Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

SO my toon steers like crap and I plan to move/rebuild a console for it

My current cable is twice as long as it needs to be and it is hard to steer because of all the bends in it.

SO I either need to figure out what I have and get a shorter cable or go Hydraulic (it steers to hard for my wife to drive it)

1000's of options for steering, where to start?

So have been emailing back and forth with seastar (very helpful) BUT they have never done a mount for my engine/pontoon so they can not "recommend a kit" which from a liabilty stand point I under stand

I will look over several set ups and order parts and make a mount probably

I have no experience at all with outboards - my small 115hp is my first. I want to know more about this so I will be watching and learning as usual around here!

bansil wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 14, 2019 10:06 am

My current cable is twice as long as it needs to be and it is hard to steer because of all the bends in it.

When I went through the problem and replacement of mine, the two techs I spoke with were adamant that the cable needed to be no more than 1' longer than needed. I think you would be fine with a new steering cable of the correct length. Measuring for the correct length was not hard -- I did it a couple of different ways to make sure I was as close as I felt I could be. Measure from the motor steering rod along the length of the hull to the console, up to the helm at the wheel. Do it twice. Add 6-12".

The hardest part of all is installing the bitch! Mine was wrapped all entwined with the other electric wiring.

Just

This video gave me a good understanding. The guy is boring and talks too damn much , and it's not a pontoon, but it will really help with learning the process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ8UruO-_a0

Yeah spent better part of day researching...ugh...working and I think just a new correct cable will be fine.

Been a long 4 months, nothing done on boat...hell she is dtill in the water.

Carbs drained and gas is old...and still need to do a console build and that will affect the cable length for sure.

We are working on lake side land and slip so I haven't done anything, except but new fishing licenses

Is the steering wheel taper pretty much universal?

I hate mine and a cable/helm swap will fix that with new wheel.

No mention in specs about said taper.

I drive around the lake twice a day...I miss the water, can't wait for wa weather

bansil wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:18 pm

Is the steering wheel taper pretty much universal?

I don't know that answer. I THINK it is. Mine was old helm off/new helm on... same wheel so no issue. The helm shaft seems pretty standard.

I hear you on the anxiousness. I look at mine hanging in the lift every day. We've had a day here & there that were very tempting to take her out, but had no water under her -- tide changes. Maybe soon.

Good luck, ol' buddy!

I'm very happy with the baystar hydraulic system that came on my boat. It is rated for up to 150 hp.

My old Bennington was hard to steer with my cable setup. So I went with a baystar and the change took about an hr.
Would had been faster but had a few frozen bolts. I love the feel of it. Baystar is great.