Ancient Steering Issues/Advice!

[MCNPathfinder]

Hey everyone! I have a 1963 Larson. It's like 15' or 16', something like that. I was on here a few years ago and found a diagram on how to thread the steering back together. Well tonight it failed miserably again. It's got a REALLY old steering system. There are two wire cables running down each side of the boat. I know how to fix it, that's not the issue, but I'm wondering if there might be a more reliable system I could put in? Or perhaps someone has some advice on how to fix it so I don't have to keep fixing it like every 4th time I get it out on the water? I love this old boat, I get comments on it every time I bring it to the boat launch, it's just a shame that the steering keeps breaking. The engine is pretty temper mental, but it's still only May, there's a lot of time to tinker with it. I had the thing working FLAWLESSLY by the end of the season last year, I didn't even have the boat this time last year, not to mention the engine didn't run, steering was broken, and the boat didn't have the fancy LED lights and stereo it has now! Anyways, my rant aside, anyone have any suggestions with the steering?

 

[444]

Re: Ancient Steering Issues/Advice!

They make all kinds of aftermarket steering systems for boats. It will depend on what you can mate up to your motor.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Ancient Steering Issues/Advice!

How to fix it so it is reliable:
New cable (wire rope).
New cable end clamps; double up the clamps on each end
Inspect each pulley; replace if questionable.
Inspect each clamp, tie off, bracket and nut and bolt; replace if necessary.
Adjust so that there is no slack in the cables. Make sure the springs are in place and are in good condition.

The steering system is darn near 50 years old and needs maintenance, like any other item. If you are fixing it every 4th time out, then I would respectively say that you are not fixing it, but patching it together. It's time to go over the entire system from the helm to the engine connectors and make it right.

Or you could get an aftermarket single cable system and helm, available here at iboats, and try to retrofit it. The retrofit can be difficult, depending on the transom and engine layout, since both the motor and boat were designed with a cable and pulley system in mind.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Ancient Steering Issues/Advice!

I have the same kind of setup.

It was a chore to string up and make work right, But once I did, and got the tension of the cables just right, I haven't messed with it since. (about a year now).

 

[Ned L]

Re: Ancient Steering Issues/Advice!

Yea, something's wrong if you have had to 'fix' it four times. When set up right a traditional cable steering system should work fine for years without more than maybe couple of drops of oil and an occational tension adjustment.

 

[MCNPathfinder]

Re: Ancient Steering Issues/Advice!

Thanks for the help/advice everyone. Let's see if I can do it right this time. I think my deal is that I haven't really adjusted the tension until it breaks again. I should probably check/adjust as necessary like once a week. I usually have it out at least 2-3 times during the week, and provided I don't work, I usually have it out every day of the weekend. It gets a lot of use.