1997 Ski - Steering Problems

[cmurph]

I have a 1997 ski with about 600 hours that has given me steering difficulties since I got it. I have replaced the cable once, but the boat still steers badly. It turns somewhat decently to the left but takes both hands and a lot of effort to turn to the right. Even after the new cable was installed, the steering was only good for a few weeks. I just took the boat in and they are saying that the entire rudder unit and housing needs to be replaced. Does anyone have any experience with such problems? And what should it cost? They are saying at least $500. Thanks!

[DavidF]

RE: 1997 Ski - Steering Problems

I recently replaced my rudder with a new trimmable rudder ($455) and the rudder port ($151), so the price on the rudder replacement seems a bit low.

I would think a bad cable would make steering diffilcult in both directions, so a bad rudder makes sense. Also, dried up (or lack thereof) grease in the bushings of the stub shaft in the helm can contribute to stiff steering, but again in both directions.

[auskier]

RE: 1997 Ski - Steering Problems

I have a 1997 SN and it is easy to steer in both directions. Maybe a little harder when turning right, but still easy to do with one hand. I also spent a year in a club 1997 SN back in 1997 and it was always easy to steer. My dad has a 1990 Mastercraft Tristar that has always been difficult to steer and he found that he needed to regularly grease the rudder box. (thats what he calls it, I'm not sure if thats the actual name or not) Steering becomes easier for a while after he does this. Even after the grease it is still a little harder to turn one direction than the other. We always attributed that to the prop rotation. I would agree that your problem sounds like a rudder issue.

Try pushing some grease in with a grease gun. (I've never done this to my nautique or I would give some instruction on how to do so, but there should be a fitting) See if this helps your problem and if so, how long the fix lasts. Especially, if your not ready to spend $500 or $600 dollars at the moment as well as not wanting to have your boat in the shop during the middle of the summer.

[DavidF]

RE: 1997 Ski - Steering Problems

There are no zerk (or other type grease fittings) fittings on a rudder or rudder port. If there were, you would just be polluting the water as it eventually gets washed out. I would think that a bent rudder or worn rudder port could cause steering problems if the cable or helm is not the source of trouble.

[auskier]

RE: 1997 Ski - Steering Problems

My mistake I guess, Thanks for the info David.

My dads mastercraft does have a fitting, I know this for a fact. I just assumed that maybe the nautique would be the same way. Sorry for the misinformation, I guess I shouldn't give advice about something I've never looked at :-)

Hope you get you steering situation fixed. I do know that it should be easy to turn a 1997 SN.

[foiltravis]

My 1998 Ski Nautique started steering hard a bit before 500 hours, it was similar to yours, actually steered a bit tougher one direction than the other, it would get a bit easier to steer as I drove it around the course but not much. I replaced the steering cable and the problem was still there. I ended up dropping the rudder out the bottom and upon cleaning everything up found that the rudder shaft and rudder box had some scoring (not a lot). I cleaned both up with some fine sandpaper, relubed everything and put it back together, steers like new almost 75 hours later. I sure wish Correct Craft had put a grease zerk in the rudder box. This was not really a hard job to do, I had to slide the boat back a bit to get the rudder to clear the trailer (I put it in the lake to do this) then I simply paid attention to how everything came apart. Oh, by the way to get the rudder out I had to remove the gas tank, getting the hoses off the tank was probably the tougest part of the entire job, they go on a barbed connection and getting them off was not fun.

Larry

[DavidF]

Auskier:

Sorry, did not mean to be critical. Maybe some boats have grease fittings, I have just never seen one on a CC. An interesting side note: I am restoring a badly wreched 93 Sn and am currently installing underwater gear. While looking through the parts bag that the PO gave me, I noticed a zerk fitting inside. I have no idea where it goes...hmm. It certainly does not go on my new rudder and/or rudder port...

Larry:

We live in the same town! I agree with you on the barbed fittings. Not only do the barbs make it hard to remove the fuel lines, but it also chews them up in the process and will/can send bits of rubber down the fuel line. Mostly this rubber get trapped by the fuel filter, but still I hate the barbed fittings. If there is sufficient slack in the fuel line, I usually cut the line off the fittings.