Hull 18'6 x 48 Sportsman Fab. 3/16 bottom
Motor stock 35 GTR bought used 2008 model with 140hrs.

My questions are it seems to have significant tiller torque even with load balanced any way I can??

Motor idles rough and dies when you put it in forward. I have to feather the throttle while putting in forward.

do I need to vent my front hatch with the gastank and battery up front in the sealed hatch? If so does anyone have a good suggestion on how?

So far I love this boat! I can't wait to play a little.

Nice looking rig.

You probably don't need to vent the front hatch unless it is "air tight"

Sounds like it may be a arb issue. My old 31hp idled rough like you're describing. I took it to get the carb cleaned or rebuilt or whatever needed to be done. I wound up getting a 35hp carb put on and it was like night and day. It purred like a kitten. Hope this helps.

X2 on what Caddo said about moving the battery. I missed that part.

X2 on what both of them said.

As far as the tiller torque, who hung the motor? Is it centered on the boat? Is it pushing into you, or pulling away? I think if its pushing to you, you should slide the motor a lil bit away from you. If its pulling away you should slide it a lil towards you. If its not centered, start at the center and work your way in the right direction. I could be wrong on which way to move the motor, but someone will correct me if I am. Or do a search to make sure, I know it was discussed not too long ago.

I hung the motor and got it damn close to center. The motor pushes tward me. Also going to the drawing board on the battery placement. I got 2-optima batteries one troller and one starting/light.


the starting battery is already mounted in the rear and don't want to put another one back there if I don't have too.

here is the layout

Try putting your extra gas can on the side you sit on... You have so much weight on the port side of the boat just by looking at the photo... Unless you weigh over 300 your not going to balance it by sitting on the starboard side... If your still having issues after balancing the boat then I'd start bending the skeg until you've relieved most of your tiller torque. I added a bigger torque tab to my skeg. I had James (txshockwave) on here weld it onto my skeg... I need to slightly bend the skeg even more after having it welded on but it was a night & day difference once we got that put on my shoulder loves me now

Thanks for the replies. If the motor is pushing twards me what way do I need to bend the skeg

so will a large crescent wrench and cheater pipe bend the skeg? or is there a better way?

i did mine with a pipe wrench to get it started and fine tuned it with a crescent wrench, but be very careful you only have to bend about an 1 1/2" back on the skeg.