Loss of steering control less than 100 feet from the slip

[mobocracy]

We have an outside dock at our marina and the approach angle requires a 90 degree turn. I made the turn but there was quite a bit of crosswind but then I noticed that it wasn't the wind blowing me off course, it was my steering was gone. Boat would only turn a pretty sharp left.

After trying to figure out what would and wouldn't work and doing some crazy spinning to try to stay out of a nearby hazard area, I found out with the port in forward, starboard in reverse and some differential throttle, I was able to get the boat to sort of go forward. Somehow the cross wind blew us in a way that sort of aligned our slip with the new "forward" I could manage and I got it into the slip.

The loss of control made the steering wheel spin with so little resistance I thought the steering cable itself had come loose. I looked briefly after everyone else was off the boat and the steering cable still was intact and rotating the wheel operated the steering ram (not sure if its the right name). I was alone and without much time to do anything more.

I didn't see any obviously broken parts or hydraulic fluid when I looked at the steering system. I'm not familiar at all with the steering system on this boat besides I think it is power assisted, but the way the steering crapped out it seems like it was more than just loss of power assist. It wasn't difficult steering, it was no steering. Turning the wheel did nothing for direction, and the wheel just turned with no feeling to it at all.

What sucks is the boat needs to get hauled off site this winter for storage and periodic maintenance and this requires it to traverse about 6-8 miles to a public boat launch, something now that could only happen via tow and a major circus to get it onto a trailer.

 

[Fill Ess]

Glad you made it withou damage. That is my worst nightmare to lose steering comin g into the slip. Assuming your boat has twin 350 and bravo 3s? Between the steering wheel and the outdrive there are several places you could have a mechanical failure in the rack tilt steering column cable etc. If you pull up the parts manual on the SR site it should have a diagram of the steering start to finish.

 

[mobocracy]

Glad you made it withou damage. That is my worst nightmare to lose steering comin g into the slip. Assuming your boat has twin 350 and bravo 3s? Between the steering wheel and the outdrive there are several places you could have a mechanical failure in the rack tilt steering column cable etc. If you pull up the parts manual on the SR site it should have a diagram of the steering start to finish.

Yeah, I was glad it happened when and where it did. It could have been a disaster if steering had failed on plane in a busy area, and a massive headache in any of the other channels we have to pass through.

I looked in the parts manual, but it doesn't seem to detail the system very well. Before I got my bad "Cool Fuel III" system repaired, I'd had my starboard engine stall and steering became very heavy (and of course difficult with just one engine). But this was different, wheel movement was effortless but it did not seem to achieve any directional control, like the drives were not moving with steering wheel movement.

 

[hughespat57]

We have an outside dock at our marina and the approach angle requires a 90 degree turn. I made the turn but there was quite a bit of crosswind but then I noticed that it wasn't the wind blowing me off course, it was my steering was gone. Boat would only turn a pretty sharp left.

After trying to figure out what would and wouldn't work and doing some crazy spinning to try to stay out of a nearby hazard area, I found out with the port in forward, starboard in reverse and some differential throttle, I was able to get the boat to sort of go forward. Somehow the cross wind blew us in a way that sort of aligned our slip with the new "forward" I could manage and I got it into the slip.

The loss of control made the steering wheel spin with so little resistance I thought the steering cable itself had come loose. I looked briefly after everyone else was off the boat and the steering cable still was intact and rotating the wheel operated the steering ram (not sure if its the right name). I was alone and without much time to do anything more.

I didn't see any obviously broken parts or hydraulic fluid when I looked at the steering system. I'm not familiar at all with the steering system on this boat besides I think it is power assisted, but the way the steering crapped out it seems like it was more than just loss of power assist. It wasn't difficult steering, it was no steering. Turning the wheel did nothing for direction, and the wheel just turned with no feeling to it at all.

What sucks is the boat needs to get hauled off site this winter for storage and periodic maintenance and this requires it to traverse about 6-8 miles to a public boat launch, something now that could only happen via tow and a major circus to get it onto a trailer.

Typically both engines come with a power steering pump but only one is used. Thats the heavy feel when that engine is not running, no power assist.
The cable attaches to the control valve on the hydraulic ram at the transom.

If the wheel has no resistance now and no effect the problem is in the mechanical portion.
To be certain
With engines OFF is it still easy to turn?
Yes, cable is broken internally or gearbox at helm has failed.

 

[mobocracy]

Typically both engines come with a power steering pump but only one is used. Thats the heavy feel when that engine is not running, no power assist.
The cable attaches to the control valve on the hydraulic ram at the transom.

If the wheel has no resistance now and no effect the problem is in the mechanical portion.
To be certain
With engines OFF is it still easy to turn?
Yes, cable is broken internally or gearbox at helm has failed.

I would expect that if the cable is broken or the gearbox failed that the steering ram at the back of the engines would not move. I can definitely see it move when turning the wheel when the engine is off, but yes, it turns easily.

 

[Fill Ess]

Cable could be broken internally meaning you can't see the break on the outside. Can you see below the swim platform to confirm when you turn the wheel that neither drive turns? And are they both pointing the same direction?

 

[Bt Doctur]

If your able to turn the drives from end to end with a positive stop of the wheel, steering cable and connections are good.

 

[El Capitan]

Fine skippering there Captain!

I’m sure it was an ass-tightening experience.

 

[hughespat57]

I would expect that if the cable is broken or the gearbox failed that the steering ram at the back of the engines would not move. I can definitely see it move when turning the wheel when the engine is off, but yes, it turns easily.

Interesting
Ok so the ram and the cross bar between the drives is moving but very easily?
This should be your setup
Pin 3 holds the end of the cable and pin 2 holds to the transom are both still there?

 

[Bt Doctur]

and that diagram pic is incorrect, the flats on the tube must be in a vertical position
file:///C:/Users/Edeward%20J/Documents/steering.pdf

 

[hughespat57]

The ram itself should not move
Behind the fittings 7 5 is the pivot bolt that secured it to the inner transom plate

pin 2 is the tiller arm on the drive

 

[mobocracy]

Thanks for all the info. I really haven’t spent any time looking beyond a very cursory glance. I am going out after work to look more closely and take some pictures.

 

[mobocracy]

Fine skippering there Captain!

I’m sure it was an ass-tightening experience.

It was part comical and part pain in the ass. I was initially worried we would drift somewhere undesirable and considered dropping the anchor just to stay put, but was kind of busy trying to find a gear/throttle combo that would do something besides what I didn't want.

One of my passengers wanted to swim to the dock with a line, but I didn't think that was wise or even workable. And I don't think the 5-6 lines I had on board together would have been quite long enough to pull us in.

 

[El Capitan]

It was part comical and part pain in the ass. I was initially worried we would drift somewhere undesirable and considered dropping the anchor just to stay put, but was kind of busy trying to find a gear/throttle combo that would do something besides what I didn't want.

One of my passengers wanted to swim to the dock with a line, but I didn't think that was wise or even workable. And I don't think the 5-6 lines I had on board together would have been quite long enough to pull us in.

Been there except it wasn’t steering. I lost reverse. Even when I pulled throttles back damn boat when forward.

Definitely an experience.

Good on ya.

 

[mobocracy]

Well there's an update. My marina, which does the most minor mechanical work, took a look and said that a nut which connects the steering cable to the actuator had come loose, and was preventing the steering cable from activating the actuator. They tightened this up and it seems to be working as expected.

I'm still running out there tonight but I think I might drive it around the marina a bit to see if it really works.