1993 Bayliner 4.3 mercruiser will not go straight.

[AMSOILGUY]

↵Hey everybody! 1st post along with a first time boat owner as of recently. The boat is a 1993 Bayliner Capri 2050

​Serial #0F066078

Transom# 0F087332

Drive # 0D888601

4.3 mercruiser with stern drive

When I say it will not go straight I'm talking like no mater how subtle you try to correct the steering it will just over steer. This is the worst at very slow speeds. At faster speeds it seems to sort of come out of it but is hard to turn. This boat is new to me but has been in my Wife's family since new. It has not been used for nearly 3 years and I know it had this same issue well over 10 years ago. Nobody cared to fix it but I find it nearly unsafe. I would like to have the steering be correct feeling and operating. This has been a work in progress since the beginning 2 weeks ago almost. I was told this boat was ready to go in the water when I reluctantly agreed to this. All driven by my wife with good intentions but to me bad timing.



Since I have gotten the boat I've had to replace the starter, fuel pump, battery, 2 tires, all three rubber stops for the trailer. Plus the passenger board on the trailer because it was split and the boat wouldn't sit on the trailer right. Which helped contribute to damage to the bow on the way home 7 hours. A blown tire on the trailer also helped with that damage but that has been repaired. I was not with my wife when she went to get the boat! We would have bought new tires before leaving since they were factory from 1993. Who lets their daughter drive home with a truck full of kids on 23 year old tires?



Regardless we were able to take the boat out for the first time lastnight and it finally ran great but the steering is an issue. I am going to attach a picture and see if this is what could be the reason or hopefully somebody can point me in the right direction for trouble shooting it.

I've been into cars not boats but so far this has been very similar with repairs.

Thanks,
Jacob

 

[alldodge]

Tell us how much play is in the steering.
Put drive full down, have someone hold the drive or lock it in place. Now turn the helm right to left and tell us how much the helm turns right/left

 

[AMSOILGUY]

I will do that. Does the damage look like something that would affect how the boat trails?

 

[AMSOILGUY]

The helm is the steering wheel?

 

[alldodge]

I will do that. Does the damage look like something that would affect how the boat trails?

All single engine boats have bow wonder (port/starboard) at slow speeds. There should be a spot you can place the helm and the boat will wonder port and starboard but basically track forward. It will still go back and forth, just part of what happens. Now if the boat is wondering drastically to one side or the other, then you may have some wear which need the parts replaced.

If the upper hinge pin has slop it will need fixed, but could also be from the helm gearing or cable back to the drive

 

[alldodge]

The helm is the steering wheel?

Yes, the wheel

 

[AMSOILGUY]

to the left the wheel turns to 9 from 12 as if using a clock before moving the drive. To the right is 2 from 12. What does that mean or tell you?​
Thanks for the help.

 

[alldodge]

If your saying that you can turn the helm from 9 to 2, meaning you have that much play, that would be to much. If your saying your trying to keep it straight (9-12 or 12-2) then not so much. While idling in a wide spot, release the helm and watch if they bow travel to the left or right. Don't touch the helm and give it some time and see if it starts traveling back in the other direction. If it does not travel back in the other direction move helm a tad in the other direction and watch again. There should be a spot where it will wonder back n forth

 

[AMSOILGUY]

I am very positive the boat will not correct it's self not matter what you would try. What parts would need replaced the cables?

 

[alldodge]

I am very positive the boat will not correct it's self not matter what you would try. What parts would need replaced the cables?

Need the helm station and the cable that matches it. Don't know if you have a rack and pinion or U flex type.
http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Ac...--searched.1--session_id.638018558&q=steering

That said, if you cannot get rid of all the wonder of a single prop V-hull boat, there will always be some. Now if you have play in the steering arm and/or upper pivot pin, replacing the cable and such will not help. This is the reason I wanted to find out actually how much play there is and more importantly, where the play is

 

[AMSOILGUY]

If your saying that you can turn the helm from 9 to 2, meaning you have that much play, that would be to much. If your saying your trying to keep it straight (9-12 or 12-2) then not so much. While idling in a wide spot, release the helm and watch if they bow travel to the left or right. Don't touch the helm and give it some time and see if it starts traveling back in the other direction. If it does not travel back in the other direction move helm a tad in the other direction and watch again. There should be a spot where it will wonder back n forth

I mean that when I put the drive all the way down when on the trailer that you have that much movement before movement on the drive. I was able to take the boat out tonight and regardless of which way you turn the wheel it just continues to trail that way with no return to center.

 

[alldodge]

Having almost a 1/2 turn play in the helm, I would say you need to start with the helm and cable. Replaced the one on my cruiser years ago on my cruiser. Easy enough to do, the issue to note is make sure you have the same cable length