Steering Question

[rwdavis1]

Anyone have a fix for a non-straight steering wheel on an 06 24V. The cable was replaced by previous owner and the steering wheel is 90 degrees to the left. Not a huge issue but it would be nice for others that do not drive it all the time to know where dead straight is. Thanks for the help.

[kevin1tige]

You can center the rudder, remove the center cap on steering wheel (should have a nut or bolts holding steering wheel on), remove steering wheel, center steering wheel and re-install center cap.

[rwdavis1]

Awesome. I will give that a try

[dom w. forte]

Head it into the wind and see where it is off shut down , there are 4 bolts in the rack under the dash , take 2 out across from each other loosen the other 2 enough to lower the rack , when the rack has come away from the helm move the wheel to the straight position , push rack back up tighten the 2 bolts and retest , continue process until straight.

[Ewok]

I bet it looks straight on the trailer when the wheel is centered. I have found the wheel is can be centered at slow speeds or high speeds due to the torque of the prop. My rudder is straight with the wheel when at rest but its about 45ish off at speed to keep the boat straight.

[rwdavis1]

Mine is definately off. When my rudder is straight the top of my steering wheel is at 9 o'clock. If I turn my wheel to 12 o'clock my rudder is turning likewise to the right. I have not had a chance to try either of the mentioned fixes but hope to soon.

[Z3CO23]

Ewok,

Sorry to dredge up an old thread but I am having this exact problem with my boat. When the boat is on the trailer I turn the steering wheel and the rudder acts as it should and straight steering wheel = straight rudder. I initially thought my problem was only with surfing..... however I figured out it is not. I tested 3 speeds.... 3mph 15mph 30mph. At all speeds I need to put about 90 degs of input or put the wheel at 9 o'clock to get the boat to track straight. If I put the steering wheel upright in the straight position, the boat tracks right in a gradual arc. If the boat is balasted it is worse..... especially surfing starboard. It's flat out impossible to drive straight. Any suggestions. I'm thinking its either a bad cable or problem with the rudder (possibly packing?). I fully inspected the tracking fins, porp, shaft etc. Nothing looks bend or damaged.

I bet it looks straight on the trailer when the wheel is centered. I have found the wheel is can be centered at slow speeds or high speeds due to the torque of the prop. My rudder is straight with the wheel when at rest but its about 45ish off at speed to keep the boat straight.

[Ewok]

I think your boat is behaving normally, unless you feel any binding or some type of interference with the steering wheel.

If it doesn't feel like something is binding the wheel or rudder, and if the steering wheel looks straight on the trailer when the wheel is straight the boat will not drive straight with the steering wheel in that same straight steering wheel position. It's going to take a little bit of steering pressure to keep the boat tracking straight to counter act the torque and P-Factor of the prop. If you are listed then it's going to take even more steering wheel deflection to keep the boat tracking straight. When I'm driving my boat at wakeboard speed my steering wheel is about 90* or 1/4 turn deflected to keep it tracking straight. At surfing speed heavily listed it's about the same deflection.

It's mostly cosmetic, and if you don't like seeing the wheel off center while driving you can remove the steering wheel and re-position it so that it'll be deflected when the rudder is centered but the wheel will be straight at speed.