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Steering issues

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KentP

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I have a 2024 Pontoon I bought brand new. Built out with all of the bells and whistles. Somewhere around 50 k - but I was excited to have a new Bennington. I have grown up in Florida on the water and was looking forward to the dependability that comes with buying new. For two years the steering worked fine. But about 6 months ago the steering has become a major safety issue. When I am running at 3/4 to full throttle the steering becomes a mess. I have to keep a hard two handed grip on the wheel or it will do a quick ( immediate) u-turn to the right. To try and turn left it sticks and I have to use quite a bit force to turn. I have been in touch with Bennington and they sent the dealership all new steering cables. This was replaced but the issue is still there. The dealership agrees that it is a safety issue, ( they went out on the sea trial after the parts were replaced) but, they say the problem is the helm not being a " no feedback " helm and I need to order an 3-4k upgrade to fix this. It did not start doing this until I took it in and got its annual service. The dealership says it is because they lubricated it. I do not understand how when getting prior service this did not come up. I have driven a lot of boats ( have owned Benningtons for 15 years) and have never experienced this. This is the email this morning from Bennington.
Morning Phyllis,
Apologies on the delayed response.
Following a detailed review with Blue Water Marine, we have completed the assessment of your warranty inquiry. A cross-reference of the replacement parts confirms that your boat was originally built with a standard cable pre-rig steering system. To address your warranty concerns, a replacement helm and steering cable matching your original specifications have been shipped to Blue Water Marine to be installed under warranty.
While you are welcome to upgrade to a non-feedback helm or a hydraulic system, Bennington cannot cover the cost of these upgrades under warranty. Because these components deviate from your boat's original factory configuration, any modifications will be at your expense. Please note that installing parts that deviate from the original build will void the warranty for that specific system, as well as any related components affected by the modification.
We place full confidence in the expertise and experience of the Blue Water Marine team to successfully resolve these issues. Please keep in mind that performing routine maintenance can often clear out residual corrosion, which may have been the underlying cause of the steering stiffness.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we reviewed this matter.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Any ideas?
 
Last edited:
KentP said:
I have a 2024 Pontoon I bought brand new. Built out with all of the bells and whistles. Somewhere around 50 k - but I was excited to have a new Bennington. I have grown up in Florida on the water and was looking forward to the dependability that comes with buying new. For two years the steering worked fine. But about 6 months ago the steering has become a major safety issue. When I am running at 3/4 to full throttle the steering becomes a mess. I have to keep a hard two handed grip on the wheel or it will do a quick ( immediate) u-turn to the right. To try and turn left it sticks and I have to use quite a bit force to turn. I have been in touch with Bennington and they sent the dealership all new steering cables. This was replaced but the issue is still there. The dealership agrees that it is a safety issue, ( they went out on the sea trial after the parts were replaced) but, they say the problem is the helm being a " no feedback " helm and I need to order an 3-4k upgrade to fix this. It did not start doing this until I took it in and got its annual service. The dealership says it is because they lubricated it. I do not understand how when getting prior service this did not come up. I have driven a lot of boats ( have owned Benningtons for 15 years) and have never experienced this. I can not fathom how this steering is acceptable or why it is even sold. I drive the Intercoastal and this steering is a major problem. This is the email this morning from Bennington.
Morning Phyllis,
Apologies on the delayed response.
Following a detailed review with Blue Water Marine, we have completed the assessment of your warranty inquiry. A cross-reference of the replacement parts confirms that your boat was originally built with a standard cable pre-rig steering system. To address your warranty concerns, a replacement helm and steering cable matching your original specifications have been shipped to Blue Water Marine to be installed under warranty.
While you are welcome to upgrade to a non-feedback helm or a hydraulic system, Bennington cannot cover the cost of these upgrades under warranty. Because these components deviate from your boat's original factory configuration, any modifications will be at your expense. Please note that installing parts that deviate from the original build will void the warranty for that specific system, as well as any related components affected by the modification.
We place full confidence in the expertise and experience of the Blue Water Marine team to successfully resolve these issues. Please keep in mind that performing routine maintenance can often clear out residual corrosion, which may have been the underlying cause of the steering stiffness.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we reviewed this matter.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Any ideas?
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From the email it sounds like Benning is stepping up . If you want to upgrade those other parts the time to do is when they are replacing your current parts
 
I apologize if I didn't make it clear. Bennington did send the steering parts in after I explained the exact problem, but what they sent did not solve this issue. And now they are saying I need to upgrade the system to make the boat drive correctly I must pay for the new parts myself. Again, I do not understand why it did not drive like this for two years and now they are saying the only way to get it to drive normal is to pay for an upgrade.
 
What size motor do you have ? 2 toons or a Tri ? If those parts were optional when the order was placed , they are not going to give you the parts. .
 
Jack M said:
What size motor do you have ? 2 toons or a Tri ? If those parts were optional when the order was placed , they are not going to give you the parts. .
Click to expand...
Yahama 90 and two toons. Again - It drove fine for two years. then this wild steering after having the service done. Dealership says its because they lubricated it.
 
I am not asking for parts - I just want the boat to steer as it always had. They are the ones saying I need to upgrade the system.
 
I edited my original post. They say its acting this way because I do NOT have a no feedback helm. My question is why is it having these issues now? I absolutely loved the boat and how it handled for the first two years. This was not a gradual change.
 
The issue started after the dealer lubricated the cables ?
KentP said:
Yahama 90 and two toons. Again - It drove fine for two years. then this wild steering after having the service done. Dealership says its because they lubricated it.
Click to expand...
 
It almost sounds like a motor trim tab issue. Might be a stretch, but maybe something else is causing the issue and it is just coincidental with service timing. Maybe check propeller for damage / tightness while also looking to see if motor trim tab might have changed. Look for anything indicating a change such as paint scratch around bolts. Some symptoms only show up at certain rpm’s.
 
I would also suggest posting on The Hull Truth web site. They have some sharp technical people who might have some insight.
 
Pbakk said:
It almost sounds like a motor trim tab issue. Might be a stretch, but maybe something else is causing the issue and it is just coincidental with service timing. Maybe check propeller for damage / tightness while also looking to see if motor trim tab might have changed. Look for anything indicating a change such as paint scratch around bolts. Some symptoms only show up at certain rpm’s.
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Blue Water Marine ( dealer) says it is operating as it should, Bennington says I should upgrade to better helm system, but no one can explain why the steering was fine ( normal manual type steering ) for two years and then this wild steering. I just want to enjoy what I purchased.
 
Per your description of the issue - something is amiss. I would assume the only way to troubleshoot is get a tech on the boat, in the water. Pulling that hard to one side under speed - where loose steering is NOT an issue - on a manual steering system - maybe a bearing on the motor mount swivel is a guess...but it sounds like something unusual is going on. Post details on other sites, this one has a very small membership, and you don't need to stick with Bennigton Sites. Good Luck.
 
Agree with the comments above. It doesn’t make sense that it was working for two years and the only option is an upgrade. Something else, or several factors, must be contributing to the new issue.
 
I'd research your helm steering and get the owners manual. Friction potentially plays a big part in keeping your engine from turning the wheel on its own, so maybe it was not meant to be lubricated. Or there is a friction adjustment screw somewhere.

Yes it should work like how you first bought it - Bennington is trying to assist from afar and has stepped up to warranty the part. This has to be a dealer issue IMO.
 
Does the symptom change when you change the trim angle of the motor? If so the steering trim tab might have been maladjusted during your last service. The trim tab needs to be adjusted to minimize or eliminate tug on the steering wheel during the most common operating conditions. Many boats without anti-feedback will tug at the wheel if the motor is trimmed up at a high angle. The source of these forces has to do with angle of attack of the prop thru the water. If you trim the motor all the way down at full throttle the steering wheel might tug the other way. The key is to find a happy medium. If the trim tab is adjusted properly the forces are low. Many boats with excessive cable length and bends will have sufficient cable drag to prevent the wheel from spinning if you let go of the wheel. Most people just trim the motor so they can let go of the wheel. The trim tab is vertical fin that hangs down behind the propeller. To better understand go back to the lower unit and grab the trim tab and push it left or right to rotate the motor about the steer pivot. When you do this the steering wheel will spin and look like something on the opening credits of Gilligan's island. Too access the steering trim tab bolt your motor lower lower unit may need to be lowered or dropped. Hope this helps.
 
Per Google AI: Yamaha F90 outboard motor features a sacrificial trim tab, which also functions as an anode.
Could the anode have corroded and needs replacement? I believe the OP is in Florida, saltwater…
 
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