2002 Air Nautique 216 Steering Cable questions.

[samcaddle]

I have read several post here about this job, and none seem to fit my application. When removing the center floor piece the cable connections are too far away to get to even with the wheel turned all the way to starboard. It appears my starboard ballast tank needs to come out. Couple questions. How hard is this to do? Any instructions out there already? And also what specifically holds the rear seat back in place. It see the bolt through the back wall with the knob, but what hold the ends? Do I need to pull the combing pad(s) to take it seat back out? Thanks for the help. Sam

[MuskokaCanada]

Interested in the replies and for some reason it won't let me subscribe to the thread.

[Quinner]

If it's an 02' then I am assuming you have a Sport/Air and not a 216. IIRC The rear seat back should be on clips which you can slide straight up to release. With the rear seat and rear floor panel removed you still cannot access the rudder/tiller??

[samcaddle]

They stopped calling them Sports and mine is an AN 216. Direct Drive. The gas tank is under the rear seat and is tall in the back blocking any view or access to the cable connections. It appears as though the gas tank needs to slide forward significantly if not out completely to be able to work under the ballast tank. The ballast tank appears nearly impossible to remover with the gas tank in the way of accessing the hose connections to it. Below are a couple pics to show difficulty of access. Sorry one is sideways but it is easier for you to turn your head than for me to redo! I have all winter now to do this and it just may take me that long. :o(

[Quinner]

They stopped calling them Sports and mine is an AN 216.

Then you have an 2003 or newer as that was the first year of the 216. 2002 would be a sport/air and is 6" shorter then a 216. Anyways tanks are likely similar in both so "should" not matter which one you actually have.
It appears you may have some wiggle room with the ballast tanks, I would loosen/remove the retainers at the floor and see if you can move the tank(s) enough to get your hand down there in between them to access the nuts you need to loosen and remove.
My 206 is very similar, that would suck if the fuel tank needs to come out to change a steering cable, ugh.

[samcaddle]

I will give that a look. Trust me here. The 216 started in 2002. I know the boat is 2002, I know it is a 216, therefore it must be a 2002 AN216,and that's what all the lettering says. I was a promo person for them for 23 years, and sold them for three years after that. I am certain of my boat, just not experienced at working on them. That is the problem with having new all the time, just don't get the experience working on them.

[xlair]

No quinner is right. No 216 until 2003


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[samcaddle]

Apologies to all. Mine is a 2002 Air Nautique, 21 feet, and apparently not the 216. Doing a little research shows the 216 did not come out until 2003 as you guys have correctly pointed out. My bad, sorry about that. I owned direct drive Airs and 216's from 2000 thru 2004 so clearly got myself confused on the change. I thought the graphics change marked the move to 216.