www.iFourWinns.com

I started the boat for the first time this year and noticed a noise when turning near the limits. Then at some point a bearing type of nose started no matter where the steering is. I am thinking it is a gimbal bearing since the noise is telegraphing through the boat and not coming from the engine. Anyone have experience with a failed gimbal bearing? I am pretty certain I am on the right track, but I wouldn't mind a second opinion.

Thanks.

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Steve K
1993 Four Winns 210 Horizon
5.8L EFI OMC

It's also very possible that it's your U-joints.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

It is a likely culprit, but you won't know until you pull the drive off and check. Look in the bellows for water, if you see that then you know why the bearing went bad. Once you have the drive off, check the u-joints for play and stiffness and check the gimble bearing for free movement. When you turn it by hand it should feel very very smooth, no roughness or grittyness. Try pumping in some grease, while you look at the old grease coming out with a flashlight, if the old grease looks milky then you had water in there. Same for the u-joints. If you had water in there then you have to do a bellows job too.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II