Tight steering

[F_R]

Re: Tight steering

Let me make some things clear, since I was the guy that suggested hydraulic steering.

There is a saying "there is no such thing as a free lunch". That is true in steering, whatever the method. It takes a certain amount of energy to move the tiller arm. That energy has to be supplied by the helm (and your arms).

Hydraulic steering is not power steering, however there is such a thing as hydraulic power steering. Since it is not power steering, you supply the energy required to move the tiller.

I suggested hydraulic steering as a cure for friction caused by multiple bends in the steering cable. My suggestion is a valid one for curing that problem. Yachts use hydraulic steering because of the long and crooked route required to get from the helm to the rudders, and the ease of adding multiple helm stations. But if the hard steering is caused by something other than friction in the cable, hydraulic steering won't help.

One other thing hydraulic steering does is prevent the tiller from driving the helm. That is it locks the tiller at whatever position it was in when you last stopped turning the helm. That is a great relief for those boat owners who have to keep a death grip on the wheel all the time to keep it from spinning.

Now, having given all the benefits and disclaimers, let me add this: Though it is not power steering as such, you can make it easier to steer those inherent hard-to-steer boats by selecting the right helm and cylinder combination. A smaller helm displacement in relation to the tiller cylinder will require less torque to turn the steering wheel, but at the expense of requiring more turns to go from hardover to hardover. But I still suspect that in this particular case the problem is cable related and it shouldn't require going the more turns route.

Hope all this helps someone.

 

[ray estep]

Re: Tight steering

I can move mine fairly eazy after honing my tilt tube and replacing the cable. I have a 16ft monark with a 85 horse Evenrude. There was no way I could have done this when my cable broke almost 2 mile from the boat ramp. My wife and I rowed the hole way.


Ozarks R&R

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Tight steering

I think (no I know....see later) I could turn the engine with my last steering system which was a rotary drum type. I know I could turn earlier units with the rotary drum types. Reason why I know (just dawned on me) is that all my other engines went to full sideways position when trailering. If you didn't set them there after a few minutes of going down the road (tilted up) they would roll over there. This is my first rack and first NFB. This one stays put on the trailer when tilted up yet I can steer it with one finger at idle, and eaily with one hand at WOT.

88hp on a 25 toon supports my theory of big hp and long toon.

Why don't you do this. Remove the steering unit from the dash and then remove the cable from the steering box so that all you have is the bare end of the cable up front. No turning mechanism. Doesn't take but a few minutes to remove.

Now see if you can rotate your engine by hand....with the cable attached to it. If not, you have a bad cable. I think you said that the engine alone rotates freely.

Mark

 

[heycods]

Re: Tight steering

The stering unit on this toon is a 3 turn lock to lock telex, Cabellas describes the 4.2 turn unit from telex as for larger boats and toons, heres the link on Iboats marine store, but it dosent mention the toon issuehttp://www.iboats.com/mall/index.cg..._id=246965&list_time=1160665692&view_id=40292
It wouled abear to me this is a big advantage in leverage, Maby someone has replaced the original unit with the 3 turn unit.

Any thoughts.?.

 

[F_R]

Re: Tight steering

Everybody wants quick steering (less turns) and Nobody wants slower steering (more turns). At the same time, Everybody wants easy steering. I heard that time after time as I would be filling in answering the phone for the customer service guy when he was away working a boat show. As I said way back, there is no such thing as a free lunch. If the boat is just inheritantly hard steering and can't be corrected any other way, then more turns will make it easier. You never did answer my suggestion about how many bends and turns are in the cable. Maybe you just dismiss my views?

Ever notice in the pirate movies the helmsman is in front of a huge steering wheel and spins it around about fourty times to change direction? That's because the old sailing ships were is so cotten-pickin hard to steer.

I'll shut up now. Again.

 

[heycods]

Re: Tight steering

Two bends in the stering cableone under console and one at rear of boat, long sweeping bends much less angle than on my other boats. I dissmissed the view, because the angle was less than on other boats, On the toon it has more distance to make the bends than on smaller boats.8)

 

[F_R]

Re: Tight steering

OK, thanks for that info. Reckon that blows that theory.

 

[Fishstick1962]

Re: Tight steering

Did you buy the boat new? Has it been in salt water? how old is it? I'm wondering if there is any corrosion or wear (slop) in the pivot area. If the pivot pin/bolt is sloppy and you go to WOT, it may be binding up in there. Maybe the previous owner hit something real hard and damaged the pivot assembly. I don't think Pontoons steer much harder than other boats, so I would start by looking at the pivot area. G-Luck

 

[heycods]

Re: Tight steering

96 year one owner been on area lake, party barge for rich guy till he got to old for it, I fing no damage no slop in motor, and free as a goose when loose from sterring. I wish I could post links to the competition, Cabellas NFB 4.2 ratio stering system is stated to be for pontoons with harder stering, that is the only reference I can find anywhere to toons haveing a stiffer than other boats stering problem. I ordered the system , so well see ? Ill report back when it comes in and I get a chance to install and try it. thanks fellas.

 

[mikesea]

Re: Tight steering

heycods,I'm sure your onto something with the 4.2 turns,it's all about the mechanics,You might want to ask a steering rep.when you read about the systems have they mentioned the no feedback.surely hydraulic would fix your problem ,but my thought is ,first if your cable is good ,a new helm,would probably bolt up and use your present cable, if you have no problem accept at high speed,the system is ok,but not designed for your boat as I thinkl you have just learned.I keep mentioning the no feedback,but that systm with its additional gear,would stop the sudden turning when the wheel is let go,and as another poster mentioned about being able to push the engine ,this system don't allow it,thus locking it when trailering,finally,measure your wheel,its true,larger diameter makes a big difference ,even just a couple inches.Bottom line,you have the wrong helm.