3 replies to this topic

[JTT]

ANYONE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SHIFTER/THROTTLE CONTROL ON THE UTOPIA? I HAVE A 2006 UTOPIA 205 AND FROM DAY 1 THE THROTTLE CONTROL HAS BEEN VERY HARD TO MOVE FROM NEUTRAL TO FORWARD. FROM NEUTRAL TO REVERSE, SAME ISSUE. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT IS BINDING UP?

DEALER SAYS THEY LUBRICATED CONTROL? THE PROBLEM IS NOT IN THE CONTROLS BUT IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE CABLES AND WHERE THEY CONNECT TO THE REVERSE GATE AND/OR THE THROTTLE CONTROLS? WHEN THE CABLES ARE OFF THE SHIFTER, THE SHIFTER MOVES FREE. IT HAS BECOME A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE TRYING TO DOCK THE BOAT OR GET CLOSE TO ANYTHING. BOAT HAS LESS THAN 10 HOURS AND IS AT THE DEALER. PLEASE REPLY.....

[ga06topia]

ANYONE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SHIFTER/THROTTLE CONTROL ON THE UTOPIA? I HAVE A 2006 UTOPIA 205 AND FROM DAY 1 THE THROTTLE CONTROL HAS BEEN VERY HARD TO MOVE FROM NEUTRAL TO FORWARD. FROM NEUTRAL TO REVERSE, SAME ISSUE. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT IS BINDING UP?

DEALER SAYS THEY LUBRICATED CONTROL? THE PROBLEM IS NOT IN THE CONTROLS BUT IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE CABLES AND WHERE THEY CONNECT TO THE REVERSE GATE AND/OR THE THROTTLE CONTROLS? WHEN THE CABLES ARE OFF THE SHIFTER, THE SHIFTER MOVES FREE. IT HAS BECOME A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE TRYING TO DOCK THE BOAT OR GET CLOSE TO ANYTHING. BOAT HAS LESS THAN 10 HOURS AND IS AT THE DEALER. PLEASE REPLY.....

I am having the same problem. I just bought my 2006 205 this week. My wife and I took it out on a not so nice day, for the first run. Lake Lanier, NE Georgia, 03/29/08, was 2 foot chop, East wind at 15, temp was a chilly 49, and raining. My wife was trying to trailer the boat, but she couldn't find a happy medium with the helm control. She was having to use both hands to move the control. She hit the trailer at a 45 degree and almost punctured the hull. I had her beach the boat. She was a nervous wreck. Granted, I could have waited for a nicer day, but I was itchy to get the 'Topia on the water.

I found when I was driving that it felt like the lock was sticking and then took alot of muscle to get to full throttle. I am pulling apart the helm and drive linkage this week. I will follow-up with results and pics. Has anyone else had these problems? It would be great to have some insight before I go ripping into things.

[stevenh]

ANYONE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SHIFTER/THROTTLE CONTROL ON THE UTOPIA? I HAVE A 2006 UTOPIA 205 AND FROM DAY 1 THE THROTTLE CONTROL HAS BEEN VERY HARD TO MOVE FROM NEUTRAL TO FORWARD. FROM NEUTRAL TO REVERSE, SAME ISSUE. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT IS BINDING UP?

DEALER SAYS THEY LUBRICATED CONTROL? THE PROBLEM IS NOT IN THE CONTROLS BUT IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE CABLES AND WHERE THEY CONNECT TO THE REVERSE GATE AND/OR THE THROTTLE CONTROLS? WHEN THE CABLES ARE OFF THE SHIFTER, THE SHIFTER MOVES FREE. IT HAS BECOME A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE TRYING TO DOCK THE BOAT OR GET CLOSE TO ANYTHING. BOAT HAS LESS THAN 10 HOURS AND IS AT THE DEALER. PLEASE REPLY.....

My S200 was doing the same thing last year (on the shifter control) and I disconnected the cable from the reverse gates and found that the gate itself was not moving freely. I removed the bolts and cleaned some grit and dirt from the bushings where the bolts go through the reverse gate. I put locktite on the bolts and put them in with enough slop to ensure the gate moved freely. I have separate gate and throttle controls but I'd bet the gate is getting stiff on you causing the problem. I also added a spring to my shifter at the lever to counter the gate weight and now I can shift from forward to reverse with one finger.

Steve

[keviseeb]

The Utopia shifter has gone through changes in 2007 and 2008 to help alleviate the difficulty. In 2007 the shifter was completely changed, in 2008 a spring was added to aid in going from reverse to forward. The advice to check the reverse gate is good, we have found new boats a little on the tight side. We also set neutral position to 1 MPH forward, the factory setting is closer to 3 or 4 MPH which requires more reverse operation while manuveuring. The 2008 arrangement is much better than it was in 2006, whether it is acceptable is still up for discussion.

Kevin N. Seeber
Kingsland Marine