1995 Sport with Hard Steering

[KTompkins]

My 1995 Sport needs some help with its steering. I noticed that it was getting pretty hard toward the end of last season and now I need to get it fixed. Should I start with the Cable? The rudder looks fine, and I don't think the seal is leaking. Boat has 800+hrs on it.

[wakejunky]

RE: 1995 Sport with Hard Steering

You can try disconnecting the cable at the tiller and see if the rudder is stiff or the cable. I'd be 10:1 that you'll need to replace your cable. Not a hard job but, not an easy job.

Chris

[Sbt3]

RE: 1995 Sport with Hard Steering

my guess would also be cable. I just ordered one this weekend for my 97 supersport

[slob02]

RE: 1995 Sport with Hard Steering

I agree with all above...................It will be like a new!

[KTompkins]

RE: 1995 Sport with Hard Steering

Thanks, the Tech at DIM said the same thing. But looks like I will need to order the cable from Correct Craft. I better hurry, the water getting tolerable.

[ag4ever]

RE: 1995 Sport with Hard Steering

Some have just used the longer cable with a creative routing job to take up the excess. That would save you some time and money, or call Houston Watersports Complex (Houston) or Sail and Ski (Austin and San Antonio) to see if they have one in stock.

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: 1995 Sport with Hard Steering

Or you could order it from White Lake and take advantage of the 10% PlanetNautique discount. The price for the cable you need is $169 before the discount, and since the order is over $100, you'll get a free Nautique shirt. Click on the White Lake banner at the top of this site for more information.

[jhiestand]

RE: 1995 Sport with Hard Steering

Does it steer hard all the time, or only while the boat is on plane? If it only steers hard on plane it's most likely your rudder assembly needs greased. There's a grease zirk on the rearside of the rudder housing that is difficult to see, but shooting it full will be night/day. At least, on my '94 there was a zirk back there.

If it's steering hard all the time, then it's most likely the cable.

[97sport]

RE: 1995 Sport with Hard Steering

Still looking for the grease zerk on my 97 sport. Had the rear seat out several times and still can't find it.

[jhiestand]

RE: 1995 Sport with Hard Steering

I know CC changed it at one point since my 01 doesn't have one. However, my 94 did and it was pointed toward the transom, which made it difficult to find unless you knew it was back there.

[KTompkins]

RE: 1995 Sport with Hard Steering

Well I made it to the boat barn and disconnected the steering cable from the rudder and guess what? The cable is the problem, in fact it feels worse much worse than it did 4 months ago. So I'm going to call White Lake, get a cable and a T-shirt. I also notice that the rudder has a little wobble to it. In addition when I move the rudder back and forth it feels like metal on metal. Instead of moving smoothly, it moves like bad breaks feel (I'm at a loss for adjectives). The rudder moves easily though. I'll talk to SKIDIM, but I'll bet I need to replace the packing. Oh and I couldn't feel a zerk but thats a pretty good reach to the rudder assembly and I don't know that I could grease it if it did have one.
Thanks for all the help.

[peteSki]

The steering on my 97 Ski is starting to get hard, but tends to loosen up after use.

Is there a way to lubricate the steering cable as a quick fix until a new one can be installed?

Pete

[KTompkins]

In addition when I move the rudder back and forth it feels like metal on metal. Instead of moving smoothly, it moves like bad breaks feel (I'm at a loss for adjectives). The rudder moves easily though. I'll talk to SKIDIM, but I'll bet I need to replace the packing.

No, according to SKIDIM a little play in the rudder is in the design. In fact the boat should pull to starboard if on a plane and the wheel is handsfree. Has something to do with keeping her straight down the boat bouys in the slalom course. I never regret calling those guys before I get too excited and cause myself more work and money than I need.
Oh and I ordered the cable from White Lake so I'll be getting a cable and T-shirt in a couple days.

[foiltravis]

Pete: My 1998 Ski Nautique started steering hard and sounds similar to yours, it would get easier to steer as I drove it. 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. 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.

Larry

[peteSki]

Pete: My 1998 Ski Nautique started steering hard and sounds similar to yours, it would get easier to steer as I drove it. 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. 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.

Thanks Larry, I'll disconnect the cable from the rudder and see if the wheel is still hard to turn to determine if it's the cable or the rudder.

Pete