Home › Forum › Ask A Member › Steering cable tension › Re: Steering cable tension
I’ve also seen a bajillion boats with two springs. Since the reasoning behind using only one spring is the possibility of high speed fishtailing, I seriously doubt that is going to be an issue on the average boat. Racing boats—well "maybe". I have never personally encountered such a problem. No springs? Yeah, that probably can work too, if the system is otherwise properly installed I would expect the cables to be somewhat loose, but they probably would stay on.
Those old cable/pulley systems worked well when properly installed, and worked even when not properly installed, albeit accidents and mishaps often happened and were taken in stride. I once took a girl out in my boat on our second date….and the steering cable broke. She was so impressed at how well I handled the emergency that she married me. 51 years and still married.
Johnny, the one spring is to be used on the side that is slack due to torque steer under power. If I remember correctly, that is the starboard side on most rigs. But double check my memory on that.