Need advice on my new for me 2002 SANTE

[peterdev]

A few week ago I picked up my 2002 SAN with the TE features from Lake Anna and towed it back to Ohio. This is my first time owning a boat, and certainly my first time owning a Nautique. Since then I have had it out on a local lake 4 times and now need the following advice from you experts:

1. How do I eliminate "play" in the steering wheel - there is 20-30 degrees which I would like to get down to 5-10 degrees?

2. How do I adjust the steering wheel so that when travelling straight forward - the steering wheel is symmetrical (spokes at 8 and 4 o clock) - right now it is about 90 degrees off?

3. What maintenance is required for the propeller shaft "strut" (the bracket around the prop shaft about 14 inches behind the propeller) - is there a bearing there and does it require lubrication. A few times when opening the throttle I have heard some very rapid vibration and I think that this may be the cause.

4. I have oil leaking from the rear of the V-Drive gearbox, and it is gathering in the depth gage transducer unit which sits just behind the rear of the v-drive unit on the floor. The oil level is at the top of the dipstick. What could be causing this, and how do I fix it?

5. How do I fill the center ballast tank only?

Thank you in advance for your kind help
Peter

[DanielC]

RE: Need advice on my new for me 2002 SANTE

PeterDev,
1. I am not sure about the play. If you remove some panels from the starboard side of the engine compartment (right side, looking forward) you shound be able to crawl in there, and see the pittman arm, attached to the rudder.when you are in there, have someone else move the rudder, and see what is going on.
2. You can pry off the center plastic cap from the steering wheel, and there is a 3/4" nut under it. remove the nut, and the steering wheel and hub will slip off splines. Put it back on where you want it, tighten the nut, and put the cap back on. If the plastic cap is loose, glue it with some silicone seal RTV.
3. The Strut bearing is lubricated by the water the boat is in. Water flows around it, keeping it cool. If you ever get a rope wrapped around the prop shaft, pull the prop and make sure there is no pieces still there blocking water flow. The propeller runs at an angle to the boat motion, and under hard acceleration, or tight corners, it causes some vibration. There is also a possibility your prop shaft is out of alighment. When the boat is on the trailer, the prop should spin freely by hand. One blade on the prop could be bent.
4. Check all the bolts around the V-drive gearbox. There is also a drain plug on the back bottom end of the V-Drive box.
5. There are shutoff valves for all three tanks located somewhere. There is also a engine cooling water shutoff valve. DO NOT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE COOLING WATER! The ballast tank valves are probably on the port side of the engine compartment, near the front of the compartment. The front tank valve is just behind the tank, in the front compartment. It looks like a ski storage locker.
Hopefully you got a manual with your boat. It has a lot of useful information in it

[peterdev]

DanielC

I did print the manual from this site but it really does not cover anything other than normal operation procedure, and safety.

Thanks so much for the advice - if we do not go out tomorrow I will try to see if I can get to the rudder arm and determine where this "play" is coming from.

We were on the lake for a few hours today, and it seems like the V-Drive has stopped leaking - perhaps it was overfilled - I will keep watching the level carefully.

I did notice something strange today with the ballast - you are right there are 3 valves to manually open when you want to fill the tanks - 2 at the back, and one behind the tank in the center. Today we had all the valves closed - and the tanks filled while the valves were closed. Do you have any idea how this can be happening?

Peter

[DanielC]

Peter.
Do you have the handles that are extended above the valve? make sure there in no play in the handle to valve connection. The valve is a brass ball valve, is'nt it? Are you sure you turned the valve the correct way? The valve should turn 90 degrees from full open to full closed. If the valve goes not quite 90 or just a little more, it will be partially open.

[peterdev]

Yes - I have 2 blue handles which run down to the valves mounted to the bottom of the boat. I will check to see if I am moving it 90 degrees and get back to you. I think that this is the obvious answer - but to me something as absolutely simple as this should work faultlessly. I will let you know what I find.