Boats For Sale:
1989 SN Steering Upgrade |
Post Reply 
|
| Author | |
Greg_SA 
Senior Member 
Joined: April-19-2007 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 189 |
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote Reply
 Topic: 1989 SN Steering UpgradePosted: December-24-2022 at 1:57am |
|
Hi, I am going to look at a replacement steering cable, since mine has always been stiff. I will do some tests to confirm the bad cable, but its hasn't been changed in over 15 years. For the 1989 Ski Nautique, I believe I need the OEM "17.5 foot rotary steering cable", which runs about $350. I just wanted to know if an "upgrade" to a rack & pinion system is possible (and not too complicated)? Idea would be the non-tilt helm - Seastar SH5210P with matching cable. Has anyone attempted this on a "SN2001" Ski Nautique? Is it possible? The costs for those two parts is similar to the original cable. Just to add... the aluminum steering wheel hub is very corroded, and the plastic center ring is badly cracked. The steering spokes are loose, and I thing removing the bolts is stripping the threads. I might need to replace it too. Thanks, Greg
|
|
|
1989 Ski Nautique (SN2001)
|
|
 |
|
|
Fl Inboards
Grand Poobah 
Joined: January-20-2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2255 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: December-24-2022 at 11:32am |
|
A rack and pinion set up is possible however they do take up a little more real-estate under the dash. Also you will need to replace your tiller arm or modify your tiller arm. or try and find that oddball length cable that works with the old tiller arm geometry. |
|
|
Hobby Boats can be expensive when the hobbyist is limited on their own skill and expertise.
1993 Shamrock "fat" 20. 2008 Nautique 196 5.0 |
|
|
|
|
KENO
Grand Poobah
Joined: June-06-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 11858 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: December-24-2022 at 6:45pm |
|
Along with the helm and steering cable and the tiller arm, you also need a shorter steering support tube if you want the steering to be able to use all of it's designed travel and get maximum rudder angle in both directions with the new shorter throw cable.(8.5 inches compared to the "special" CC cable you have now with 10.5 inches of throw.
You can buy a steering support tube that's 10 1/2 inches long or you can shorten the 12 1/2 inch tube that you have now. The tiller arm you presently have is about 8 inches from the centerline of the rudder post to the cable attachment point, the arm used with the later rack and pinion systems is about 6 1/2 inches. link to tiller arm The rack itself is about 19 inches long so it extends about 9 1/2 inches from the centerline of the steering wheel, so it takes up more space in the horizontal direction and quite a bit less than a rotary helm in the vertical direction. You should also google "measuring a rack and pinion steering cable" and "measuring a rotary cable" because they're done differently  |
|
|
|
|
Greg_SA
Senior Member
Joined: April-19-2007 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 189 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: April-02-2026 at 2:45am |
|
Hi,
I never ended up fitting a rack and pinion system - there really doesn't appear to be enough space. I am going to replace the full system with another rotary system, including a new "standard" cable and shorter tiller arm, etc. So, it looks like the shorter support tube and moving the cable clamp is required, on boats of my era. I had a look at my boats current cable clamp, and it doesn't look like most photos I can find. It doesn't even have a support tube! Is the strut backing plate like this standard? Should the cable clamp be mounted to the side?  Can anyone share a photo of where a 1989 cable clamp should be fitted? Thanks, Greg
|
|
|
1989 Ski Nautique (SN2001)
|
|
|
|
|
andrewmarani
Senior Member
Joined: May-31-2005 Location: Baltimore, MD Status: Offline Points: 265 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: April-02-2026 at 12:16pm |
|
Can't tell from your picture exactly what's going on there. Before and after shots of my steering cable. Can't see it in the picture but the whole thing is held in place with a large bolt that goes through the stringer and into that fitting with the pink wire laying across it.
  |
|
|
Builder
|
|
|
|
|
andrewmarani
Senior Member
Joined: May-31-2005 Location: Baltimore, MD Status: Offline Points: 265 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: April-02-2026 at 12:21pm |
|
Hmm, not as good resolution on the pictures once posted as I expected. Looks like we might have the same fitting but yours is bolted in a different location. My fitting is bolted to the side of the stringer. My boat is a 1986 Silver Nautique.
|
|
|
Builder
|
|
|
|
|
Greg_SA
Senior Member
Joined: April-19-2007 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 189 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: April-03-2026 at 4:15pm |
|
Thanks. My 1989 has a slightly different layout, but Nautique Parts confirmed that I should use the bracket, and mount the clamp block to the side.
|
|
|
1989 Ski Nautique (SN2001)
|
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
Tweet
|
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Topic Options