Yes... have a single ram and 496 HO on my 290. Works great!

Single ram on my 280 as well. Contact Kenny at lets talk boats. Got my Zeiger kit from him. He worked at velocity and knows these boats inside and out plus is a pleasure to work with.

Look into JR Marine. They have a kit to replace the swivel pin and ring with the engine in the boat. Very easy to do.

before you take anything apart seperate your sections of steering for testing, If you have 4 to 8 inches of play side to side testing with your hand ----- it would be very easy to see worn gimble ring swival shaft wear thru that area. Very simple to test that with out taking anything apart. IMO you might have a combo of issues and the main issue is the steering actuator and steering cable

There should not be any play period trying to move the drive from side to side with your hand NOT even one inch

and the new transom assemblies and or gimbal rings come with a 7/16 -20 U BOLT / NUT and those nuts tq settings are 50 ft lbs.

this took place since 2007 thru currently. The newer U bolt / Nut 7/16 will not back fit the older gimbal rings.


The older ones are 3/8 - 24 -- tq at 53 ft lbs. FYI.

If I did any ocean running I would buy the merc seacore transom assemblies.

After checking out the steering mechanism, also take a look at the gimbel bearing. I sea trialed/purchased a 22 Velocity that had a bad gimbel bearing that would also swerve when coming off of plane. The bad bearing made things worse for the cable stering set up - the "combo" as BUP mentioned.

So this past weekend i ran the boat and still hard pull to the right when coming off plan or letting off the throttles. Now i am able to push the out drive to the left a good 8" from center but will not budge to the right when trying to push it by hand. Had someone move the out drive by hand and was able to look at the steering system and nothing was moving. I am guessing she needs a gimbal ring.

8” of slop and you are still running the boat?? You nuts or what?

Since most likely you are wanting to get after it for boating. I do not know your location but really have to say this is a prime example were your boat should be in at professional marine service shop looked at and properly fixed.

For one, you have a train wreck waiting to happen, Secondly for yourself, kids and wife whom I hope are not on your boat period plus the possible case of you running into some other boats causing injury to others. I am not being hard on you here but hopefully sooner than later wanting you to get your boat completely fixed of all issues that are hazardous and hazardous to others..

If you are in the North Texas or somewhat close, I would be willing to look at this one hour for free, I am sure, I would have this all figured out within that hour. If not good luck with it.