Stiff steering on NR 18' with 115 Yamaha

[Johnny B Bad]

Just breaking in a new NR 18' with offshore bracket and 115 Yamaha. Steering is very stiff, worse to the left than to the right. Does anyone out there that has the same setup have a solution short of hydraulic steering? Does it loosen up with time and use? Thanks, John

[bighugetrout]

When you are on plane, have you trimmed you motor up? Usually that balances the motor and makes the steering easier.

[Johnny B Bad]

So far have not been able to run that fast, just breaking in the motors. But, it is really stiff at idle and lower R's. thanks

[chucks electric]

hello, your boat may have zero feed back steering. it has a clutch in the helm unit that needs to break free. this will happen mostly at low speeds.

[BARCHASER]

I have a 2005 18' NR seahawk with a transom mount Yamaha and the steering is very free. I dont know if the offshore bracket makes a dif but the steering on mine has been very free since new.

[KChookem]

I hope you have your issue resolved, but if not you should get this resolved very soon - you could have a problem that could leave you without steering at the most inopportune time and place.

On a brand new boat and motor, this may be an issue for the dealer to resolve. Good dealers want happy customers.

You should be able to turn the wheel freely, regardless of speed, including setting still in the water. Seems logical that the problem has to be in either the steering wheel assembly, the steering cable, or in how the motor pivots. The dealer, or you in the alternative, could figure out which of the three has the problem by disconnecting at the steering wheel, and if the wheel spins effortlessly, then disconnect at the motor, which should pivot easily without the cable attached. If the steering wheel and the motor are good, the likely culprit is the steering cable.

Re the Steering Cable - I can think of several potential problems on a brand new setup. I'll have to refer to the system I'm familiar with, which is a Teleflex cable hooked to a Honda outboard via the tilt tube (which also requires maintenance along with the cable).

The cable could have a radius turn that is too tight, causing binding (for example, steering cables typically run from the steering wheel, making a bend to run the length of the boat, then make a 90-degree turn to the outboard, where the cable connects to the outboard motor. If any of these turns or bends is too tight, even kinked, it would affect the steering.

The cable could be the wrong size, perhaps too long or too short.

Check to be sure the cable is properly secured, particularly at the helm (steering wheel), and at the motor. I'm familiar with my rack & pinion, which bolts to the back of the steering wheel column under the helm (under the "dash") - make sure the cable portion was seated properly onto the bezel (steering wheel column), and bolted down properly. Then follow the path of the cable to the motor looking for a very sharp turn, or even a kink or damaged cable (which would be hard to do, but stuff happens.) Then look to see that the cable is attached properly to the motor.

[Johnny B Bad]

Thanks, you guys. This is a brand new boat and I am going to take it in to have this looked at. John