Steering issue

[JJmax]

Floating down the river got on a huge sandbar could not push off so had to drive off. Now my steering is off and feels loose even there steering wheel. I turn the wheel where i think is straight but the rudder is off so i have to turn it more to straighten out he rudder. The rudder looks good and the shaft but i get a bad pull when i go to take off and while I'm driving could this be the prop the prop also looks OK and really shiny. This is a 2000 S22 With tower i bought this boat new and do most off the maintenance on the boat but really don't no where to start here I'm assuming there is more than 1 issue. Any help

[eagle1wi]

It sounds like your cable is bound up or your steering needs lubrication if you are getting a lot of resistance.  Will the boat go really easy one direction but take effort to stay straight or the other direction?

Have you inspected your steering cable routing after this issue?  Is your steering cable original?

Also you probably need to inspect your rudder packing - are you getting any leaks?

[JJmax]

Yes, It does take  effort to hold straight but when i release the wheel it will shoot to one side and the boat turns . The cable is original and have not checked the routing or have i ever lubricated.   Nothing looks bad back by the rudder and no leaks around the rudder.   

[eagle1wi]

make sure your cable is taking a logical path up to your steering wheel and use a grease gun to hit the zerks back my the rudder

I thought I needed a new steering cable until I found out a little lubrication did the trick

[sailtl]

Any extra vibration in the boat?

[JJmax]

I grease the rutter every year. I have not noticed any vibration. I have not used the boat much because of this issue mainly steering issues like i described. I just ordered a new prop for good measures but no that wont correct the steering issue Really wanted a new prop!!

[Capt Rick]

Grab the rudder from below the hull . See if it moves port to starboard. bow to stern.  Usually the rudder port inside the boat breaks away from the square flat mounting flange at the weld.

Also look at the aluminum bracket that holds the steering cable .
Capt Rick.

[JJmax]

 I can grab the Rutter and it turns bow to stern and the bracket looks good.   While in water I have a hard time keeping it straight but will turn to one side easily could this be the cable if so what size i noticed there are 2 sizes. 2000 s22  I also notice my steering wheel feels a little loose could the cable possibly cause this  . Is there anything else i should replace if you guys think this is the issue?  Would these things be hard to replace?

[lilfoo2225]

hmm something dont sound right. you sure that steering arm isnt bent or moved on the rudder? and that rudder isnt bent? none of the fins under there are mucked up? i can gas the boat and it wont turn at all with my hands off the wheel. except when we are pulling a tube or wake boarder but its never as drastic as yours.

[JJmax]

Well i i checked everything again nothing is cracked and nothing looks bent. Everything is tight around the rudder. The bracket of the rudder that connects to a metal pipe looks good and the bracket that holds the metal pipe looks good im assuming it is made to rotate then  Off this is the steering cable and there is no bracket on the cable itself the cable gos under the gas tank  up to the dash some how . HELP HELP HELP if it is the steering cable what size would it be

[JJmax]

Oh Yes there has never been fins on the boat

[lilfoo2225]

yeah i forgot you got a v-drive. but it just doesnt sound like a cable to me. pulling to one side i just doesnt make sense as to a steering cable.

[lilfoo2225]

and by size do you mean the 18 or the 19 ft. cable? id imagine you would need to 19ft. but not for sure.

[JJmax]

What would you try ill do anything at this point. One thing i can tell you when i was getting off the sand bar i had alot of tension on the steering wheel trying to keep it in the direction i needed to go. Maybe to much thats why i thought it could be the cable but the cable looks good from what i can tell and the steering wheel has no resistance when i turn side to side out of the water. Could it be the prop i ordered a new acme 525. That  makes no sense to me though i was do for a new prop my is stock.

[JJmax]

well one thing i know for sure is my steering wheel turns at least a half of turn more to one side than the other? It never did this before but my rutter and all brackets look fine. Is there a way to fix that or do i need to buy new parts