alpha one loose steering

[jayprice]

I own a 1996 Searay 250 with a single 350 Mercruiser and a Alpha One stern drive. From what I gather it has power, rack type steering. Unfortunately it also has very loose, vague steering feel at slow speeds - requiring constant corection to keep a straight heading. The only issue found during a recent and thorough outdrive service was a loose steering wheel - which was tightened without much improvement. What things in the system could be the cause - fittings, air, fluid, etc? And are they things I could check and/or fix?

 

[hondon]

Re: alpha one loose steering

Sounds more like a behavioral problem with the boat.At idle your keel is is doing the steering and not you.Trim tabs might help .If you give your drive a hardy shake and more than a couple of inches of side to side you might have a problem with the steering pivot ,but they are pretty tough on this unit.

 

[jayprice]

Re: alpha one loose steering

My trim tabs are in working order and are fully retracted when at "no wake" speeds. When the boat was out of the water a couple weeks ago I tried to move the drive side-to-side and it felt extremely tight. So I'm thinking it's more in the steering system.

 

[flashback]

Re: alpha one loose steering

I'm with hondon on this one, your boat is too new to have any problems like this. How long have you owned the boat, and has it done this since you have owned it? I believe you are experiencing what is called "deep V wander" do a search on this web site and you will find several posts on the subject..

 

[jayprice]

Re: alpha one loose steering

OK guys, I read through the posts on "deep V wander" and it seems to make sense but... I've driven other boats the same size and larger and mine is still far the worse. Could someone explain the "power" part of power steering to me. Is it the same as automotive power rack and pinion? Is the link from the steering rack to the rear actuator mechanical or hydrallic? If hydrallic, can air in the lines be an issue? Is the assist at the actuator or at the steering rack? One more - doesn't putting your tabs down at idle seem to be a little bandaid-ish? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just really curious.

 

[Bondo]

Re: alpha one loose steering

It's "Power Assist", Just like your car.......<br /><br />Helm to Tiller is a Cable....

 

[cuzner]

Re: alpha one loose steering

Hey Jay,are you used to power steering ? I had a feeling of no control,especialy at low speed when docking mine. The sundancer I just got was my first experience with it.I don't know if its a searay thing,but I've read several other posts from searay owners who have had the problem. I found the lack of resistance in the steering was causing me to oversteer.It is just a mater of getting used to it.One guy posted he replaced his flat zinc above the prop with a fin type and this seemed to help.Just out of curiosity is your boat a Sundancer?<br /><br /> Jim

 

[jayprice]

Re: alpha one loose steering

Thanks Jim, Yes it is a sundancer. Unfortunately I just had all anodes on the outdrive replaced and the new one is flat. If a finned plate helps its probably worth a try. But I still think there's got to be something in the power streering system that could be the bigger issue.<br />Any ideas?

 

[cuzner]

Re: alpha one loose steering

Hey Jay,here is my story.. I sold my 19ft cuddy and moved up the 23 ft da.Bought it in Midland Mi. I took it for a test run in Saginaw bay in mid April, but I did,nt drive.I brought it home a week later and took it out for the first time 1st week in may.Before I got out of the Marina,I was ready to bring it back and find out what the problem was with the steering.Kept going anyway.I opened it up on Lake St claire,steering improved, but had a hell of a time with the tab adjustment. Both power steering and tabs where new to me. Since the boat was new to me I wanted to have my boat mech go over it anyway.I asked him to take it for a test run and see what he thought about the steering issue.Everything was working right,he even said it turned good at slow speed for a boat that size.The only thing he found wrong was the batteries where garbage (I already knew that)1 year old wal-mart batteries,only charged up to 11.9 v.I let him change them to give him some work out of it. Since then I've had it 10 times and am learning to live with power steering( I cosidered finding a way to disconect it). Here are the conclusions I've come to- larger and heavier boat than I'm used takes longer to respond to steering- no resistance in steering wheel doesn't give you the "feel" of turning,causing oversteering too far right,hard pull left to corect etc.etc. add the bennett tabs in that I wasn't used to and first couple of times I felt like I was riding a bronco.Now at low speeds (docking) I turn the wheel a little at a time and give the boat time to respond,after 20 years of boating its like learning again.I do love the boat!!! it has a great ride in rough water,and gets up a plane in a hurry. Hope you get comfortable with it.<br /><br /><br /> Jim