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New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
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Author:  Fast402 [ Sun Apr 27, 2014 4:19 pm ]
Post subject:  New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
Hi All! I am the second owner of a 2011 H260 8.2 MAG Bravo III. My wife and I bought the boat last December and keep it in Cape Coral, FL where we have a second home. What a kick in the @$$! I didn't even know how much I was going to love it until after using it a few times. :D

I have lots to learn about boating and about this boat so I look forward to joining your forum. At this point after one trip back to the boat dealer, the main bugs seem to be out of it. However, I have one question for those of you in the know. The steering has some free play (i.e. the wheel moves a certain distance back and forth very easily before it engages with any steering input) and I am wondering if that is normal or can be adjusted out. The boat has 120 hours, is in great shape in every other respect and feels to me like it just needs a cable adjustment.

I would also like to hear from other H260 owners and would welcome any general advice and tips about this particular boat.

Thanks!
Ralph P
Author:  Surface Interval [ Sun Apr 27, 2014 7:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
Welcome to the forum. As far as the steering is concerned there are a few things that can cause some play, and a few of these things that can not be adjusted or corrected. There is usually some play in the rack and pinion or gear system at the steering wheel. There is also usually a little play at the out drive's steering arm due to the power steering system. I have had a universal joint loosen up in the tilt steering wheel mechanism which caused some extra play. That is easy enough to see by pulling the front edge of the rubber boot back (just ahead of the steering wheel). The steering systems in most boats consist of a single cable system from the wheel to the outdrive. Some high performance boats may use a "two cable" system where one is adjusted longer than the other to eliminate slack. Hope this helps.
Author:  rpengr [ Sun Apr 27, 2014 10:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
Well put by Surface Interval.

These boat steering systems will never have near zero play like a car. I will attempt to quantify how much play is normal from my experience:
If you have less than 1.5" of play measured at the outside diameter of your steering wheel, then your system is very tight and you are lucky.
If you have less than 1/6 of a turn (like 2 hours on a clock), then you are still in pretty good shape.
If you have more than 1/3 of a turn, then you have some really worn components.

But I have always had older boats, so I welcome other estimates on what is good/bad play.
Author:  purdueosch [ Mon Apr 28, 2014 1:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
Welcome! Gotta love that 8.2 B3! 8)
Author:  Fast402 [ Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
purdueosch wrote:
Welcome! Gotta love that 8.2 B3! 8)

That I do for sure! And thanks guys for the advice on the steering. I was at Bass Pro today for lunch and took a minute to try the steering wheels on several boats they had on the floor. All of the OB boats had minimal center play and all of the I/O boats felt just like mine. I guess it is normal although for the life of me I can't understand why that "should" be normal.
Author:  Surface Interval [ Mon Apr 28, 2014 5:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
When an I/O is shut down some of the play in the steering is from the cable moving the actuator for the power steering. While the I/O is running this play is a little less. It still beats the heck out of no power steering.
Author:  Flying Sushi [ Tue Apr 29, 2014 5:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
Welcome aboard!
Our H260 with VP8.1 had very little play on steering…. I would say 11:58 to 12:02 clock position at straight…. Our new E6 with 8.2MAG B3 has almost no play and very tight feeling… Power Steering has something to do with this but should be able to adjust some… We are very happy with 8.2MAG B3 set up.
Author:  purdueosch [ Tue Apr 29, 2014 9:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
Flying Sushi wrote:
Welcome aboard!
Our H260 with VP8.1 had very little play on steering…. I would say 11:58 to 12:02 clock position at straight…. Our new E6 with 8.2MAG B3 has almost no play and very tight feeling… Power Steering has something to do with this but should be able to adjust some… We are very happy with 8.2MAG B3 set up.


I agree, my H260 has very little (if any) play in the steering. But I also have 24 hours on the boat, so maybe age is playing a role. If the play is minimal, I wouldn't worry to much. I had an older boat (merc 260, alpha 1) that had some play. But it was acceptable for its age.
Author:  SteveinLA [ Tue Apr 29, 2014 10:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
Hi Ralph. Is this your first boat? When I first got my boat, my buddy with zero boating experience gave me a book on boating. Well I knew everything! I had been on my friend's boat and other boats. I had taken the coast guard class. Whatever in the world could I learn from sitting in a chair reading a book??? (I was much younger.) During that first rainy season, I came across this book and figured that reading about boats was better than nothing. So I began to read "Getting Started in Powerboating" by a guy named Armstrong. What a great book! I learned so many practical things about handling my boat. The most useful things I learned were about launching, recovering, and mooring my boat.

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-P ... 0071448993

If you are an experienced skipper just disregard this.

Good Luck and Happy Boating!

R, Steve
Author:  Fast402 [ Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
purdueosch wrote:
Flying Sushi wrote:
Welcome aboard!
Our H260 with VP8.1 had very little play on steering…. I would say 11:58 to 12:02 clock position at straight…. Our new E6 with 8.2MAG B3 has almost no play and very tight feeling… Power Steering has something to do with this but should be able to adjust some… We are very happy with 8.2MAG B3 set up.


I agree, my H260 has very little (if any) play in the steering. But I also have 24 hours on the boat, so maybe age is playing a role. If the play is minimal, I wouldn't worry to much. I had an older boat (merc 260, alpha 1) that had some play. But it was acceptable for its age.


Guys: Thanks for the insight. I'll definitely have a look at mine. The low hours don't speak of a serious wear problem but I'll look for adjustment possibilities.
Author:  Fast402 [ Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
SteveinLA wrote:
Hi Ralph. Is this your first boat? When I first got my boat, my buddy with zero boating experience gave me a book on boating. Well I knew everything! I had been on my friend's boat and other boats. I had taken the coast guard class. Whatever in the world could I learn from sitting in a chair reading a book??? (I was much younger.) During that first rainy season, I came across this book and figured that reading about boats was better than nothing. So I began to read "Getting Started in Powerboating" by a guy named Armstrong. What a great book! I learned so many practical things about handling my boat. The most useful things I learned were about launching, recovering, and mooring my boat.

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-P ... 0071448993

If you are an experienced skipper just disregard this.

Good Luck and Happy Boating!

R, Steve


Hi Steve: Yes this is my first boat. I appreciate your advice on the book and I will get it. I picked up USCG "Boating Skills and Seamanship" and found it to be a fascinating read. I have copies in FL and in my Colorado home where we spend most of our time (working). Thanks to what I have learned in the book plus a great GPS that came with the boat I can happily say that our excursions so far have been fun and trouble-free. I need work on charts and navigation. I also have not anchored the boat yet but that will be an essential skill for going to the beach on the boat. Looking forward to the kind of advice I can get from experienced people on the forum like yourself.
Thanks,
Ralph
Author:  rpengr [ Tue Apr 29, 2014 2:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
Fast402 :? wrote:
Guys: Thanks for the insight. I'll definitely have a look at mine. The low hours don't speak of a serious wear problem but I'll look for adjustment possibilities.

How much play does it have?
Author:  scotchwater [ Tue Apr 29, 2014 3:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
My '11 H260 has very little, if any play. You point it, it goes there. It's been this way since brand new.
Author:  Fast402 [ Tue Apr 29, 2014 7:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
rpengr wrote:
Fast402 :? wrote:
Guys: Thanks for the insight. I'll definitely have a look at mine. The low hours don't speak of a serious wear problem but I'll look for adjustment possibilities.

How much play does it have?

The outer rim of the wheel probably moves +/- 1/2" to 1" before engaging the steering. I'm 2000 miles away from the boat now but will check into it more closely later in May when I am down there. So far I have not had a second person around to wiggle the wheel while I crawl around the engine bay and watch what is happening there.
Author:  SteveinLA [ Tue Apr 29, 2014 11:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New H260 Owner Saying HI and a question about steering
Hi Ralph,
Both books address anchoring. They refer to the scope, or legnth of the anchor line, (is the anchor line the only line on a boat that is referred to as a "rope"?) They talk about using a minium of seven times the depth. So if you anchor in 10' of water, you want 70' of anchor line...with a long chain between the anchor line and the anchor. The lines diameter is dictated by the weight of the boat. There are several types of anchors. You will choose one by the bottom material that you are anchoring on/into.

I am a fresh water sailor. Just a few months after I bought my boat, we went to the lake for the 4th. WooHoo! My boat was anchored in the cove. All was well. My wife said, "let's go to Yosemite". What? ...and leave the boat? "Of course", she said. Hmm. So, being properly conditioned, I went along. When we got back, my buddy told me that my boat had washed up...onto the rocky part of the beach. Fortunately, it wasn't that bad. My outdrive has the scratches to this day that serve as a reminder to:
Choose your anchor and ground tackle wisely. ( I now use two 5 gallon buckets filled with gravel.)
Be certain the the anchor line is securely attached to something before dropping anchor.
I use an Anchor Buddy, (bungy cord), to absorb shocks from waves and wind. (I don't know if these are appropriate for ocean use.)
Don't go running off.
If you do, have someone watching your back...err your boat.

There are people here who are much more experienced than me. Seek their opinions and go with what works for you.
Good Luck!
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