hard to steer while under way

I've read several posts here and other sites and can't seem to find an answer so here it goes. I replaced my steering cable last summer. Steering remains difficult while under way but is smooth as butter while stationary. The steering box is slipping on the steering cable and needs to be replaced but is not the cause of the hard steering. Thoughts?

You might also try coating the rudder shaft with anti seize or other waterproof grease. Wouldn't cost much to try.

Maintain boat pats is really a hectic work. For this purpose share some tips for it.

Also, what year is the boat? Mine has a zerk fitting right on the rudder port. Just a couple pumps with a grease gun will help if you have the fitting and lack of grease is the problem.

Bri892001 wrote: Also, what year is the boat? Mine has a zerk fitting right on the rudder port. Just a couple pumps with a grease gun will help if you have the fitting and lack of grease is the problem.

Its a 92 Excel. It's does have the grease zerk but I think my mechanic greases it each year when he pulls it out of layup. I'll have to shoot some grease in there and see if that's it. It's like it binds up due to the force of the prop wash.

X2 on that, steering box has to go

...also has anyone documented pulling the steering head apart? It seems that in 1991/1992 Nautique used the Morse Teleflex Rotary steering head. When I opened it up last week there was a white plastic piece that was chewed up (I just remembered this....that's what I get for driving boat non-stop at church camp last week). Anyhow I think the rotary gear in the back looks okay but it may be moving too much due to some sort of shim or spacer that's now missing. I hate to spend $150 when it may be something really cheap and simple.

This one is a little better. Also, I had my wife turn the steering wheel in the driveway just now. It moved freely. I then pulled on the rudder as if there was prop wash going against it. It was hard to turn and the steering started skipping on her. The rudder has a little play in it. I'm thinking it's binding up under load and needs to be adjusted. I'm sure noeone has messed with it in the last 4-5 years or more so I figure that it's time to repack it. Unfortunantly my trailer doesn't have a removable prop guard so I'm going to have to tow it down to the boat ramp and lets the back end hang off the trailer. Thankfully I live 15 minutes from the river so it's not to much trouble.

Is there anything else I should consider doing while I have the rudder out? I've heard people shave the rudder but I have no idea why.

+1 I wonder when the rudder gets loaded if the helm binds and then slips. Why not disconnect the rudder taking that out of the equation and see if your problem is still there by holding the cabel end?

KileyB wrote: I'm thinking it's binding up under load and needs to be adjusted. I'm sure noeone has messed with it in the last 4-5 years or more so I figure that it's time to repack it.

One more comment is that the newer boats seem to have problems with steering systems, what has changed? Certainly not the rudders they are about the same for the last 50 years. The cable? yes and the failure rate has gone up too. The helm? made from stamped steel compaired to the castings of the older ones.

Yes, it looks like the prop is off to the right. Have you done a shaft alignment lately?

SNobsessed wrote: Yes, it looks like the prop is off to the right. Have you done a shaft alignment lately?

Looks like the strut and rudder port have been removed as well.

BuffaloBFN wrote: SNobsessed wrote: Yes, it looks like the prop is off to the right. Have you done a shaft alignment lately? Looks like the strut and rudder port have been removed as well.

Do you mean to say removed and replaced again?

alignmnet video

I really don't feel that alignment is the cause of the hard steering. Maybe some but that would be in one direction only. You need to focus on that bad helm box.