Boots for Steering Gear & Cables - stop the flood!

[kmclemore]

OK, so I've tracked down the only remaining leaks on my MacX and I found the first one where the steering linkage comes through the starboard side of the transom, and the second one was nearby at the hole for the cables.

Has anybody found a good solution for sealing these two holes? Is there any sort of boot or other sealing method that really works?

[Moe]

Motorwell Boots

Ours (installed by previous owner's outboard installer)



I assume our steering shaft boot came from MacGregor



There's also a long bellows boot you attach to the steering shaft on one side and the tube the shaft runs through on the other. We don't have one of those.

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Moe

[kmclemore]

Thanks, Moe! I've got a similar boot on my cables, but it leaks like a sieve - maybe mine is just perished and I need a new one? However, I'm clearly missing that other one on the steering shaft - I have nothing there on mine - the shaft just goes right through the glass and I can see daylight around the gap between the shaft and the 'glass. Not good.

[Moe]

Kevin, I'm sure there's space between the cables and wiring in the center of our boot that could be sealed up, but I think what helps there is that the cables run downhill outside the boot (and uphill inside it)... like a drip loop.

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Moe

[kmclemore]

Thanks, Moe!

Here's some shots of my mess...

First, the cables - been taped and bodged by DPO and I didn't do it any favors either - time to replace the boot with a split boot, I guess.


And with the steering you can see there's no seal whatsoever! Doesn't look like there ever was, either.

[Moe]

Kevin,
It's summer... time to sail. Glop some RTV on 'em for now and then this winter pull the cables and wires out of the outboard and install a solid boot (and some wire loom or tubing over the cables and wires). You might even consider preemtively replacing the steering cable, or at least pulling it to put some boots on. Winter's the time for that stuff.

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Moe

[ALX357]

Is silicone caulk a good sealant here, flexible etc., on the conrol cables and wires , to be the regular method of sealing the boot, or is it too difficult to remove when it wears out ?