Leaking Baystar Hydraulics

Lynn Marie · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:49 pm Post subject: Leaking Baystar Hydraulics

Got the Lynn Marie hooked up to the truck and ready to put in the water today and when I went in the cabin I found hydraulic fluid running down the front bulkhead from the vented fill port. My quess is that since I installed the system in the dead of winter, purged the air, and checked the level to the 1/4" from the top of the tank that todays overheated spring coastal temp. inside the cabin expanded things and the vented fill port screw did what it was supposed to do and let out the expanding oil. I sure hope so cause there isn't any oil anywhere else.

Anyone have a similar experience? Sure hope so since I want to put the boat back in the water on Sunday and get ready to chase some lower Columbia River sturgeon.

TyBoo · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 1:11 am Post subject:

That is precisely the reason I wouldn't put that junk hydraulic steering on my boat. That, and the fact that K won't let me spend any money. If you got any oil on that cork flooring, Martha is going to have a fit when she gets off house arrest.

Your guess is probably right. That oil will expand quite a bit with temp increases. I'm thinking you have no problem at all.

I am hoping to float the boat on Sunday, also. Maybe even Saturday evening. We have to go watch Tiffany's first 4H horse riding exhibition tomorrow morning, but we should be home in time to get to the mooring basin. Maybe we'll see you there. Or here if you want your package from up north.

Nice day today, huh?

Minnow · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 8:50 am Post subject:

Mine too. First warm spell and a little out the top. Took a straw and drew out just a bit, and didn't have any problems for the rest of the season.

El and Bill · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:10 am Post subject:

A suggestion, that others might not agree with, for folks considering the purchase of a 22' C-Dory -- you don't need hydraulic steering. Our dealer, when we were buying, said to hop on a boat without hydraulic and see how easy it is to steer. We did, it was, and we concluded (as our dealer already had) that hydraulic steering is unnesessary on a 22' C-Dory.
We don't have any opinion about hydraulic steering on 25' C-Dory. El and Bill on Halcyon

Sneaks · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:32 am Post subject:

stevej · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:55 am Post subject:

Got to be just expansion from the temp change. The units are simple and other than an increase in volume, there would no reason for fluid to leak out the vent when not used.

Used Shearwater four years with mechanical steering and saw no reason to move to hydraulic. That is until I started making multi-hour trips on the ocean. Spend four to eight hours in a big quartering sea and the effort required to overcome the motor being moved side to side by the wave action gets tiresome in a hurry. Effort required to steer is about the same with both systems but hydraulic prevents the motor from being pushed around when hit by a wave.

With either system, I highly recommend one of these

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=Shearwater&id=steering_wheel&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php[/url]

One of the most worthwhile upgrades I have done.
stevej

Sea Wolf · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 12:14 pm Post subject:

El and Bill, JennyB, Tyboo, and all-

I'm with you on the hydraulic steering, autopilot, trim tabs, and simple independent electronics.

Contrary to what one might conclude from the way I approach some of these topics in trying to be very specific about details and loving to experiment with ideas, I will offer the following:

There is an overall principle which must be employed when choosing additional gear on a C-Dory.

1. The boats are small, storage space is limited, and should be preserved whenever possible.

2. There are more options available than one can reasonably add on. It is easy to let your enthusiasm for your C-Dory turn it into a showpiece for every toy in the West Marine Catalogue. What do you really need where you do your boating? Make a list and prioritize it. Sooner or later, hard choices must be made.

3. The KISS Principle definitely applies due to issues of cost, ease of installation, maintenance, reliability, and peace of mind. SIMPLE IS OFTEN BETTER.

4. The longer you own your C-Dory, the better you can judge your own needs, the boat's ability to accommodate them, and whether an optional piece of equipment might be TRULY WORTHWHILE. If in doubt, put it on the back burner for awhile. Often you'll be glad you didn't spend the money, drill the holes, put it in the way, use up the space, and complicate everything. Now go have a cool one and congratulate yourself on your wise restraint.

The C-Dory is a wonderful "pocket cruiser", size wise. Don't let "deep pockets" turn it into a "Rube Goldberg Goes Boating" experience!!!

C-DORY: THE KISS PRINCIPLE IS MAGIC!!!

Joe.

TyBoo · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 7:16 pm Post subject:

I'm thinking Les had the most accurate comment about hydraulic steering. Of course you don't need it; you don't need it on your car, either.

On the 22, I can't see getting it to replace a good mechanical system, but if the cable system needs replacing, I would go with the BayStar in a heartbeat. Installing it yourself or paying for the install - either way, the simplicity of putting it in compared to running a new cable through an already rigged boat is more than worth the extra couple hundred the BayStar would cost over a new cable and gearbox. Then you get all the extra benefits for free.

On the 25 - well, I'm getting it to replace the perfectly good cable system the first chance I get.