2002 SAN

[hpdixon3]

Dropped my "new to me" 2002 SAN in the water today. Ran awesome, but couple things I couldn't figure out.

1) The port ballast is half full and won't empty. The ballast was winterized but I'm not sure if that is a factor.
2) Steering is a little stiff on right hand turns

Any suggestions?

[core-rider]

1. Most likely the ballast level sending unit is going bad and giving an incorrect ohm value to the gauge making it read 1/2 full. Replacing the sender will fix that. If there is still water in the tank, then you have a pump issue that needs to be looked at. In that case it would not drain at all. My bet is on sending unit.

2. Tight steering is most likely the cause of a steering cable starting to bind up. The only real fix for that is replacement. some will install a grease fitting on the cable to help lube it, but I think that has a slim chance of helping. To figure out if it is the cable or not, unhook the cable from the rudder and make sure the rudder moves freely. Then turn the steering wheel to see if there is any change without the rudder attached. That will help narrow the problem down for you.

[hpdixon3]

dang. I can definitely feel weight in the port side. So it must be the pump.

Thanks Jason

[core-rider]

Before you condemn the pump check the power going to it. Make sure the circuit breaker isn't tripped. Get a multi-meter and check for 12VDC at the pump.

[hpdixon3]

put in again yesterday. Still learning the ins and out of this boat.

I didn't realize I needed to rotate those 2 levers inside the engine compartment for the ballast to work. After hittin those, the ballast filled and emptied pretty well. The port ballast guage is stuck at just over half full. This leads me to believe the float inside the tank is stuck. Would yall agree? Is the sender and a "float" the same thing??

[azeus17]

Yes, the sender has a float on it...same thing.

I was going to ask you about the ball valves. Another thing you will notice is that if the valves are open, the tanks will fill without the pumps on if you are moving fast enough. Some people have got around that by adding solenoids at the intakes.

[hpdixon3]

Does anyone know which size sender goes on the 2002 Super Air Nautique?

[azeus17]

I think it is this one, but may want to double check by measuring yours...

http://www.nautiqueparts.com/ballast...getanks-1.aspx

[hpdixon3]

Hey I got the sender in from Nautique Parts but I do not have a connector for the wiring. Can anyone tell me if this is the right connector for 17" Sender?


http://www.nautiqueparts.com/connect...lications.aspx

[beach]

Couldn't you remove the existing connector from the old sender and crimp/solder it on to the new one? The senders on my 03 210 use TE Connectivity connectors, 1-480698-0 with wire seal 794270-1 (this is for the plug side). You'll have to find the correct PIN for the wire gauge. For 14-20 gauge wire, the correct pins are TE Connectivity 350547-2. You'll need two pins for each connector.

Mouser electronics is where I ordered them from.

[hpdixon3]

thats a good idea. I just gotta find the pins. Here's the pic of the male end i need to replace. I've got to order something else from NautiqueParts, so i was hoping to kill two birds and get the connector from them.

[beach]

I meant that you could cut the wires 2 inches behind the old connector and crimp the connector on to your new sender. That way you wouldn't need to order anything except some marine grade butt connectors.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000S2...=SS115&simLd=1

Or you could see if nautique parts has the connector/pins.

[hpdixon3]

ohhhhhhh. I gotcha. Great idea. Thanks bud

[hpdixon3]

2. Tight steering is most likely the cause of a steering cable starting to bind up. The only real fix for that is replacement. some will install a grease fitting on the cable to help lube it, but I think that has a slim chance of helping. To figure out if it is the cable or not, unhook the cable from the rudder and make sure the rudder moves freely. Then turn the steering wheel to see if there is any change without the rudder attached. That will help narrow the problem down for you.

When on the trailer, the steering is smooth both left and right (I haven't unhooked the cable). The steering is only tight when I'm actually in the water. Would you still bet on the steering cables starting to bind up?


http://www.nautiqueparts.com/steerin...1998tonow.aspx

[nukemustang]

Is it tight when you are just sitting in the water? Or just when moving through the water at above idle speeds? I am pretty sure if it is just when you are moving it is due to the prop wash being thrust against the large surface area of the rudder when it is not in line with the keel. The fact it is one side vs. the other could be the fact that the tiller arm is on one side so it is a push-pull thing with torque on the rudder being felt through the tiller arm, through the cable and the steering wheel.

Not sure if it is true on wakeboarding v-drives, but I though on "ski" boats the rudder is biased so that there is a little pull on it, helping a driver drive straight through the slalom course, vice it being completely neutral and having to have the driver constantly move the rudder to keep the boat in a straight line as the skier turns at the turn balls.