2004 san

[KC04SAN]

Hello, first time poster to this site. I just had a few questions, i recently bought a 2004 SAN and the boat wont turn right in reverse, i have driven many boats in the past and never expeienced this, ive had boats that dont turn as well certain ways, but never a boat that wont turn at all, has anyone experienced this? And my right side ballast fills even when the main valve in the engine compartment is closed, ive heard nautiques have had ballast problems during these years, but any advice would help, thank you.

[MattieK27]

Most inboards dont steer in reverse. Perfectly normal...

You might need a new valve for the ballast, someone with more 1st gen SAN 210 experience will probably chime in.

[gride]

Your year will back to the left 99% of the time. Goofy footer surf special Turning the wheel all the way in one direction helps a little depending if you want more or less "left." as for the ballast, the valve needs to be replaced. Closing the seacock is not supposed to allow water in at all from what I understand. The valves were recalled and that one needs replacing, but someone else needs to reply as to why it still fills with a closed seacock.

[obd666]

Closing the seacock is not supposed to allow water in at all from what I understand. The valves were recalled and that one needs replacing, but someone else needs to reply as to why it still fills with a closed seacock.

no way it should fill if the brass seacock for that tank is completely shut. i can imagine the long handle for it up to the top of the engine compartment getting bent or just otherwise not closing the valve fully, but i would be surprised to hear that one "failed" and allowed water past it ... disclaimer, i guess anythings possible

[Texan1554]

As to the ballast. Follow the rod down from the blue handle where it connects. Make sure that you are in fact getting full closure. A simple wrench turn will tell you. The blue handles often don't deliver the torque needed.

As for reverse think of it this way... the rudder is behind the prop. In an inboard the only steering mechanism you have is the rudder. When in reverse water flow from the prop is away from rudder so the only thing guiding you is the prop rotation, which in your boat's case pushes, or rather pulls, the boat to the left. If you're used to I/O or outboards you are used to being able to "aim" the prop in the direction you want to go, not the case on inboards.

[KC04SAN]

Thanks for all the responses, ill deffenetly try to fallow the blue handle down and see if it is in fact closing all the and try to tighten it with a wrench, but closing it with just the blue handle it is allowing water into the ballast, its not filling all the way but buy the time we get out to our riding spot, we have to empty it.

[surroundsound64]

How about some pics of the new ride?!

[KC04SAN]

Ill get some picks up next time i get it out, its garage kept and a tight fit to say the lest!

[KC04SAN]

Heres the new ride

[KC04SAN]

Sorry for the pic, ill get some better ones!

[DanielC]

Congradulations on the new ride.

It will take a little getting used to the driving characteristics, especially in reverse. Take ot boat out, and just "play" with it, in the middle of the lake. Throw a bumper, or other floating object out of the boat, and practice driving up to it, backing toward it, things like that.

Your boat will back to the right, AFTER it is moving fast enough backwards, that the rudder is effective.

One technique, is to approach a dock that is on your right, is to approach the dock doing a tight (full lock) left turn, so that the boat is parallel to the dock on one part of the circle, and by putting the boat in reverse, to stop both the forward momentum, and the rotational momentum caused by propeller thrust.

I know it is a little uncomfortable backing an inboard boat, after being used to an outboard, or an I/O, but you will quickly find the improved steering going forward is more than worth the loss of steering control going backwards.