02 Outback DD listing to starboard, with pics.
Good day,
This is my first post, I have read everything concerning this problem and more on the forum. I am hoping that you can help with some advice, or if nothing else confirming that I'm not way out to lunch.
I bought this outback a year and a half ago. It has always listed to starboard from about 25 MPH up. It sits level and rides level up to 25 MPH. I aligned the engine last year to a .0005 runout at the transmission, (I have been a jet engine tech in the Canadian Forces for 25 years), this puts my engine quite high up and to the starboard so far the exhaust rubs on the engine cover.
I have ordered a new strut as mine is bent, I hope this fixes my alignment issue. I have also sent my rudder away to be straightened as it seems to be bent, hooked to the port side, (this boat has hit something in the past). There is a fibreglass repair that needs to be done where the strut mounts.
While I have it apart, and with a clear sight line to the tracking fins, I noticed that they both seem to be pointing to the port side. This leads me to believe that they would push the bottom of the boat to port, possibly causing it to list to starboard.
I removed the tracking fins to find that they are straight… however…. the mounting holes in the fins are not square at all.
So my questions are,
1. Are they supposed to be drilled and mounted facing slightly to port, or is this a possible manufacturing issue?
2. Can I have them welded in and re-drilled?
3. Can I elongate the holes in the hull to accommodate the poorly aligned holes in the fins?
4. Are the strut and rudder mounting points supposed to be this far offset?
Any advice would be helpful, or pics of your 98 to 02 Outback Direct drive.