broken steering chain

[capn_nik]

last summer as I was entering my marina as I was just making the last turn before turning into my berth....snap...and the wheel was spinning freely in my hands....Oh boy. Now for the test ...luckily the turn into my berth was in the same direction as the final bend. By "bumping" the throttle at the appropriate times in either forward or reverse I managed to point the bow close enough into my slip to leap valiantly onto the pier( after shutting off the engine) and haul her the rest of the way in by brute strength. at this point my knees went weak and I returned to the cabin to refresh myself...before confronting why such a horrible thing could happen.Trip to industrial store and some new #50 chain and we were soon set to go again. last owner had used a TURNBUCKLE to connect the chain ends together! Needless to say there was a masterlink in that box and I used it.

Neighbors later commented on how quietly I entered the slip ...lol...had to tell 'em the truth.

[OldYachtie]

Stories about failed steering always seem to be about "Edson" type chain and wire steering. It is the commonest kind, of course, but people rarely seem to realize that this kind of system needs a lot of inspection and maintenance.

[GordMay]

I recall we time we broke a steering cable, on a small runabout (18 Ft c/w 90 HP ?). It took us several hours to get back to the island cabin, hand wrestling the outboard to steer by hand.
In the early morning, I installed a new cable, then woke the boat-owner to take me out water skiing.
He fired the engine, pulled me up off the dock, and turned to exit the dog-leg cove.
Oops! I’d wrapped the cable backwards, around the steering wheel yoke.
Turned wheel left, boat went right - hit rocks. Nobody hurt, minimal damage.
Did I say oops?

[Pblais]

It is the commonest kind, of course, but people rarely seem to realize that this kind of system needs a lot of inspection and maintenance.

But it worked the last time I used it!