Anyone Need Spare Mechanical Steering for Twins?

MOOSE

Last fall I replaced my mechanical steering with hydraulic for our twin Hondas. So now I have the 2001-vintage, freshwater use only, mechanical steering sitting around gathering dust. If anyone can use it, please PM me.
Al

Guts · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 1:17 pm Post subject:

Moose did you replace it to put on a auto pilot?
BTW: I have one of these...

Guts

http://www.consumersmarine.com/products2/productdetail.cfm?i=250104&c=25&loc=PL&m=5&sc=25&v=0&sb=0&p=0

MOOSE · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 2:04 pm Post subject:

No, I really didn't. Our home lake is so convoluted that their would be little opportunity to use it, IMO. I thought hydraulic steering would be easier on me on long runs, but it turned out to be just about as stiff as the mechanical. Still, in the long run, it's probably more reliable.
Al

Guts · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 2:49 pm Post subject:

Al
I find that my hydraulic steering to be a very smooth in operation. It will stay on coarse if the boat is trim and no one is walking around, what I am trying to say is that the motor can't turn because of the positive pressure. Therefore where you set your coarse the boat tends to stay on that coarse rather than drifting to port or starboard. What make of system did you put on? The hyd system should work very smooth, is what I'm trying to say. It sounds like you are dissatisfied with the new system. I sure like mine. And I use the pilot a lot more than I thought I would, like checking the lines while trolling.

BTW: I am waiting for a dealer in ( LA, ca.) to get in a 19 & 16 foot models to go look at but that will not be for a couple of months.The 22 cruiser seems to be the model choice, but if I go to a boat that big it will be a Parker or Shamrock some thing along that line.

Guts

Guts · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 2:49 pm Post subject:

Guts · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 2:51 pm Post subject:

sorry for the dbl post
Guts

MOOSE · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 3:55 pm Post subject:

I put on the Teleflex BayStar system. And I certainly agree that one can let go of the wheel, everything else being equal, and that the boat will hold it's course. But I expected the effort to effect a change in course to be less than with mechanical steering and it really isn't. On Lake Superior last summer, we made a long run in a big sea which required steering effort on each wave. I thought hydraulic steering would have made that less tedious, but I doubt that it will.

Guts · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 9:32 pm Post subject:

Al if you can afford a auto pilot? They are really worth it. I assume this is the steering you got only for twins.
Guts

http://www.boatersworld.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=712821&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10051

B~C · Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 10:11 pm Post subject:

The pony express droped off two boxes the other day....thanks a bunch Al. Me thinks that delightful Pacific salt air will takes it's toll on my cable someday soon, it's sure nice to have one in the garrage that I know will fit.

MOOSE · Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 8:13 am Post subject:

Here's the real beauty of this, Ken. In my never-ending quest to simplify my life, not only have I managed to purge yet one more, to me, useless item from my garage, but I made a new friend in the process. I'm glad it'll work for you.
Al