Steering cable question

The new cable showed up on CC's around 1998 so it's been around a while.

With a dry bilge, a cable can last 10+ years. When it was time to change out the cable on my 1994 Ski Nautique, I went with the new helm and new style cable.  I really loved the results.  I went from super stiff 2-handed turns to 1-finger wheel spins.  

The P.O. of my 1994 Ski was a believer in the "deferred maintenance" plan.  When I got the boat, there were lots of little things to sort out -- the wet bilge was one.  The bilge took on water fairly quickly and the automatic bilge pump got a good workout every ski session.  When I took over, I repacked the stuffing on the drive shaft and that helped slow down the water, but the real problem was the rudder shaft where much of the water intrusion was sourced.  In the 1994, the fuel tank had a built-in sump that made it impossible to get to the rudder port assembly without removing the tank.  After a fuel sending unit failure and living with a wet bilge for several years, I finally pulled the tank.  I replaced the rudder shaft packing and properly tightened the gland nut.  Bingo.  Dry bilge.  While the tank was out, I changed out the steering cable and helm. 

Update on this - I replaced the steering cable and regressed the rudder log (zirk fitting) and boat turns with my pinky finger. Should have done this a while ago!

Pretty sure the cable was the culprit. No change with the tiller arm disconnected. What I thought was effortless with the old cable was about 10x harder than with the new one.