Steering Issue

[nwelch]

Alright, so we just finished replacing our steering cable on our 1998 Ski Nautique. The boat turns great now except for one problem that I was wondering if anyone else has experienced.

When just in gear the boat turns fine and stays straight, but when the boat gets up to speed if you let go of the wheel it will start to rapidly spin left and turn the boat. Now the boat steers completely fine in both directions, except you just need to constantly hold the wheel to keep it straight.

Now this was the first time we've had the boat out since the replacement and I was wondering if possibly it just needed some time for the cable to get worn in or maybe its just a simple fix?

Has anyone experienced this before or could possibly know whats causing this to happen?

[todda]

I am pretty certain that you have a "tunable rudder," is the adjustment on the rudder kicked all the way to the "left?" B/c if so, you might feel it pull left when you let go of the wheel like you described. If you had a dealer replace the cable, and if your rudder had been in the "neutral-straight" position, would the dealer maybe have tuned your rudder to the left w/o letting you know? Just a thought.
Todd

[nwelch]

I'm pretty sure we don't have a tunable rudder, but I'll have to run over and check today to make sure. We actually had a local friend who buys and works on boats and resells them do it. He suggested we had to grind down the rudder to fix the problem.

Nic

[gunnin4six]

Typically 196 owners prefer to have their rudder pull to one side or the other (mine pulls to the right) intentionally. This is so the slop/backlash in the steering is taken up maiking it easier for the driver to stay true in the course. Without having it pull you find yourself rotating the steering wheel back and forth to keep the boat straight without bumping boat guides.

[swc5150]

Alright, so we just finished replacing our steering cable on our 1998 Ski Nautique. The boat turns great now except for one problem that I was wondering if anyone else has experienced.

When just in gear the boat turns fine and stays straight, but when the boat gets up to speed if you let go of the wheel it will start to rapidly spin left and turn the boat. Now the boat steers completely fine in both directions, except you just need to constantly hold the wheel to keep it straight.

Now this was the first time we've had the boat out since the replacement and I was wondering if possibly it just needed some time for the cable to get worn in or maybe its just a simple fix?

Has anyone experienced this before or could possibly know whats causing this to happen?

Yes, this is what you want, as it makes course tracking much easier. As others have said, you can remove the pull by adjusting the rudder tab.

[nwelch]

Just to clarify, when I say the boat begins to turn, I mean the wheel begins to completely spin all the way to left very fast as if I was going to completely turn the boat around. I can understand a slight turn, but this seems much to drastic to me, or is that intended.

[gunnin4six]

yes, with a new steering cable that is what will happen. When skiing in the course the driver wants the pressure pulling on the wheel so his input is immediately reacted in the steering. If you feel uncomfortable with the amount of pull then you should probably adjust the rudder. It sounds like its pulling fairly hard.

[nwelch]

Ah alright thanks Gunnin. I've only had it out once so it may have just been me over reacting to it being so much easier to turn so next time I take it out I'll have to really see how drastically it turns when I let go. Thanks for the help.