Steering problem on new 170dc with an Etec

[jomerc]

I wrote a while ago about buying a Triumph. I have now had two sea trials and am still not sure about purchasing. Turn the wheel to the right and the wheel rotates and the boat turns no friction no trouble. Turn to the left is a totally different story. The friction and pressure you need to move the wheel is three times what is required to turn right. Feels like you have to force it. It feels mechanical but I do not have that much boating experience. The dealer says the problem is with the trim tab at the bottom of the leg of the Evinrude Etec 75hp. I am told today that they have adjusted it right the way over and the problem is not as bad but there is still a noticable difference between turning left or turning right. On the first sea trial all of the cabling was way too tight throttle and steering and they had to adjust that.
If I am buying a new boat and paying for that privilage I expect the steering to be the same turning left or right. Am I expecting too much?
Advice from new buyers and Etec owners is sought as I do not want buy a lemon or have a problem from day one that should not be there.
Love the ride soft and quiet but hate the steering.

[MolarBoater]

Sounds like a "Dealer" issue as they rig the motors.

Do you have this problem with the motor off and just sitting on the trailer?

I use a CableBuddy which is a nut with a grease fitting which allows you to get grease all the way up into the cable housing mounted on the motor in the splash well. Smooth as butter and I can steer with one finger, Zuke 140 on a Bay 190.

[jomerc]

When the boat is out of the water the steering seems o be more even maybe a little stiff to the left but nowhere near as difficult.

[MolarBoater]

Check this, if in the water with motor trimmed all the way down, not moving and it steers easily. And you only notice the pulling while under way, then you may have to adjust the small fin (aka Trimtab) just above the propellar.

Mine is angled to port, slightly, which would steer the boat to starboard which in turn must offset a "pull" to the port.

Hope it's that easy.

[joeygumbo]

I had the same exact issue with my 07 /170 DC. They ended up having to change the steering helm. It was covered by my warranty.

[jomerc]

hey Joeygumbo,
Could you give me more info. I am on the verge of sining the contract and would rather they fixed it before I bought it. Feel free to email me directly or post the whole sordid saga here for everyone to read.

[MolarBoater]

Guess they have already adjusted the trimtab as I reread your post. Sounds like a cable install error or a kinked cable. Don't purchase until it is fixed or you'll always regret. You have the upper hand right now but once the money is transferred.....well, alot of motivation to fix little things goes on the back burner and it may take weeks for them to get around to the problem.

[joeygumbo]

Let me start this off by first saying that I absolutely love my triumph. I purchased mine from Huntley Marina in Charlotte, NC. I was told by dick at Merrit Marine that he did not recomend putting a 75 hp on that boat because it handled better with the 60. I test drove the boat with only the 75 hp and did not notice a steering problem. During the break in period I noticed that the steering was pulling to the right at low speeds. I adjusted the motor's trim tab and the pulling stopped but the fact that the steering was extremely tight concerned me. I chalked it up to the fact that the 75hp had too much torque for the boat. I then brought my boat in for it's 20 hr service and talked to the yamaha certified mechanic about it and he said he would take a look. He changed out the steering helm and had it warrantied. I wish there was more juice to it but that's it. At the end of the day Huntley and triumph took care of me.

[dkaraluz]

I first read this post last Saturday. Since then I have taken my 2006 170DC out twice, once in fresh water and once in salt water (not that it matters) and played with the steering: I can not feel any difference between turning left or turning right and in both cases the friction is minimal. I have a 60 HP 4S Yamaha. The mechanic that did the 10 hour inspection on the engine reworked the wires a little "because he didn't like how the dealer had done it" but I don't remember having any issues before that either.

[elroy]

joemerc, i have a 170cc 2006 with a 75hp etech and have no problems with steering. i love my boat