Accessing rudder assembly on 02 196

[FalconEddie]

New Nautique owner! The steering seems really stiff on an 02 196 I just bought. How do I access the rudder assembly? I will be at the boat tomorrow to mess with it, but I'd love to get a head start by getting some feedback here.

[AirTool]

RE: Accessing rudder assembly on 02 196

I don't know about the 02...but my 06 206 is accessible by lifting up the center floor panel in the trunk. You might have to clear the vertical panel that hides the gas tank. Mine has a grease fitting. I've heard older ones don't.....but I don't know when they switched.

AirTool

[JUST-IN-TIME]

RE: Accessing rudder assembly on 02 196

sounds like cable is bad

[Quinner]

RE: Accessing rudder assembly on 02 196

Eddie,

I would also guess your cable is bad also. On my 206 there is a grease fitting for the rudder in the trunk, just behind a removable plastic cover in the center rear, not sure if the 196 is set up the same way or if at all on an 02'.

If it is your cable, as I would suspect it is, make sure you buy the correct replacement, I believe CC uses a different length than most other MFR's.

FWIW one bit of maintenance I do over the winter is every week two turn the wheel crank to crank several times to help keep the cable lubricated.

[JUST-IN-TIME]

RE: Accessing rudder assembly on 02 196

FWIW one bit of maintenance I do over the winter is every week two turn the wheel crank to crank several times to help keep the cable lubricated.

that is the best thing since sliced bread!!

[Johnsongc]

RE: Accessing rudder assembly on 02 196

Eddie, It is most likely your cable. I just replaced mine last week in my '01 196. The difficult part was pulling the gas tank out far enough to reach the rudder assembly. What made it harder was that I was not expecting to have to slide the tank forward and it had 1/2 tank of gas in it. LOL... I believe the '02's are just like the '01's with the flat gas tank in the back. Otherwise, it really wasn't too bad - pull off the kick panel, undo at the rudder, attach a lead line and after a few cuts and bruises fish the cable out.