What the heck is this?

[jperry]

Hi all-new member, but ive come here occassionally over the past 15 yrs or so to get some tips and keep updated! Ive got a 98 SN (closed bow-GT40)-owned since 99 (awesome boat-NO problems for 14 yrs!). Anyways, i have been developing a slow leak somewhere so me and my sons were drying out the bilge area to try and isolate the leak. While drying out the bilge area in front of the engine up in front of the pylon i grabbed this - it was totally rusty so i took a wire brush to it to make it easier to identify. As you can see, there is a hole in the top, no hole in the bottom (which is not visible in the pic) and there is a spring in the middle. I keep our boat pretty immac.-sits on a lift in the summer months-in the garage with a good detail in the bad months, so i'm fairly sure it has been in that location sitting up by the pylon for at least 14 yrs or i would have seen it! I know this wasn't the cause of our leak (found out we are getting water in the stern from the rudder plate), and the boat runs fine, but having some random part floating around has got me curious-any ideas? Thanks all!
John

[Mamigacz]

I looks like the part that screws into the end of the throttle cable. It will connect your throttle cable to the throttle body. I must of fell into the bilge after replacement.

[jperry]

hmmm...never replaced the throttle cable (and i bought it when it was only 1 yr. old so doubt it had been replaced prior). We did replace the steering cable though 2 yrs ago. Maybe an "oops" from the factory and "i'll just grab a new one off the shelf instead of fishing around for it"?

[AirTool]

Its definitely a "tie rod end"

[DanielC]

""i'll just grab a new one off the shelf instead of fishing around for it"? "

I used to work at a Correct Craft dealer. You would be amazed at the amount of stuff you find in the bilge of a boat, first during the pre delivery inspection on a new boat. and then again at the 25 hour service. Especially V-drives.

[Quinner]

I looks like the part that screws into the end of the throttle cable. It will connect your throttle cable to the throttle body. I must of fell into the bilge after replacement.

If boat has perfect pass that looks like a part of the throttle cabling that comes out when PP is installed.

[jperry]

Avast! thanks quinner-i'll bet thats it! My buddy who had more experience than me at it gave me a hand putting it in when i first bought the boat in 1999. I know we were in a bit of a rush as he lives on a private ski lake and we had a time slot reserved to try it out, so we probably didn't sweat the little stuff. OK-guess parts aren't falling off so i'll keep it for another 14 years
john