Steering Play - Rinker 260EC

kjlambrix

I have a 2011 Rinker 260 Express Cruiser.  I have a little bit of play in the steering, probably about a couple inches of steering before the drive actually turns.  It's been like this since I bought the boat in 2011.  Obviously, I don't expect it to be as reactive as car steering, but is this normal or is there an easy way to adjust the steering cable to tighten it up a bit?  I do lube the steering cable every year.  I had a Crownline boat with an Alpha drive prior to this boat and I don't remember that much play in the steering.  I can't imagine something is seriously wrong as I only have 80 hours on the boat.  Please advise??

raybo3

Welcome to the RBOC.Sounds like you need to adjust the cable. Someone on this site will know and help you out. You can also search this site I think Babyboomer posted a link on cable adjustments. If he did I am sure he will chime in,

MarkB

I have a 2011 260EC. There's some play, but I'd say at most 1" either way turning the wheel.

kneedeep

Mine is a 2009 340, 350's with bravo 3's. I have lots of play in my steering & the boat tracks horribly at low (off plane) speeds. It's my biggest complaint with the boat. My last boat was a sea ray 320 with inboards & it did not have these issues.  Still love the boat though.

Babyboomer

Here ya go
http://www.mercstuff.com/gimbalringwear.htm

Also Read This
http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=127088

raybo3

You know after thinking about it. Are you talking slow speed or up on plane? Slow speed ie no wake it will seem like a lot play in the wheel. If its a high speed or on plane then you may have to adjust the cable. Also I (we) can always count on Boomer. I think we should change his name to Linkman......LOL

kneedeep

Mine is at slow speeds, no or little wake. It was like this when I purchased the boat & it only had 45 hours on it.

raybo3

That might be normal. Very hard to keep a boat straight at slow speeds like that. I forgot the term that is used for this but my guess is you do not have a problem. Now if the boat was on plane then I would say you had a problem....

TikiHut2

Ray is probably/hopefully right about it being a normal issue, My 270 barely tracks at idle speed requiring constant helm attn. The Admiral almost always over steers when she is at it. The huge freeboard compared to the depth and size(lack) of a keel are just what you get at slow speed. 

As was mentioned (and I actually did this this morning, remembering your post) when the boat is out of the water simply grab the aft edge of the drive and aggressively pull it side to side to see if there's slop in the tiller arm connection to the cable or at the tiller connection to the drive. I know mine is almost ready for a new gimbel ring/tiller connector and seal, and there's very little play, but it's an 8yo saltwater boat. Re-torque that U-bolt on the drive tiller pin every year too.

As Ray said , I also suspect/hope yours is just a tracking issue that's inherent to the boats design limitations. Put a sailboat keel under it and it'll track like it's on a rail at low speed, but planning would be an issue...

Good luck and let us know what you find. Mike

Babyboomer

raybo3 said:

That might be normal. Very hard to keep a boat straight at slow speeds like that. I forgot the term that is used for this but my guess is you do not have a problem. Now if the boat was on plane then I would say you had a problem....

The Term is Sober 

raybo3

LOL Boomer your killing me....

kneedeep

Yes, I agree. I don't think there is anything wrong, it's just inherent to the design. I think my sea ray was better because it had straight inboards with rudders. I think the rudders helped the tracking at slow speeds.

Capt_Steve

 Response from Randy Rinker:

It is normal to have a couple of inches play in the steering. You can look in the engine room where the steering cable attaches to the steering actuator and make sure the nut is tight on the cable.