Mercruiser Bravo steering problems

[rickaskin]

We've got a Mercruiser Bravo on a Regal 2350 - the problem is that it has a tendancy (rather worryingly!) to veer wildly off course at high speed in a straight line, or when turning will lock itself into a tighter and tighter turn despite efforts to steer the other way!

Has anybody else experienced anything similar please? I can't imagine it would be too complicated a system, my initial thoughts were that perhaps the hydraulic rams may be letting-by?

 

[moonraker 36]

if the boat is out of water.try to waggle the leg by hand.
if their is movement prob worn gimble.
if you think it is the power steering ram easy to change.i got a brand new one off ebay for less the 90quid. if you cant get one off ebay cheap.order one from the u.s.a.
but i would look at the gimble housing first.

 

[maverickofpoole]

Your not over trimming the legg in are you? this could cause bow steer, just a thought

Martin

 

[moonraker 36]

yep. might help if we knew what wear&tear the boat's had........

 

[MapisM]

my initial thoughts were that perhaps the hydraulic rams may be letting-by?

Wait, does the leg have hydraulic steering? I very much doubt it, on a Regal 2350.
That's not standard on any bravo drive, not even in the X or XR versions (unless coupled with ITS, but that's another story).
What you describe sounds more like there's no power steering at all, hence the leg has the normal tendency to steer due to prop walk.
Does the leg spin a R/H prop, and the steering wheel tends to "pull" to stbd?
If so, you should either grab firmly the wheel (which isn't a bad idea whenever cruising at speed, anyway), or fit a power steering.

 

[moonraker 36]

surely if it was the steering ram.the steering would have gone really heavy first(it did when mine went on my alpha 1) is it not the case that the power steering is more power assisted as it is cable+power?i have alhpa 1 not the bravo. had simular symtems of boat wondring and dropping over when turning, when the gimble housing went.
easy to check the leg anyway just give it a waggle by hand...

 

[rickaskin]

Thanks for the advice!

I've been told that the leg was recently overhauled, and very lightly used in it's ten years...

I might brave jumping in the water at low tide over the weekend and give it a wobble. How much play would be considered normal?

I must confess I was only guessing that the steering was hydraulic so I most probably stand corrected on that one! The unit is a duoprop so that rules out propwalk - I may be guilty of over-trimming it, which may explain some of the problem, but a trainer was driving the boat at the weekend and he said that it was so violently unpredictable that he refused to continue our lesson!

 

[GrahamHR]

This ( and another posting referred to in it) might yield some possible causes/ solutions

http://www.boatingabc.com/forums/ub...591/Bravo_3_Steering_problems.html#Post474591

 

[moonraker 36]

overhaul of leg prob means just the leg.
engine out job if it is the gimble.
should be very very little movement if you waggle the leg(side-side).
might be worth putting the boat on a trailer then you can have a good look at the entire unit,maybe get a second person to have a look see(even if you get them to tell you what's at fault then fix it yourself.as to wether you have power steering,if the engine not running the steering would be heavy and get a whole lot easier when you start the engine.
good luck hope it turns out to be a cheap fix.

 

[rickaskin]

Thanks Moonraker! I hope so too!!