How tight should the steering be?

[shonuff]

This is my first inboard and the first inboard I've ever driven so I have nothing to base it on. Coming from an I/O with power steering, the steering on my '05 210 feels tight while driving. I bought the boat last October from a dealer and the steering was really tight. The dealer told me it needed a new steering cable so I replaced it after buying the boat. While the new steering cable made a big improvement, the steering wheel is still loaded while the boat is moving. I straightened out the rudder tuning fin, checked the rudder for lateral movement and pumped more grease into the rudder shaft. All these things helped but the steering is still somewhat tight.

When I'm idling around the steering wheel is very loose. Should it also feel like this while cruising or is it supposed to tighten up some once you get going?

Thanks!

[east tx skier]

It's going to tighten up a bit when underway. Turns to the right will be a little more difficult than turns to the left. The rotation of the prop is going to cause a little bit of counter torque in the opposite direction. Overall, this helps keep the boat in a straight line as will moving your rudder trim to cause a little pull to the left while underway. Since you're coming from an I/O, I'd say this is something that you will not only get used to, but something you will come to love about your new boat.

[Beach-TJ]

I came from an I/O as well, and I have noticed the same thing. The steering is very light and easy when just idling around, lighter than the power steering on my I/O. But when under way it does take a little more to turn her. And if I'm really into the throttle accelerating it can take a quite a bit of effort to get her to turn.

If you want maybe we can meet up sometime in the next week or two on the lake, and you can see how mine drives compared to yours. See if there is any real difference.

[MikeC]

If you're coming from an I/O with power steering the inboard with a rudder will feel completely different. Since there's no power in the inboard steering (cable connected to an arm) the steering will feel different at different speeds (if you need and example, stick your hand in the water the next time your idling and see how easy it is to pivot - then do the same thing at speed, the water exerts a lot of force). Under full throttle it may even take two hands to turn the wheel, but when it does turn you had better hold on because unlike your old I/O this boat won't roll so much as it will dig in and pivot around the tracking fins. The real test for the steering is when the motor is off - turn the wheel - if you hear any noises or if it's binding or if it's difficult to turn then you may have a problem.

[shonuff]

Thanks, I guess there probably isn't anything wrong with it then. With the steering system being so simple I couldn't understand what else it could have been. I've read people on this forum describing their steering after putting in a new cable as being able to turn with one finger and thought something was wrong with mine. I'd describe it as being able to turn with one finger while idling but not underway.

Beach-TJ, I might take you up on that if we're ever out at the same time.