Controls - Monterey 208 LS Cuddy Owner's Manual

Chapter 3
More electrical accessories than ever are being used on today's boats.
Continuous operation of electrical accessories when the engine is not
operating, or operating at low idle (trolling) speeds may discharge the
battery to the point where it may not be able to crank the engine. A poorly
maintained battery will discharge more quickly, and if corrosion is present,
the engine might not start due to high electrical resistance at the battery
terminals, even though there may be sufficient battery reserves to start
the engine.

CONTROLS

Improperly maintained controls are hazardous and may cause
sudden loss of control. Make sure all steering and shift/throttle
hardware, cables and fluid levels are regularly inspected and
maintained. Improper maintenance may result in a loss of
control, resulting in serious injury or death.
Steering Control
Your boat is equipped with a steering wheel for controlling the direction of
travel. The steering system itself may be mechanical, power-assisted or
hydraulic in operation.
Boat steering is not self-centering. Always keep a secure grip on the
steering wheel to maintain full boat control.
With mechanical steering, the helm unit transfers rotary motion of the
steering wheel to linear motion in the cable which pushes or pulls the
steering arm. Some boats are equipped with two cables; one cable pushes
and the other pulls.
With power-assisted systems, the helm unit transfers rotary motion of the
steering wheel to linear motion which pushes or pulls a cable. The cable
movement is sensed and a signal is sent to a hydraulic pump which moves
the hydraulic cylinder attached to the steering arm.
A hydraulic system has a pump mounted directly to the steering wheel with
two hoses running from the pump to a hydraulic cylinder. When the steering
wheel is turned, it moves the hydraulic cylinder which is connected to the
steering arm. A reservoir, either separate or integral with the pump, holds
extra fluid to prevent air from entering the system.
3-4
WARNING