95 Ski Nautique Closed Bow Hard to steer at slow speeds

[kimpearsonusa]

I replaced the steering cable about 50 hours ago. It helped some but is still too hard for my wife to turn at low speeds when she comes to pick me up after a fall.

My buddy has a 1993 model with a zerk <sp> fitting on the rudder housing and his is like butter. I was told they did not put them on the 1995 model because of EPA concerns. Boat is fine at speed or small steering corrections but at slow speed with a load on the rudder it is defiantly a two handed operation.

Do I need to remove the old grease and repack the rudder housing or install a grease fitting?

Thanks for the help.

Kim

[AB]

If you want to be sure, turn the rudder by hand, then disconnect the cable from the tiller arm then turn the rudder by hand. If it is the same degree of effort, the problem is in the stuffing box. I would replace it with one that has grease fitting.

The other item is the through-hull bearing. I think I have read that they can become corroded and tight. Either way, I would fix both when you take it apart.

[kimpearsonusa]

Thanks. Is the through hull bearing inside the rudder housing with the packing?

I can not turn the rudder by hand with the cable hooked up. I will unhook it and see if it turns easier. What bugs me is that it turns fine at the wheel when stopped in the water but is very hard when under power at slow speeds.

This doesn't seem to point to the cable or the stuffing box.

Kim

[AB]

I am wondering if you can push your rudder up and turn it easier?
Maybe at speed there is lift on the rudder and it operates in a groove or something.
Inwould for sure check the tiller arm connections to make sure they ate all tight when you try tontest rudder without them hooked up.