Sportfish I/O steering........

[WestCoaster]

Y2K Sportfish 1850, Mercruiser Alpha 1, 4.3 V-6........anyone know if the steering play is adjustable? It's ok......but seems like some "slop" could be taken out if adjustable. Looked under the dash at the back of the steering head and only see two thick steering cables with quick disconnect clips and no adjusters. Anyone know if adjustable and how? Isn't too awful bothersome......but for a sports car enthusiast, it's nerve wracking! We like tight steering! Anyway, if you could pass on the secrets.....it'd be much appreciated. Thanks!

P.S. Perchjerker?.....I expect you might know since you have a similar platform.

[perchjerker]

Westy-
I havent noticed any looseness to speak of. I will check it out more closley next time Im in the boat. I guess what I would do if I were you is to look where the cable connects to the steering arm on the outdrive while someone wiggles the wheel to see if there is any play there. You might be able to take some slack out of it, if so, thats probably where there would be some nuts on the cable end. Maybe the cable streched a bit after being new.

[WestCoaster]

Thanks for tip, B. I'll look at it this weekend when we go striper fishin'. These landlocked stripers are tearin' up any surface plug you can pitch! I'll check the steering setup when I do my "preflight" in the driveway. I expect there's some kind of adjustment.

P.S. What kind of cover you got? The stock canvas? Wondering how well those Hurricane covers that Northern Tool sells work? They're on clearance sale right now. Wanted a second cover to go over my factory canvas since I store the boat outside. Gotta get that parking structure up by next winter!

Anyway......thanks again. I'll let ya know what I find.

[Karen]

In response to your Hurricane cover question. I bought one for my boat and although cheap, it did a good job. It's a little on the light side but does an admirable job of keeping water and junk off your boat. I got mine thru Northern Tool Co. and it cost about $100 for an 18 foot V-hull. The factory cover is heavy duty canvas that's coated with some water repellent, but it's kind of a good idea to put the Hurricane cover over it like you say to protect the high dollar factory cover. Hope you like them like I did. Have fun.