could drive that thing for hours and not get tired.

Why is my motor so hard to steer? (Tiller Handle) If I would have never driven his boat, I would have never known how easy it could be. Any tips or mods I could do to make my rig easier to drive?

MANY THANKS!

Try keeping your load centered in the hull is the KEY. A balanced load will be an easier driving experience. Also does your motor have a Torque tab on the port side of the skeg? If not you can either get one or slightly bend the skeg to the port side. I am assuming the tiller is pushing to you and the boat is wanting to steer left.

Was the motor mounted properly? I know some motors should be centered, some should be an inch or so off center...

As Maxxis posted, weight distribution is very important, and you have the torque tab you can mess with if everything else is right.

I can say that the boat is easier to drive while solo that with a load. But still hard. I am not sure if it has a torque tab or not (Newbie) but I will look. The torque tab should be on the skeg?

Also, I just purchased a Double Barrel X Marshmellow Muffler (My factory muffler cracked at flanges). Was this a good 500 dollar purchase?

Thanks, I am trying to learn

The exhaust was a good purchase for sure!

A friend of ours we hunt with has the same boat with a LT, it is hard to handle. The boat sit's heavy to the rear, does yours? I think its a foam saturation problem ,but the thing just doesn't preform as would be expected. After riding in bunch of different GT set ups and getting in that GD, my bet is a hull issue/problem. Maybe someone else has more experience with the round chines.

good call on the MM exhaust...i love mine. and i know a lot of other guys do too.
follow what these guys said before as far as weight distribution and bending your skeg. also, pay close attention to your trim height. you may need to raise or lower the pin your motor is sitting on. And also, trim down or up when you are running. often times if your trim isnt set just right, when your riding wide open, can cause tiller torque as well

What year is your GTR? older models are hard to steer because of the sleeve that goes through the steel tube is too tight.

Well we had two long tails at the camp last year, the first being a 16' GD w/ the rounded chines with a 23HP. The second was a 16' War eagle ribbed bottom with a 23hp. The war eagle would whip that azz hands down in deep water, sliding over marsh grass/mud, would even turn better when in the nasty stuff.

THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE.

Yes, my boat does sit really low in the rear, but not too bad in the shallows. Anything over 5 feet deep it really squats.

As far as boat handling, this boat can zig zag in the swamp with zero slide. It is amazing how well it handles running through skinny trenasses.

As far as the foam under the floor goes. I got new foam from godevil when I redid the boat 2 years ago, so that shouldn't be it.

Where can I buy a torque tab? I looked at the skeg last night, and on the port side of the skeg, it appears as though it has a plate on the very end that is curved outward toward the side of the boat. Is that the tab and I am too dumb to know it?

I had a buddy tell me to add godevil PODS on the back transom of the boat to make it sit higher in the water. Where can I get those from?

Once again, MMT folks are on point. Thanks!

Yes that is your torque tab.

Just my .02, but before you go adding or changing shi+ on a boat that ALOT of people run & have no problems with, you should look more towards working out the kinks with your motor. Personally, I think it's either the trim tab needs adjusted, or the motor is WAY off center to the starboard side. I ran a 1644 round chines with a 35 MB, & the guy I got it from had a 35 GT on it. Neither of us had any problems with it. Robn1020 has a 1844 round chines with 35 GDSD on it, & he has no problems with it. It's gotta be the way your motor is set that's causing you the trouble.

Have you pumped some grease in the swivel bracket?

Put as much weight to the front and on the port side to counter act your weight !! The middle won't help!! If you still have problem move your motor I" to the port side!! That will actually shift your weight to the center of the boat instead of it on the starboard Side!!

DING DING DING - 3 centimeters is a lot....


As far as the underfloor foam - if what you used was white and not green/blue - then
it never absorbs water, that is the new style foam - you are good for life....

As far as the GD Pod - it goes INSIDE the boat to keep you from sinking when the boat
is swamped - that ain't gonna help....

Hate to say it but DeltaDuckMaster may have given you the most helpful suggestion...

Last thing is - both you big fellas need to assume your running positions before you take
off and try to have your passenger and cargo situated so you are as level as possible at
a dead stop - if she is leaning she will be pulling - lastly use a heavy ice chest moved from
left to right to find a balance point with no pull - or move your fuel tank to the far left/port
side of the nose of the boat.... My boat pulls more as I run low on fuel as the battery and fuel
are to left/port and I sit to right/starboard....

Phag Police --- where are they when you need 'em ???

Ya'll need a woman once a month !

Right after the monthly bath !

my motor was hard to, would pull real hard to the left with an unloaded boat the day i bought it from gator tail, i bent the skeg a lil bit and now i can take my hand off the tiller