Small Boat Steering Systems 101

[l008com]

I need to learn about steering systems, steering systems for ~15' boats like mine. What kind of system do I have now? What other kinds of systems are available? What are the pros and cons of each? Are there any ways I can improve my steering system, and if not, is there a better system to convert it to?

Here's the history of my steering: Every winter, it gets stiffer and stiffer. Back in the day, my dad would have the local marina do "something" to it to loosen it up again. But it never gets THAT loose. And when it's really bad, it's almost impossible to turn it in one direction.

Ideally, I want to be able to turn the wheel with one hand, so I can steer the boat even if I'm standing up in the middle of the boat, just reaching over to the wheel. Right now that's not even close to possible, steering is absolutely a two hand job. And aside from being 'nicer', it will also make it easier to get through narrow areas, like locks. Oh and I don't want to spend a fortune.

Here are some pics of my current steering system:

 

[mark1961]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

Your current system is a rack and pinion.....there are a few different systems available, rotary is another, there are also NFB (no feed back) ones for both, the teleflex site would be a good place to start if you want to check some out.....

http://www.teleflexmarine.com/products/steering/mechanical-steering/


You will probably find yours would free up considerably if you removed the cable from the tilt tube on the motor (easier said than done sometimes), clean and relube both and reassemble, this is the area that usually tightens up first due to the level of exposure to the elements, relube the rack and basically anything else you can access, if the cable itself is tight its time to fork out for another. Dont forget to relube the grease points on the motors swivel bracket and tilt tube as well.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

Another thing is that you have a heck of a bend in the cable coming right out of the rack. The recommended minumum radius for that bend is 6". I think that could be at least part of your problem. You could switch to rotary if you wanted, they take up less space.

This is from the Teleflex rack installation sheet:

 

[mark1961]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

Another thing is that you have a heck of a bend in the cable coming right out of the rack. The recommended minumum radius for that bend is 6". I think that could be at least part of your problem. You could switch to rotary if you wanted, they take up less space.

This is from the Teleflex rack installation sheet:

I Agree, if the bend out of the rack is as severe as it looks that wouldnt be helping.....

I have one these fitted to my system also and i find it works okay for me.....

http://www.steersman.com/html/whatitdoes.html

Another tip is to leave your motor steering to port during long periods of non use, this will help prevent the motor end of the cable drying out.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

The motor should have grease zerks that need a couple shots periodically, plus the cable can become dry and possibly rusty inside. If it's rusty it should be replaced, if it just needs some lube inside this is what I've done before. Disconnect one end and depending on what the end looks like you can just slip a 2' length of tight fitting hose over it (I use garden hose), or cut a small cheap funnel down the side and then slide it in place and tape it to the cable housing. Now pour the same gear oil you use in your lower unit into the funnel or hose and let it sight for a few days. I normally disconnect the helm end and pour the lube in that way so I can work the motor back and forth by hand a few times every day until the oil actually comes out the other end.

If the gear oil looks dirty and rusty when it come out you know you need a new cable.

 

[l008com]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

What is rotary steering? Meaning how does it work? I'm pretty sure I understand how my current steering works. If I bought a new rotary steering system (not that I want to spend $300), would that give me smooth, easy steering? From what I remember, this boat's steering has always been some degree of stiff. I want my boat to steer like a car, not a car that's not running.

And as far as all the other suggestions you guys gave, do you have any more detailed directions? Maybe with some pictures so I can see what you are talking about.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

Rotary steering works by a series of gears instead of a rack & pinion. The main advantage is that it takes up a lot less room. You could likely loosen up that tight turn in your cable with rotary. Prices start around $150.

 

[mark1961]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

From what I remember, this boat's steering has always been some degree of stiff. I want my boat to steer like a car, not a car that's not running

This could be an indication that the cable bend out of the rack is too severe (pic 5), you may need to swap to a rotary to relieve this, the only way to know for sure is to measure the radius as lakelover suggested.....

And as far as all the other suggestions you guys gave, do you have any more detailed directions? Maybe with some pictures so I can see what you are talking about.

Start by disconnecting and removing the cable from the tilt tube at the motor (pics 1&2). If the wheel is still tight to turn you know the problem lies either in the cable (most likely) or the rack. If it turns freely, clean the cable end and inside the tilt tube (check for corrosion and clean as necessary), regrease both components liberally (do this regardless) and reassemble, consider replacing the portside tilt tube nut with a steersman type, no need to disassemble again to relube with one of those. Remember to give the grease points (zerks) some lube on the motor's swivel bracket and tilt tube with a grease gun.

 

[lonewolfdb]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

my system, 1976 15.5 ft Marquis w/original rack, was acting as you described. your cables will eventually BREAK. mine did last week as i started out from landing. mine was at the connection to the rack. mine was almost exactly like your picture. the outer casing broke.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

Yes, if it becomes stiff and you do nothing about it the housing will normally break, the plastic isn't all that strong.

 

[l008com]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

SO I had UFLEX send me a PDF of their manual. It doesn't look too hard to install, except the instructions say nothing about actually connecting the end of the steering cable to the motor. I doubt it's very hard, but I'd also like to know what to do, rather than start taking things apart and guessing, you know. Any tips here?

Also I keep hearing about cable bends. No more than 6" curve or 8" curve. Are these numbers the curve radius or diameter? They never say and that's a pretty significant difference.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

Any tips here?

Also I keep hearing about cable bends. No more than 6" curve or 8" curve. Are these numbers the curve radius or diameter? They never say and that's a pretty significant difference.

I have my steering gear but I haven't installed it yet so I can't offer any real advice other than those curve numbers are radius, not diameter.

 

[mark1961]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

SO I had UFLEX send me a PDF of their manual. It doesn't look too hard to install, except the instructions say nothing about actually connecting the end of the steering cable to the motor. I doubt it's very hard, but I'd also like to know what to do, rather than start taking things apart and guessing, you know. Any tips here?

Its straightforward and not something you are likely to mess up.....the cable is connected to the motor with two nuts only, the small one on the end of the steering arm (pic1) and the large one on the starboard side of the tilt tube (pic2) after you undo those the cable is withdrawn from the tilt tube from the starboard side, often some persuasion is needed here. Because these cables are so stiff, in most cases they also need to be disconnected from the helm when you are withdrawing it from or installing it to the tilt tube.

Reassembly is just the reverse of this minus the persuasion if you have cleaned and relubed as explained previously, really couldnt be easier.....

 

[l008com]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

So this slightly off-topic, but still on the general topic of steering.
They always say you should go in your boat in the winter and turn the wheel to keep the cable freed up. But like most people, my boat is covered and wrapped up for the winter. What do most people do in this situation? Do you climb through the engine whole in the shrink wrapping and turn the wheel. Or do you just let it sit for the winter and deal with steering issues every spring?

 

[mark1961]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

So this slightly off-topic, but still on the general topic of steering.
They always say you should go in your boat in the winter and turn the wheel to keep the cable freed up. But like most people, my boat is covered and wrapped up for the winter. What do most people do in this situation? Do you climb through the engine whole in the shrink wrapping and turn the wheel. Or do you just let it sit for the winter and deal with steering issues every spring?

Can't help with the shrink wrapping deal, not something that's necessary here for the majority of boaters......

Are you getting on top of your steering issues?

 

[l008com]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

So I disconnected the motor from the steering. The engine turns extremely freely so that's not the problem. I was able to get the steering cable moving. Then I turned hard right. I cleaned off all the grease on the shaft and put some new grease down. Then put it back together. I'm now able to steer again. It's not great steering but it is steering. It's good enough to hold me over until I replace the whole system. I never thought of leaving the engine turned hard-left for the winter, but after reading it, that's such an obvious thing to do. I'll have to do that from now on.

So I'm done with this thread for now. But I'll be back here once I get around to replacing the system.

 

[l008com]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

So, the time is soon approaching when I'll be replacing my steering system. The UFlex system seems like the way to go. If you shop around, you can get them real cheap. And their logic of the multiple gears is hard to argue against. But there are still a few things that are troubling me. First, let me re-post the appropriate pictures of my boat:





1) I'm concerned that the new helm looks very different from the old helm. I know it's a different style, but I mean where the unit meets the fiberglass. Doesn't look the same. I'm concerned that I'm going to take off my old steering system and find that the new one doesn't fit. I haven't tried to remove the old system yet. But probably more relevant is that I've never worked with a boat steering system before. Here's a little pic of the UFlex helm:

I could use some reassuring words...

2) The UFlex helm seems to stick out at a 90? angle. But my old helm does not, my old helm angles upward. Without that upward angle, you won't be able to fit your legs under the steering wheel. It is a pretty small boat. What can I do about this?


I've forgotten my third question, I'll come back when I remember it.

 

[l008com]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

3) Zero-torque vs "regular".
I understand the difference. The zero-torque locks when you're not actually steering the boat, so the motor won't turn itself. But I have no idea if I need this. My boat is a 15' boat with a 90 HP motor. It goes about 52mph top, but I probably spend most of my time between 10 and 20 mph. Also, my current steering is so bad, that it stays straight just from friction. But once I have a good steering system, with as little friction as possible, maybe the torque steer will start to be annoying?
Also, how do those zero-torque systems feel? Are they just as smooth as the regular system, or do you feel the clutch engaging and disengaging? Do you have to kind of jerk the wheel a little to get it to let go, or is it seamless? If the answer is "seemless", will it still be seemless 5 years from now? I want to be able to take my hands of the wheel to grab a (non-alcoholic) beverage without the boat lurching to one side. But maybe with a boat as small as mine, this wouldn't be an issue, and the "regular" helm would be fine?

Clearly I understand what this all means on paper, I just have no idea how/if this applies to my boat.

 

[l008com]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

So I found my answer to #2. The Rotech is a "package" that contains 3 individual items, one of which is a 90? mounting bracket. But you can buy them separate and get a 20? (which I assume means a 70?/110?) mounting bracket which will solve my angle problem.

AND the photos of the Rotech never show the mounting bracket. But having seen it, I now see how it mounts to the dash so suspect that once I take my wheel off, I'll see how it easily bolts right on. Let's hope!

If you still have any thoughts on #1, or on #3, please share!

 

[l008com]

Re: Small Boat Steering Systems 101

Ok new problem. I went to take the old steering system out and I can't seem to get the tube out. The hole that the cable goes through is not perfectly lined up with the steering tube on the motor. Soooo does this mean I have to remove my motor to take the old steering cable off (and to install a new steering cable)??

So I can probably get the old tube out easily enough with a hacksaw. But there's still the matter of installing a new cable. I can't think of any way to install a new cable other than by removing the motor. Not even taking it off the boat, just unbolting it and then rotating it a few degrees, so the steerer hole lines up with the hole the steering cable goes through in the boat.