It's been a while since I've had a boat and this is the first boat with a foot-controlled TM. When under power at anything more than throttle speed 1, it wants to turn to the right. I have to keep heavy pressure on the foot control just to keep it still. If I want to go left, I have to get off the throttle. Is this normal and/or is there a fix for it?

sounds like cables need adjustment. what kind is it?

It's an older 12v MotorGuide Tracker 30lb

cables need adjustment

sounds like a bent shaft on the trolling motor to me

I think you nailed it spanky. When I was looking at it last night, I noticed that the shaft isn't exactly straight. Has a bit of a bow to it. I didn't mess with it any more after that. Can it be bent back with a little bit of heat or is it a done deal?

i can and have straighten them, i did not use heat, does it look like the bend/bow is in the upper tube, lower shaft or both?

Looks to be in the lower shaft

be sure to check the upper tube at the mount clamp area with a straight edge at three points of the circumference, do the same with the lower tube and mark the bend with crayon or a marker for reference points, flex and stress it then reset the metal, resetting the metal is done by inducing vibration into the tube while stressed, this allows the molecules inside the metal to return to there original position or reset the metal back to its straight position, a soft block of wood tapping with a light body hammer around the circumference of the tube while stressed in the opposite direction of the bow, do not overstress it, and it may takes a couples times or work it a little at a time in other words, the soft wood and light taps prevent dimpling the metal

There's a product called Troll Perfect. It a sleeve that goes over the bearing between the upper and lower shaft. I have one on my trolling motor and I have have no issues with torque turning the head at any speed. It has an adjustable screw that you can hand tighten to your desirable needs. I highly recommend it.

http://www.trollperfect.com/Pages/default.aspx