bow steering problem

[danfrommontreal]

Hello! I am fairly new to boating and totally new here.

I recently purchased my 2nd boat a 1994 Sea Ray overnighter 240 with mercruiser 7.4 and Bravo I. There were a few problems with it that I fixed.

Since I changed my rack and pinions steering cable, cleaned the steering radiator (the engine overheated after a bag got stuck so I also had the water pump changed and pieces from the old one removed from the radiator), it is now steering much better at slow speed. As soon as I reach 25mph, the bow dances from left to right and the boat feels unstable.

I played a lot with the trim tabs (that I am not very used to yet) and tried trimming the engine up and down as well but it doesn't make much of a difference.

I also changed my prop from a 19 pitch to a 21.

I need help, do you guys think it's the steering? the prop? or me not being able to use the trim tabs correctly even after trying a bunch of things with them??

Any other idea?

Thank you for the help

Dan

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,..... My 1st guess is the gimbel ring/ tiller arm connection is loose,.....

I'll move this to the Merc I/O forum for ya,.....

 

[alldodge]

Howdy

Agree with Bondo, something is loose. Go to the stern and check the nut on the steering ram, make sure its tight. Also check that the cable going into the ram doesn't move around, should be a solid fit. Then check slots in the ram are up and down per the pic below.


If everything checks out get someone else to check for slop when the wheel is turned back and forth. Do this while watching the steering arm coming out of the transom and attaching to the steering ram. Another method would be to garb the drive and shake it side to side while someone watches in side. There should be very little play