2000 380 steering

Hello, I recently purchased a 2000 - 380.  I noticed steering was a bit stiff under all conditions including while stationary in the slip.  The auto pilot seems to have no issue steering.  Yes...the brake is loose.  

No issues re steering with the recent survey but that doesn't mean he didn't miss something.  

any ideas what I should be looking at and/or what the problem could be ?

thx 

Hi SailIP.

Does it squeak when you turn the wheel? There is usually a grease zerk fitting above or below the top rudder post bearing beneath the helm seat. Open the little piece of wood where the emergency tiller goes and look on the rudder post. You can also easily remove the binnacle compass and inspect down in there.

Good luck.

Thank you for the reply.  It was actually binding up with felt resistance.    Through further investigation, I found out it was the acrylic bushing just above zirk fitting but below the sleeve.  The acrylic bushing needed to be cleaned and lubed and took about five minutes once I identified the problem.  The sleeve is only held in place by a setscrew… Once that screw is loosened and you lift the sleeve off the shaft, the bushing slides up and off.   Easy fix 

Hello,
Your issue was interesting. I have a 2001 IP380 and the steering feels stiff as well. I’m not sure if I understand where you cleaned and lubed the area? Was it inside the binnacle or where the emergency tiller fitting is? Thanks for posting!
Dave

Almost positive he is talking about under the helm seat where the emergency tiller goes.

I'm curious if this work was done by accessing through the relatively small hole on top of the helm seat or did you have to remove the larger fiberglass enclosure base that the helm seat is on which to me looks like you'd have to drill out the wood plugs and remove screws on the helm seat.

It was part of an emergency tiller system.  I accessed only through the tiny covering in the bench seat itself.  I did not have to remove the entire housing as it would've been too much work.  The funny thing is, you don't know the bushing is even there unles you back out the setscrew on the sleeve and pull that sleeve off the shaft.   

It is very tight work but can do it all by feel once you look down there and see how things are positioned.  Removing that sleeve will not cause any damage and/or the shaft to exit the boat.  I believe the sleeve is just there just as a safety.  

The sleeve will literally slide up off the shaft and you'll notice that bushing just beneath the sleeve, slide that off too… Just beneath that bushing is the bearing assembly.  

once I cleaned and greased the bushing… There's no more binding and or squeaking.  

additionally, I disconnected my auto pilot ram from the rudder shaft and cleaned that up as well and changed out the Hydraulic  fluid.  

both of these things together made all the difference in the steering feels brand new.  

I hope this helps you guys.  I literally was chasing this problem for three days and it was making me nuts.  

Thank you both for the quick replies!
Never thought of looking there...and I thought I’d been in every nook and cranny on our boat. I wonder if I got into one of the lazerettes that would give me some better access? Also had your boats had the modified shim kit installed at the base of the rudder? Mine was done for the 2001 model year.

Dave

That was very helpful info SailIP although I don't think I would call that part of "the emergency tiller system". Understanding that it is where the emergency tiller attaches, it is the top bearing of the rudder post. My grease fitting is broken off and I bet I can get more (some) lube to migrate down the shaft and into the bearing if I remove that sleeve and bushing. The PO had installed speakers on both sides of the fiberglass helm pedestal so when removed my access is pretty good from both sides.

Dave - the only way into the top of the rudder post is thru the helm seat (on a 380). The lazerettes will not get you there but you might find some other moving parts in the steering system to lube down there?

I don't know about the status of the shims on my boat.