HELP!!!! for my "new" 93 SNOB

I thought I landed a steal of a deal on a '93 SNOB last summer. I got it at a good price and had it out on the water a couple of times before it got too cold. I had it winterized and summerized by the Mastercraft dealer (They used to be a Nautique dealer and now the closest dealer is over 3 hours away). I've had it out twice this year already and had nothing but troubles.

Problems:
1. Very stiff stearing: I've had the whole floor apart, greased the rudder and concluded that I need to change the cable. This doen't look too difficult but any advice would be appreciated. Does the new steering cable come with the steering rack already assembled? I don't see where the cable comes loose.

2. I have to turn the ignition breaker on for the bildge to work at all. AND, when I turn the automatic bildge on both bildge pumps run and keep running even when dry. I don't remember it doing this last year AND my friends boats don't ever seem to be doing this either. I have one bildge and foat switch in both the stern near the rudder and just in front of the engine. Any thought on how to check a float switch that is stuck open? I hate to cut wires and have to assemble with connectors when I don't really need to.

3. My starter will not always turn over even when I have a new fully charged batter. I've tried smacking the solenoid and briding the terminals so that it engages, but this is very embarassing to have to do at the ramp each time. Is it more practical to replace the solenoid or the whole assembly?

I'm beginning to hate this boat already. I've been waiting all winter to get it out and tried to do all the "right" things and it's just falling to pieces.

I need a new bimini and boat cover too. I'm really getting to believe that boat stands for Bring On Another Thousand and that it is a hole in the water for me to throw my money in to.

Can anyone help me please.

JWFergus,

I'm not positive, but I believe that in
a 93, the ignition breaker is the main
breaker and it needs to be on in order for
the bilge to operate. In later years, I
believed they separated the two so that you
can leave the bilge on without having all
of the electrical activated.

I would think the steering cable probably had
water in it, and just got rusty/sticky over the winter. I haven't changed on on that boat, so no advice. I doubt you rudder is
bent because you had no steering issues last summer. However, I have had this issue before, and it will definitely make the steering stiff.

BKH

What a nightmare. I think things are starting out all wrong for you. My advise is to stop putting money in it and sell it. Start over with a different year. Sometimes you have to fold your hand.

I paid less than 2K for my '68 and trailer and it's been pretty much nothing but fun. (Now if you ask me how much $$$ I've thrown at it I will probably lie. But it's almost all been optional money.

Start over... tomorrow!

Before you buy a steering cable, disconnect it from the rudder and troubleshoot. I'm not sure what process lead you to the replace cable course of action. It may be something as simple as a packing that needs to be cleaned of the rudder shaft and the port hole, and then rewrap it. Also, maybe the packing gland is tighter than it needs to be and is causing the steering to be stiff. Adding more grease won't help this scenerio. Could be as simple as a $3.00 fix. I'm sure we all have been frustrated like you are now and the nice weather doens't help dull the pain. Or maybe it's just me...

I have a 90 ski nautique, the ignition breaker must be activated before any assc. can be turned on, this includes the bildge pump, on my nautique, when pushing on the auto bildge, both lights will come on...the auto bildge and the manual bildge...the pump will run for aprox. 2 min.s, then will turn off and the auto bilge light will be the only light remaining on my dash indicating the auto bilge is activated, this procedure is normal, you might wait to see if the bilge pump turns off on automaticaly

Before you replace the cable try this; drill and tap a hole in the collar of the cable, insert a grease nipple and fill it with grease what happens to the cable is water eventually gets inside and begins the process of deterioration. I did this to my 91 (Sea World Boat) when I purchased it in 92 and never had to replace the cable.