Steering hard to port 45 degrees, hard to starboard maybe 25

[MarkWorsnop]

I am trying to figure out how to adjust the steering .

If I crank the wheel hard to port both rudders and the outboard go to about 45 degrees relative to the transom.

However hard to starboard is goes to 25 degrees... maybe. I haven't been in the water with the boat yet, just spent several months of the winter fixing things. So not sure if this is really important or not.

Any thoughts? Anyone know how to adjust it?

[DaveB]

Hard to say as we don't have pictures and year of boat.
If you have the aluminum steering bar bent that connects motor and rudders togeather with a lift arm rod that disconnects the motor to rudders on arm like I have, than you need to adjust the pivit point on the arm.
Have the steering hard over to port, mark the spot than hard over to starboard. Than measure the diffrence between them for center point .
Thats were you need the pivit bolt on the arm.
Dave

I am trying to figure out how to adjust the steering on my 26X...

If I crank the wheel hard to port both rudders and the outboard go to about 45 degrees relative to the transom.

However hard to starboard is goes to 25 degrees... maybe. I haven't been in the water with the boat yet, just spent several months of the winter fixing things. So not sure if this is really important or not.

Any thoughts? Anyone know how to adjust it?

[Catigale]

For sailing, 45 degrees of rudder angle is a lot and will be slowing your waterbago more than turning it....motoring is different of course. Quick checks...

Centre rudder and see if your wheel turns symmetrically each way....make sure your steering box isn't hangingup. If that's ok, it's hard to imagine something going wrong in the rest of the linkage unless the cable is binding?

[Sea Wind]

In my 01 , if I steer hard to starboard the left rudder hits the ladder leg, but I get more than 25 degrees. Is the nut in the steering arm tigh? If it is loose it would let you turn to port but it would slide going to starboard.

Sea Wind

[pmmcderm]

I've noticed a similar problem on my new . Anybody else have this problem? I just noticed a couple weeks ago when I was getting away from the pier with strong on-setting winds. Needed all the angle I could get. I didn't measure the angles, but everything is "as-built." The steering linkage is going stop-to-stop, so seems like something more significant (like design problem). I have about a 7-8 degree difference between hard starboard and hard port. The rudders are aligned with the motor, and I do not have the mod to disconnect the motor. Don't think it would make a difference.

Haven't had a chance to really dig into it yet, so I'm curious what other have found, if anything.

[DaveB]

You should have a quick disconnect from outboard to Steering arm. Sailing with the arm bar disconected is fingertip steering without trying to steer with motor conected and raised.Having the arm disconnective also saves wear and tear of the connections.
Ck your pivit points for wear, you may need to put in a sleave if hole is sloppy.
As I said, in previouse post ..do the Starboard and Port swing for center bolt connection.
Your 7-8 degrees is probably from off center of the center bolt on your steering arm.
There is adjustment on the arm for centering it.
Dave

I've noticed a similar problem on my new . Anybody else have this problem? I just noticed a couple weeks ago when I was getting away from the pier with strong on-setting winds. Needed all the angle I could get. I didn't measure the angles, but everything is "as-built." The steering linkage is going stop-to-stop, so seems like something more significant (like design problem). I have about a 7-8 degree difference between hard starboard and hard port. The rudders are aligned with the motor, and I do not have the mod to disconnect the motor. Don't think it would make a difference.

Haven't had a chance to really dig into it yet, so I'm curious what other have found, if anything.

[seahouse]

Hey pm!

I've noticed a similar problem on my new . Anybody else have this problem? I just noticed a couple weeks ago when I was getting away from the pier with strong on-setting winds. Needed all the angle I could get. I didn't measure the angles, but everything is "as-built." The steering linkage is going stop-to-stop, so seems like something more significant (like design problem). I have about a 7-8 degree difference between hard starboard and hard port.

Because of the construction and layout of the steering mechanism on an “M”, it’s normal to have a lock to lock asymmetry by an amount about what you are describing.

From memory, starboard lock is limited by one factor, and port lock is limited by a second factor. When you do get a chance to study the linkage, that will become readily apparent- they're out in the open, just pull the motor from side to side. There are a lot of variables on engine mounts etc, so your exact results may vary.

Adding guide bushings at the point where the steering arm passes through the well wall will also change this.

This asymmetry is nothing to be concerned about, really. There are lots of other factors in play here that contribute more to steering asymmetry than the steering travel range, such as prop walk, whether or not you are moving forward or backing, power level and application time, daggerboard extension, and operator skill. Be aware that, when under power, the Mac is no different than other outboard boats which steer more easily in one direction than the other. And have fun!

- Brian.

[Catigale]

OP has an of course...I'm not sure if the suffers from the Starboard Lag Off Whole tht afflicts the

[Diver70]

I had similar problem two years ago and I found out that the cause was in the steering cable. I changed the cable and the problem went away.

[The-strikes]

I had that problem last summer with my 2001 . the Rack & Pinion steering mechanism was broken. Bought a replacement rack with steering cable from BWY, minor tweaks to replace it because the new one is just slightly longer. Whole job took 2-3 hours. The steering is now real easy.

[MarkWorsnop]

Sorry everyone that I havent responded back! I had a long to do list and finally have got back to the steering and remembered putting a post here. I forgot to set the post to email me so I didnt think anyone had answered.

I am still a week or two away from the first voyage so I will check the steering underway and see if it makes a difference or not.

If there were an adjust on on where the end of the cable mounts that would fix the problem, but so far I havent found any adjustment! I am going to guess that the 25 degrees is way more than enough, but its the point of the matter that is bugging me! I think it should be the same on both sides, or at least close

Thanks for all the input!!