ok, newbie to boats but not to cars so I am mechanically inclined...just never really messed with a boat is all.
anyway, 3 years ago I bought a 1990 15' thundercraft for me and the "ex" to run around in.
2 years ago, she wanted to take friends out on it. 5 hours later I get a call from her that the boat sank
come to find out she was pushing folding chairs under the transom and popped the bilge pump wires loose so it was just a matter of time. boat went down in 12' of water and bobbed for around 12 minutes before a parasailing boat grabbed it and got it floating again.
anyway, I got pissed off and after flushing the engine just to make sure it wouldnt lock up and otherwise ruin it...and then took it out twice just to run it good and get the bearings, etc cleaned...I just put it up and forgot about it.
well, she's gone now (thank god) and I'm starting to get my car projects finished and sold and went to go start tinkering with the boat again. come to find out the steering is locked solid. I tried all the little "tricks" people say to do such as trying to rotate the steering shaft, etc. nothing works. I'm at the point I dont want to mess with it and just want to rip all the old steering out and put in new steering.
here's my question. I "think" this is a rack/pinion setup as it has two cables...but at the same time I dont know if it could be rotary?? I know its not hydraulic.
how do I tell the above two apart and can a boat fitted with one type be converted to the other without all kinds of extra holes left in the body??
also, I think in the process of trying to free the steering I might have stretched the original cables. will this affect my measuring to buy new cables??
anyway, 3 years ago I bought a 1990 15' thundercraft for me and the "ex" to run around in.
2 years ago, she wanted to take friends out on it. 5 hours later I get a call from her that the boat sank
come to find out she was pushing folding chairs under the transom and popped the bilge pump wires loose so it was just a matter of time. boat went down in 12' of water and bobbed for around 12 minutes before a parasailing boat grabbed it and got it floating again.anyway, I got pissed off and after flushing the engine just to make sure it wouldnt lock up and otherwise ruin it...and then took it out twice just to run it good and get the bearings, etc cleaned...I just put it up and forgot about it.
well, she's gone now (thank god) and I'm starting to get my car projects finished and sold and went to go start tinkering with the boat again. come to find out the steering is locked solid. I tried all the little "tricks" people say to do such as trying to rotate the steering shaft, etc. nothing works. I'm at the point I dont want to mess with it and just want to rip all the old steering out and put in new steering.
here's my question. I "think" this is a rack/pinion setup as it has two cables...but at the same time I dont know if it could be rotary?? I know its not hydraulic.
how do I tell the above two apart and can a boat fitted with one type be converted to the other without all kinds of extra holes left in the body??
also, I think in the process of trying to free the steering I might have stretched the original cables. will this affect my measuring to buy new cables??
