Cable Part

[Mark.Boat]

Hello Boaters: I’ve got a question regarding the small cable shown in the picture. A few years ago I pulled into a gas station to fill up with gas. A drunk driver did not turn sharp enough and hit the bumper of his car against the lower part of the engine by the propeller enough so that the whole boat shook on the trailer (Sunday afternoon even). I called 911 and the driver was arrested for a felony DWI on the spot. I checked the transom and everything appeared ok and had insurance at the ready if needed, but was not needed. Does anyone know what this cable is for? Is it for safety? Is it to keep the steering linkage stable? It looks like it was maybe attached to the clevis pin and if I had to guess, I think it broke when the person hit the engine with his car. I tried searching for information about it but have not been successful yet. If anyone can offer a suggestion as to what it is and a part number that would be great, or if it is homemade (i.e. not a standard part). I would like to replace it with a new one, but don’t know enough about it. The engine is a Mercruiser 4.3L (443B100DS) with serial 0D6098xx. My family has owned this boat for almost 30 years. One thing I did notice after this event is that the boat wants to wander a little more at slow speed and I don’t know if this cable, now broken, allows the linkage to move around more, or if it is just my imagination. I know one can trim up at slow speeds to reduce wander, but I still feel like it wanders more after the event. Any information on the cable is appreciated! Thank you--Mark

 

[GA_Boater]

The wire is part of the bonding system to reduce corrosion. It won't affect steering at all.

The other end should be attached to a similar screw and eyelet. If you back up for another picture, we might be able to see where it goes. Is the picture of the steering parts mounted behind the motor?

Slow speed wander is an inherent "feature" of V-hull boats.

 

[Mark.Boat]

Thank you. Yes to "Is the picture of the steering parts mounted behind the motor?". Wow, I would have not expected that it was related to corrosion resistance. I will take another picture this weekend and try to trace where it was connect to. I did not see any other pigtail hanging around, so I suspect it was attached to the clevis pin with an eye clip, but not sure. Would the force of the bumper hit cause it to break? Is this a standard part, or add-on not listed in a parts diagram?

 

[GA_Boater]

It's a standard part made if special flexible wire with eyelets on both ends. It flexes as the boat is steered and metal fatigue caused the wire to break at the other eyelet end. If the two eyelets aren't aligned properly the flexing occurs at the eyelet crimp instead of the length of the wire, so it's doubtful the DUI driver caused it.

The wire may not be for the steering, just trying to make sense of your photo. This may be how the wire is routed and connected. See how it's got the slack loops.

 

[Mark.Boat]

Awesome. Thank you!

 

[achris]

Here's what it should look like. It's part of the continuity bonding to ensure all parts of the drive and engine are electrically connected to all the anodes. Thus providing all parts with the galvanic corrosion protect afforded by the anodes. Any part not connected will be subject to accelerated galvanic corrosion.

You can't buy that wire separately from Merc. It comes in the kit, 99940A2 CONTINUITY KIT (about $35). I would just get one made up from a couple of stainless steel eyelets and a piece of stainless wire.

Chris..........

 

[GA_Boater]

So maybe I was right and then wrong - The story of my life.

It looks like the wire ties the tiller arm to the transom plate, so it does connect a moving part to a fixed part.

Thanks, Chris. A real picture is better than a drawing. Looking at Mark's and your photo, the wire is still attached to the tiller arm.

 

[achris]

.... Looking at Mark's and your photo, the wire is still attached to the tiller arm.

And from Mark's photo, I can tell you WHY the wire broke. When the engine/drive is supplied, that wire is installed in the transom plate at the factory. It's the installer's job to connect the other end to the tiller arm. The angle between the wire and the screw in the tiller arm is too steep (compare it with mine), and at a full lock right turn, that wire was pulled tight, then broke. Whoever installed it didn't check to ensure it was right.



Chris...

 

[Mark.Boat]

Thank you Chris! Now I know where to look for the other eyelet and will make one by hand if I can--Mark. Thanks again.

 

[Mark.Boat]

Replaced it. Thanks again for telling me what it was and for the part#!...