Normal Steering Cable Life Span

(yosquire) · (yosquire) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 09-04-2006, 11:24 AM

I'm just curious at what hour mark have you guys had steering cables break?

I was out yesterday and my cable broke at 98 hours. I thought that was a bit soon, but it's under warranty, so this is probably actually a good thing.

It's an 04 (Oct 03 Manufacture date) that I bought new in Sept 05 with 2 hours on it.

(breadbutta) · (breadbutta) **Join Date: Dec 2003** 09-04-2006, 11:33 AM

Craig,

My cable didn't break, but at the beginning of this season it got very tight. I disconnected the rudder and it was still tight. I'm expecting the replacment thru shipstore any day ($140.00). The boat is a 2000 Centurion, the cable was a Teleflex ssc13418 manufacturred in 1999.

(malibuboarder75)

We had the same problem. I am now replacing one that broke a year ago. So this will be the second one I changed. If you dont seal it right, water can get in the cable and it will rust. 98 hours is quick. Ours broke around 700-800 and now at 950 (because we didnt seal it properly). Good thing its under warranty.

(acurtis_ttu) · (acurtis_ttu) **Join Date: May 2004** 09-05-2006, 7:21 AM

mine went out( getting very tight) around 120 hours. but on an old prostar it finally broke after about 1200 hours.

(rodmcinnis) · (rodmcinnis) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 09-05-2006, 2:52 PM

I doubt that there is a typical life as there are too many variables. I used to have a tournament ski boat that had been in the family for ~ 20 years and still had its original steering cable.

There are several things that will hasten the deterioration of the steering and control cables.

1) Bending too tight of a turn. Slow, gentle turns are best. Unfortunately, the helm station is off to one side and the steering cable exits pointed right at the hull so it has to make an immediate turn. If the shape of the dash, the side and the placement of the throttle lever made routing the steering cable more difficult then it could end up turning too sharp.

2) Water: The rudder end of the steering cable usually attaches fairly low in the boat. If the bilge is usually full of water the end of the cable could be submerged and water could migrate into the cable causing corrosion.

3) Jacket damage: I have seen situations where a fan belt rubbed against the cable, or the cable rested against the engine and just vibration caused the jacket to wear through. I have also seen cases where someone working on the boat managed to step on the cable where it passed between stringers and cause damage. Even a small break in the jacket will allow water to get inside and cause corrosion.

If you can get to the rudder then replacing the cable generally isn't too difficult.