Steering Cable Vs. Ballast Tank in Air 206

[Brose]

I am looking to tune up the steering performance in my 2005 Air 206. It is hard to turn (especially for my wife), when the steering wheel is turned is makes a repetative clunking sound, and there is a good 3 inches of play in the steering before the rudder engages. I have read up on this quite a bit and have decided I want to change out the steering cable and possibly the helm base assembly.

Does anyone know if the steering cable can be changed without removing the rear ballast tank? I started to get into it and realized its very difficult to access the hose connection at the bottom of the tank to disconnect it. If the ballast tank must come out what is the reccomended method for doing so? I can get access to the rudder tiller arm to remove the bolt attaching it to the steering cable but I'm guessing there has to be some sort of clamp holding the cable in place up under the ballast tank that I will need to loosen in order to pull the cable out. Does something like this exist or will the cable just pull out easily after it is disconnected from the rudder?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[WakeSlayer]

I did a 99 Sport recently. Not sure how that compares to the 206. The cable clamp block will be forward of the rudder by a foot or more.

[bkhallpass]

I am not positive on that boat, but it is likely that the the cable is clamped to a bracket which attaches to the shaft strut. I so, you should be able to get to it by removing the center floor panel. BKH

[WakeSlayer]

Good point, Brian. I do not recall when they changed that.

[LT206]

In my 206 there are two separate tanks in the back and you can access the rudder and cable between the tanks - which sounds like you've figured out. The bigger problem will be the fuel tank if you need access farther forward. It is one piece and runs the full width of the boat. Even if you take the floor panel out you still have the tank in the way. I'm not sure where the braket BKH refers to is in relation to the fuel tank.

[Quinner]

Re: LT's comment, on my 05' the ballast is one tank in the trunk, fuel tank is forward of that, basically the seat base of the back seat - beam of boat, so it sounds like some changes since 03' or 04' ?. The rear section of floor is removable if you pull the doghouse out, may give you a better perspective of exactly what is going on back there.

[Brose]

It's done!

Thanks everyone for your input. The key to changing the cable was removing the floor behind the dog house. Once that came out it was easy to get to the ballast tank connections so the tank could be removed which allowed easy access to the cable clamp. Thanks Again!

[LT206]

Re: LT's comment, on my 05' the ballast is one tank in the trunk, fuel tank is forward of that, basically the seat base of the back seat - beam of boat, so it sounds like some changes since 03' or 04' ?.

Quinner, I think there was an option of two tanks in '03 for the wakeboard option which gave around 400# of ballast. It was later changed in '04 or '05 to the trick tank option which is a single tank - around 200# maybe??? I only have about 6" of depth in the trunk - I bet you have much more than that if you have the single tank.

[Quinner]

Les,

Interesting about larger tanks being available, mine is the 200# trick tank, trunk has some depth but not wide enough for a ski.

BTW, how's biz down your way? The past 12 months have been very slow here, just starting to see a turn in the right direction, hope it continues!!