www.iFourWinns.com

So one weird thing I found on my new boat is the steering wheel appears to be mounted upside down. The steering works fine but the wheel is completely upside down when driving straight. I noticed this during the sea trial and the dealer said they would just remove it and turn it around. I said don't worry about it I would do it.

I'm just trying to figure out how and/or why this is like this. Only thing I can think of is someone must have taken it off for something and mounted it back in the wrong postion.

Anyone have any ideas? Maybe the previous owner liked it this way?

Here is a picture of the postition when the drive it straight.

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2004 248 Vista "Amante"
MC 5.0MPI/B3

They sent you the Australian specification......

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John
2006 Four Winns Vista 278 (sold)

Up here we call it the too many browns installation...1-part motivation, 1-part ability, 4- parts BEER....usually ends up in a relatively completed installation(except noticing the outdrive position during re-installation)... the only other reason I can perceive is an obscure comfort found by steering with the center spoke, but if this was the case I would install a spinner and re-install the wheel correctly.Just my opinion

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2000 H190 5.0GL

The previous owner was prone to frequently capsize. The wheel was orientated accordingly.

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John
2006 Four Winns Vista 278 (sold)

must have been made on a monday

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Right out of the stock car racing manual...a bright colored tape stripe works great for wheel orientation.

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2000 H190 5.0GL

With a 2004 boat, the hub is splined. So, you can either pull it off ( it might be tight)/ reinstall or just remove the 6 countersunk allen head bolts and turn the wheel through 180 deg. on the hub.

Wow, somehow you purchased an Australian market boat! If you lived in Australia the wheel would be in it's correct orientation:

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1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

Seems Legit.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

lol
I think your right. Must have been an Australian boat that never made it.
Going to fix it in the morning. I was out today and it's really annoying.

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2004 248 Vista "Amante"
MC 5.0MPI/B3

Previous owner might have liked the open section down lower. Steering with feet while up on seat back maybe?

Simple to unbolt, turn and remount.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

YES!! But you will need a gear puller to get it off. It is a 3/4" tampered fit.

On a 2004, splined, not taper............and the wheel is simply held onto the hub by 6 bolts, it's easy to rotate that wheel in multiples of 60 degrees without removing the hub (even if the steering had a tapered shaft).

I changed my wheel out 2 weeks ago on a V258 "07". If you remove the center cover of the hub, there is one nut. I think it was 3/4" on a shaft with 2 key slots. It took a gear puller to remove it. BUT yes, my fault, you could remove the 6 small bolts that hold the wheel on to the hub too. In my case, I had to remove the hub.

As a matter of interest, I looked up the steering parts on the FW website. It seems from 2001 onwards they swapped between splined and tapered hubs on models where tilt steering was fitted, listing and presumably fitting both types for some years. By 2007 they were back on taper only Some wheels are actually listed as being splined, even though the wheel is removeable from the hub ! Why they didn't always just standardize on one type of hub and bolt all the different wheels onto a common hub, who knows ?? Nothing surprises me about the way boats are built anymore !