Steering problem - '06 Speedster 200

[htowntod]

My Speedster has developed a steering problem - steers to the left just fine, but when the wheel is brought back to the right it stops roughly around the "straight" position. Feels like the wheel is turning past straight for some revolution, but when I check the nozzles, it's stopped about in the straight position. First noticed it when I got it back from maintenance (got some water in the engine compartment and they did a boil out procedure). Not sure if something happened to the steering cable while it was in.

I searched the forum and found a similar problem on an older Seadoo boat - I think it was a Utopia or something. Sounds like the problem was caused by a crimped outer cable, something about the cable operated steering to the right via an "accordian"-style outer shell of the cable while the inner cable "pushed" to move the nozzles to affect left steering. I wonder if this is the same problem with mine, as the symptoms sound eerily similar. But I didn't know if the older, different model had the same steering mechanism as my '06 Speedster.

If it matters, mine is the twin engine 430 HP model.

 

[htowntod]

I discovered the problem. The linkage "connector" that connects the steering cable rod to the right nozzle was incorrectly installed above the nozzle bracket and not below it. In the incorrect position above the bracket, it was actually hitting the black bracket that the reverse thrusters are mounted to when right steering pulled the cable/rod in towards the transom. All I had to do was unbolt the connector, drop it below the nozzle bracket and put it back together. In the correct position, there was no clearance issue as before and the nozzles swing freely in both directions.

Sometimes it pays to study the problem for asking a question. A local mechanic mentioned that some Seadoo models connect the steering rod "above" the nozzle bracket and some "below". Evidently someone at the shop incorrectly put the linkage back together, perhaps because other models mount it above.

Hopefully I'm describing this adequately, and perhaps it will help someone in the event it happens to you.