I think my steering cable broke yesterday...

[leftcoasterfl]

My boat is a 2016 190 Delux with about 180 hours...
Yesterday was the first day I took the boat out since Ian.
My steering was totally stuck. So I tried lubing it and turning the wheel back and forth. Eventually it broke free...
But...
So I went to the ramp and dropped in...when I got on the boat, the steering was stuck again. It took a lot of power to break it loose. When it did it made a pop! It seemed to work, so I went down the canal and when I tried to turn left I just kept going straight. I could turn right but soon after that didnt work anymore too. I had to be towed back to the ramp.

So I am pretty sure the cable broke...correct?

Is this a hard job to do?...it doesnt look too bad. I did see you may need a o2 sensor socket to get the nut off the transom...has anyone done this before? Thanks

 

[leftcoasterfl]

So I took out the cleanout try and yep - it is right down there...I just ordered the cable. Now to get a 22MM o2 socket

 

[Dixemon]

That should be a pretty straight forward job. Count the turns on the steering clevis when you pull it off the old cable. Use the old cable to pull the new one through. hook and seal everything up and Bobs your uncle.

 

[leftcoasterfl]

@Dixemon you were correct.

The only thing that was slightly strange was that the cable did go at an angle from the engine compartment though to the bilge area.

Wow - much better steering feel and flow than even when I bought it.

 

[Dixemon]

Make it appart of your annual maintenance to lube the cable, and it will last much longer.