Nautique handleing question.

[JHill9]

I have been looking at getting a wakeboard boat for sometime. I have been looking at mastercrafts and found a local Nautique dealer. I really like the SV 211 and we took it out on their demo lake at the dealer. Everything was going great untill we did the tracking. After turning to the right I would start to turn the wheel to the left and there would be a little sticking, so it would require a little more force to get past this one point and then it would be fine.

This is when I asked the sales person if there was something wrong with the boat. He said his direct drive Nautique does the same thing. It is the way the rudder is behind the propeller, and all Nautiques do it. When we get out of the water he grabs the machanic to explain it more. Well the machanic said the samething but then also said that you can really notice it because of the grease that is used and with time it will go away. The sales man then said that in his boat you can't even feel it anymore. (Yes, he just told us that his boat still does it when we were out on the water). I just don't feel that this is normal since the Sanger we drove right before the Nautique didn't handle that way. And the Ski Centirion (spelling?) didnt handle didn't handle like that. Just seems like the top of the line boat shouldn't handle that way.

So that leads me to you guys. Do your Nautiques handle that way? Or is the dealer trying to sell me a lemon?

[Rick]

RE: Nautique handleing question.

Due to prop torque a boat will always stear more easily one way than the other. My boat goes to port very easily but takes more effort to turn to starboard. That is because of the rotation of the engine and prop. MCs and Malibus are the opposite because thier props rotate the opposite direction. I would agree with the mechanic. Being a salesman sometimes we dig a hole for ourselves. I think you would be bery happy with that 211 Good luck

[ag4ever]

I know it is harder to turn left than right, but there should be no "sticking" points nor popping past a point.

[Onthewater]

ditto ag4ever

[jvuotto]

RE: Nautique handleing question.

We love our 05-211 and yes we noticed the same sticking on the wheel when returning from a right turn back to center. We have 80+ hours on the boat now, and at the 25 hour service they did find a nut or pin that was not correct. I haven't noticeced the issue since sometime last summer so I don't know if all the new parts just have to wear together, or the adjustment at the 25 hour did the trick. The steering does seem loosen up with time. We've been more than happy with the performace from boarding, skiing and some footing. With 7 of us we do a little bit of everything (even a tube now and then) and it has done everything we have asked of it and more. For a V-drive, the wake sure softens up after 30mph and the hydro-gate is truly awesome for adjusting the wake. Good luck with your decision.

[JHill9]

That is what I thought.

But it really isn't sticking to where it would pop. You start to turn left and it turns a little really easy, then you have to put an extra 5-10 pounds of force for about a quarter of a turn and then it is back to being easy.

[SGY]

RE: Nautique handleing question.

Agree with agfever. Should not be sticking point. I'd have that checked before you buy the boat. Have someone like the mechanic take the boat out with you.

You'll love the 211.

[patoloco]

Sounds like you have a steering cable binding or something if it sticks in a certain spot...or pops.

As far as being harder to steer one way vs. the other, I've found all ski boats do that...as stated, because of prop rotation.

I've tuned mine so that it tracks straight when you let go of the wheel....unfortunately, this gives the wheel a couple inches of "dead space" in either direction when dead center. Some people like to tune them so they always have positive pressure on one side so they can make more fine steering adjustments.

[AbunDiga909]

There is more of a difference in turning in the V-Drives oppose to the DD's. But compared to how heavy the 211 is I thought it turned relatively well, esp. considering the fact that on our friends' '00 MC you need to be in very good shape to turn that thing to the left. Also agree w/ ag4ever.

[ScrewPusher]

Part 1----When I test drove a SV-211 last summer I felt the same issue. It felt like a stiff point or something. Dealer noted issue, but I did not but that boat. I bought one 2 months later.

Part 2----My new SV-211 does not have any sticking points or issues with steering, and I love it. 40 plus hours in September/Oct/Nov

My 95 SN had to have the rudder removed and re-greased every 2-3 years, that was before they put grease fitting on the stuffing tube.