V21 Steering Cable Broke - Near Disaster!

[Stinky_Hooker]

Good luck man!! Im pullin for ya!! 8)

[Blue_Runner]

Ok, its fixed. *But not without alot of work. *Read on...

I get off work a little early yesterday to make it to D&E Marine by 5pm to pick up my new system. *On the positive side, it was $285, not $300 before tax so I got out after tax for $304 - still got screwed, but what the he!!

Anyway, I get home and first thing I go and check my measurement again on the existing cable which I purposely left installed in order to pull the new one through with (so I wouldn't have to remove starboard rod box). * My measurements were right, the exact numbers I gave to the guy that owns D&E who's been in the boating business for 25 years *::). * 18' end to end and 17' from the brass fitting on the helm side to the nut that screws into the motor. *All good. *

So I pull the new one out, lay it on the ground, pull a tape and my heart sank. *One foot too short or so it seemed! *In a rush of judgement I pondered pounding my fists into the pine tree to my left...No, no just calm down a little and punch something softer, I said.
So I lit in to cussin instead and yanked the old cable out of the boat to get the numbers off it. *;D

I called the guy up, its a quarter til 5pm (closing) and politely explain the situation. *I did insinuate that he was somewhat to blame although I should have pulled the cable *to get the number off the side too. *He says he can't do anything until Friday at lunch time. *No good since I'm leaving Friday morning at 0500! *I say I'll be there in 15 minutes and I want my money back. *He ain't too hip with that idea but finally agrees. *When I get there we talked for a while and I told him I didn't have a beef with him but I was just bummed since me and 3 friends wouldn't be able to make it to the coast on time. * He called around and at one point I was gonna have to drive to Charlotte (45 min.) this morning and then he lucked up and found one about 1/2 hour away. *One of the workers drvives past D&E on her way home so she dropped it off for me. *I got it at around 6:30 pm and we had it installed by 8 pm. *

Not totally, but its 99% fixed. *The only thing left is that metal piece that holds the rubber ball around the cable where it comes out of the hulll back at the motor. *I noticed when I pulled the old cable it was chafing and had actually cut into the cable shroud enough to concern me. * My buddy Snead works in a shop that makes Nascar parts so he took it into work this morning to trim some off so that it won't rub the cable anymore.

I'll have her done this evening. *I'm so thankful to have this behind me....THANK GUYS FOR ALL OF THE MORAL SUPPORT AND HELP!!

V-21's USE 18FT CABLE WITH THE NFB 4.2 SYSTEM!!
DON'T FORGET IT! MJ you might want to move this over to repairs....

[Bygracealone]

I guess that settles it--18 feet it is for all of us. I went through three rounds before I ended up with the 18 foot cable. So, two rounds isn't bad at all ;D

Glad everything worked out for you BR. Now, put it behind you and fix your thoughts on catchin' some feesh. ;)

[Stinky_Hooker]

Glad you got it right...now like BGA said, GO FEESH!!! ;D

[Blue_Runner]

BGA - I wouldn't say that for sure. I remember a recent V20-er that just put a 17' cable in theirs. Remember the V21 has an extra foot of built in fiberglass "bracket" if you wanna call it that. I think that accounts for the extra foot. I think most if not all regular V20's us a 17' cable but as I found out it is best to get the numbers off the cable ;)

[Bygracealone]

Ohhh, I missed the part that says V21 in huge letters...

duhh...

You're right, my bracket makes my V similar in length to the V21.

Good catch buddy. What are you doing thinking about boats? You're supposed to be thinking feesh man! ;D

[Blue_Runner]

So BGA was yours an 18' as well? I would have thought the bracketed V20 might even go 19'.

About thinking Feeesh, I'm getting there. Still got some work to do and packing but hey, at least I still get to go and drag my baby down with me ;)

[Bygracealone]

BR, yep, my turned out to be 18 feet as well. Originally, I ordered a 15. I measured it according to their instructions and that's what I came up with. Something was definitely wrong either in the formula used or the measurement taken (probably the latter :P).

Then, I sent it back and the guy at the shop thought a 16 would work and since he had it readily available, I went with it. No good, didn't fit. So, rather than go with a 17 which probably would've fit, I went overkill with an 18 foot which fits with a good amount of slack.

Anyway, I'm really happy that you'll be able to take your girl on the trip.

[Blue_Runner]

Cool BGA - I went through the same thing with my old V20 a couple of years ago. I should have known better than to let it happen again but I thought I was going to be ok since I gave the guy the correct measurments.

Around here there are nothing but a bunch of pontoon boats.....hence the shops only stock up to 16' cables, which sucks for us bigger boat guys :-/

[reelapeelin]

Hey DAWG!!...sounds like ya did a last-minute scramble and got it all together for the trip!!...good deal ... go ketchup a bunch o' FEESH and come back a DOUBLE-DAWG!!... 8) 8) ...