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Steering on my '99 Sport Nautique is heavy, taking much more effort than other Ski & Sport Nautiques I've driven. It seems to be getting worse: it steers very hard to the right, and spins hard left if pressure is taken off the wheel. A mechanic said that the steering can't be improved. Any ideas would be appreciated.
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Maybe change the tuning on the rudder.Now
2000 SAN
Previously
1999 Air Nautique
1996 Tige Pre-2000
1989 Lowe 24' Pontoon / Johnson 100HP outboard -
Definitely tune the rudder. Try to get the black insert more towards the middle of the rudder. This will make the steering more neutral. If your are not running the slalom course, I see no reason not to have the steering more neutral.
Dan, the skier ManComment
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A 99' should have a tunable rudder like in the pics below, you want to move it centered or just offset left for a neutral steering wheel.
If you do not have a tunable rudder grinding is your other option.
BTW, you may want to find another mechanic, lol
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tune the rudder and replace the steering cable. I changed the cable on my 2000 and it made all the difference in the world.2003 226 LEComment
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You might also change the packing in the rudder shaft. Its a 10 minute job if you dont have ballast tanks. It made some difference on my sport. You can also inspect the connections and lubricate the cable.
I agree with Quinner, time to find an inboard mechanic , dont take it to the pontoon guy again.
Quinner- I've been tuning on my rudder, and when I've moved the tab all the way to the left, I can get my 206 to have a right hand pull at 30mph and above. It steers like my buddy's malibu response lxi, which is one of the most fun boats to drive I've been in. I haven't had it in the course like that but will shortly.2005 Ski Nautique 206 SE, Acme 422, PP SG 8.0, ND Tower
2011 strada with strada bindings
Prior Boats:
1986 Sunbird skier with 150 Evinrude VRO
1992 Mastercraft prostar 190, with Powerslot
1999 Ski Nautique GT-40
1999 Sport Nautique, GT-40 FCT,
www.skiersofknoxville.orgComment
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Chexi, dan1166, Quinner, Lvnspeed, NCH2oSki-
Thanks for the great advice and especially the photos. Invaluable.
Have tunable rudder. I set it to the extreme to counteract hard steering when I got it in 2007. I'll change the cable, adjust the rudder and since I don't have the fat sacks, repack the rudder.
Appreciate the advice. Hope you're finding time, a third and flat water.Comment
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I had difficulty turning my wheel to the right under power. Turns out the issue was that the lube on the rudder shaft was long gone causing binding.
Pulled rudder and greased it with Mercury 2-4-C. Turns like it was new.Comment
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