It would be extremely helpful if, at the next haulout, all the E34 members would compare their shaft alignment with the E34 pictured in
http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/showthread.php?t=4423
Of all the checks I made I never did eyeball it to that degree, but it seems to me that something unusual in steering would occur with a shaft that much off center.
Loren, I certainly agree with your thoughts about balancing the list, but I'm not at all sure that preventing the list would address the underlying reason as to why it list and its effects. My boat now is balanced perfectly but still favors port while coasting, and severely turns left at 5 knts or more under power (only). It could be that a slight hull imperfection is contributing to a degree also. I once had a discarded dinghy that when pulled at speed would veer to the side dramatically. I concluded it was hull shape.
I think the pulling to port problem with the E34 may be more typical than earlier thought. It would be good to know how many E34s (providing a hull production number) have the offset shaft even though there was no apparent reason for it, with the engine mounted in the centerline.
If the prop is pushing more water over the starboard side of the rudder perhaps that causes more lift of the starboard side, causing the boat to turn to port, with the hull shape agrivating the problem. WHile sailing perhaps only the hull shape is causing a slight pull to port. Add to this any contributing factors of prop design and boat speed, and you have the problem
Another thought: could it have been that the offset shaft was done to attempt to offset the known list??? if so perhaps it only aggrivated the problem.
For certain, my prop supplier, Slipstream, never could come up with good answer although they tried mightily.. They continued to feel that something about the boat was the underlying problem. And I now agree. Their prop is a super efficient folding design from down under.
And... 34Now, I would go slow on a new rudder... I just dont think it is the main problem.