Hydro steering??

[1975fflh]

Good Afternoon Gentle Fishermen

I have yet another question for you.

Over the last couple of months I have noticed the steering getting heavier on the old RumRunner, now it is powered with a 90hp 1999 model Johnson.

Well this morning I was thinking of diverting some of the Tax refund if I get one and can get the necessary approvals from the minister for domestic sciences and finances. ( she who must be obeyed) of installing Hydrolic steering into the old boat.

1 is it worth it?

2 what is the best most economical brand. (not an overly large refund)?

3 can I do it myself ( I am a novice but not too stupid) (dont ask the wife)?

4 do I have to pull the motor off the boat.?

5 should i just replace or drage the old cable out and redress it , I have been reading about using power steer fliud instead of grease but it has been greased up antil now, via the grease nipple on the tilt bar ? I think thats what it is called.

Thanks

Gordon

[marco]

hi ,
i did my old signature from cable to seatar hydrolic and it transformed the boat , i was very impressed .

seastar and hydrive are your best bet , eithier one is ok and i would have a crack at it myself next time , here are installation instructions
http://ww2.seastarsteering.com/OUTBOARD/oboard.htm

no you dont have to pull the motor off .

i hope that helps
cheers
mark

[FNQCairns]

I di my current boat the the approx costs were cylinder $600, Helm $600, hyd lines $260.

With this settup I got 4 and a bit turns lock to lock, IMO it is worth chasing if you can a setup with less turns than the least costly options, also look at the centre mount cylinders if the splashwell/pod room allows, they are more direct due to less interacting and wearable parts, they also have the advantage of oil lines that stay still left and right but they still tilt up and down with the engine.

cheers fnq

[death_ship]

hydrive, no feedback at all, one finger to steer, i would never have anything else again. mony well spent.

[mickc]

Baystar or seastar for about $ 800 .Bias boating carry them , easy enough to fit might need an offsider to bleed the system.

Mick

[Vitamin Sea]

Just fitted Hydrive with the new 200 Opti, money very well spent, no feedback, easy as, especially on long runs.

$850.00

Don't know about on a 90 though, I would think good cable would do the job fine, maybe needs a service?

cheers

[Dan5]

Hydrive Admiral series is the way to go i bought one 18 month's ago for $900 with every thing included even the oil and fitted it my self,very easy to install with exellent instruction's.Dan...........

[onerabbit]

Have to agree with Vitamin sea & death ship,

my recently fitted Hydrive is really good, so much better than the cable drive, tracks for miles in a straight line on good days, & on rough days it's much easier not having to fight the pressure on the motor.

Muzz

[Sea-Dog]

Anyone ever seen second-hand hydraulic steering for sale?

(Mind you, I don't know why you'd sell it, unless the hull was trashed in a prang or something.)

I will be going hydraulic, but I am also a bit of a cheapskate :P

Easier to get the cost passed by the minister of finance too.

[captain rednut]

yes, you have to pull the motor off to remove the old and fit the new, hydrive is the best

[Dan5]

Just be carefull with buying the cheaper version's of the hydrive,sometime's the seal's are not avaliable.My mate found this out the hard way not being able to get a ram seal kit for his baystar.And just have a look at the diameter of the ram on hydrive compared to other brand's.Dan........

[Grand_Marlin]

I fit a number of Seastar units.

They are slightly dearer, but more heavy duty than the Baystar.

Hydrive is also good in the HD models.

Again, you get what you pay for... so if you want it to last for many years with no problems, spend the few extra $$$ and get the better units.

I just fitted another Seastar Bollhorn (front mount) to a 19ft Stejcraft with a 150 $ stroke Yamaha.
Before it was fitted, it was all you could do to hold the wheel under acceleration .... now it doesnt even flinch, and of course it steers a straight line, even if you let go of the wheel.

The owner was as happy as a dog with a tin d!*k ;D

Cheers

Pete

[PADDLES]

gordon, you'll be wondering how the hell you ever had a boat without it. there's absolutely no feedback and the boat will basically run hands free if you want it to.

[ozscott]

The only positive for cable, apart from cheap to install and cheap to maintain is that you can quickly feel if the boat is not trimmed correctly because the helm is heavy!!!! (I dont have hydraulic - its the only thing I HAVENT done to my old Vagabond and I will one day do it...not so much because of the weight/no weight on helm issue, but because when mooring in tight places with other boats nearby I cant crank the wheel as fast as I would like whilst applying throttle with one hand on each....

[1975fflh]

Thanks guys

The main reason I am considering it is that my young deckie , who has a licence isnt strong enough to pull the olf girl out of a hard turn, I need both hands to do it and even then find it hard, the deckie is just learning about trim.

I know I could resolve the issue by lubricating the cables but if i stick to the story of the deckie , theres more chance of approval. I will get him onto the case he can out whinge me and everyone else.

Anyone know anyone in the Wollongong area who is good fro price and service?

Gordon

[bazzacuda]

Installed a Baystar on my 5m tinnie, essentially a simple and straight forward job - did it in a cowpaddock out in East Gippsland while on holiday. But I should add I did pay careful attention to the instructions given that getting it wrong has serious safety implications. Suppliers will tell you what suits your boat/motor combination.
Very pleased I did the conversion, made it a much better and safer boat.
Prior to this, my deckies - my wife & my18yo daughter - couldn't have handled the boat in the event of an accident to me. Now even my 9yo son could steer the boat in an emergency.
best wishes and safe boating
Bazza

[disorderly]

Gordon,

I notice a few people who like the advantage of non feedback steering.
I recently needed to fit a new cable on my 90hp motor and chose a cable with a non feedback helm.
I wanted this because I often troll a lot by myself and it gives the freedom to be able to move around the boat whilst underway without necessarily being at the helm.As others have stated the boat will keep steering in a straight line.Although not make corrections for current or wave action putting the boat off course like an autopilot would.
Very handy but you do not need the expense of a hydraulic system to have a non feedback helm.
I think mine was around the $400 mark including postage,mines a teleflex.
I personally cant see why you would really need a expensive hydraulic steering system on a 90hp fishing boat.
But its your money.

Scott

[ozscott]

Yep the Teleflex is nice gear Scott - I had a non-feedback T-Flex on my 16 foot Haines; put it on and 4 months or so later sold it, but at that point it was as good as new with a 60hp Merc 2 stroke on the back and my young kids could easily go lock to lock (3 turns from memory) and I could steer it with a finger.

Cheers

[1975fflh]

Thanks for all the input guys, I have a number of options now with the nfh cable.

I just got the tax done and its not as much as I had hoped.

With the boat the main reason for easy steer is that my young skinny deckie has trouble lifting it out of a very sharp turn, we use the boat for tubing and skiing, as well as fishing, though fishing is the main the rest is just to keep " She who must be obeyed" happy.

I would love to get away with a $400.00 cable but will it be easy to steer and light to come out of a sharp U turn. Sometimes i would like to have a go on a tube, but no one can turn the old beast around.

this is the best site I have ever seen for great advice >

Regards

Gordon

[FNQCairns]

There is also a rack and pinion design of teleflex steering, this may be easier to muscle around, I have no idea, thought it worth mentioning to check up on.

Also hydrive?? (think that is the brand) have a hybrid setup in which the helm portion is hydraulic and drives a cable directly to the engine, might be more cost effective than full hydraulic??.

cheers fnq