How important is hydrolic steering?

M

maryvmcclain

New member
I notice that many of the C-22 listings do not specifically say hydrolic steering. Is it important to be looking for that? How can we tell if it has it or not? (Did they start during certain years with putting this type of steering on?)

Thanks
 
Having a 24 foot mini houseboat before getting the CD22 I have now, I can tell you that hydraulic is the ONLY way to go. The old boat had mechanical push pull tube steering and it was a bear. Also, very imprecise. I was often worried that in rough water that it was being overworked. Now, it might have been a poor installation on the mini houseboat, but I don't think so. I can tell you though that Still Crazy has hydraulic and it is smooth as silk, and just like having power steering on a car. I wouldn't have anything else on a boat with 100 plus horsepower, and particularly with twin engines.

Just my two bits.
 
I remember the steering on my first boats...cables, pulleys, springs. I ran this system for years w/o any problems.

Cable-ram steering was standard on my Montauk and I used it for years w/o a problem. Big improvement.

Adeline came with cable-ram steering too. I installed a grease-fitting/o-ring @ the tilt-tube and in 23 years I've never had any issues. Grease stays in, water stays out. No muss, no fuss.

I remember when a good friend bought a new Sea-Ray that came with hydraulic steering. This was the early 90s. It was great for water-skiing but he hated it because at slow speeds it was mushy and imprecise.

I read stories here and elsewhere of leaky seals and geysers of oil at the helm and/or vee-berth.

These are my impressions only.

Others here swear by hydraulic and many of them are much more experienced than me. When they say hydraulic is superior I'm inclined to believe them.

I won't be replacing my steering unless it becomes a problem. Then it's NFB vs Hydraulic.
 
I have had both types and hydraulic is better for bigger engines or twins but the (no feedback steering )NFB is hard to beat with smaller hp engines . so cd 16-19 really dont need hydraulic . NFB is easier to install and replace if ever needed the trick is to keep the NFB greesed up and keep the rust out .
I have hydraulic for my cc-23 and NFB for my sweet 16 cruiser
 
Chester":2px1c636 said:
I believe hydraulic steering is needed for use with an autopilot.
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Yes, or at least it's easier with hydraulic steering, as is adding a second steering station, such as in the cockpit for fishing (trolling, mostly), or with flying bridges (larger boats).

Hydraulic is fine, especially for larger boats, or more complex systems, but NFB push-pull single cable steering is just fine on single engines up through 100 or so hp, just figure out how to keep it lubricated and free of salt build-up.

My 1987 CD-22 Cruiser had just had the cable replaced when I got it in 1998, and is still going strong on that unit today! No need or plans to change it out.

There is nothing-
Absolutely Nothing-
half so much worth doing as
Simply Messing About In Boats
(Ratty - The Wind in the Willows.)

(But) "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

(And) KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid!)

(because) "If something can go wrong, it will!" (Murphy's Law)

(so) "Think Twice before adding unnecessary and/or burdensome equipment to your boat that only makes for more to worry about and fix."

(In conclusion) Go have a Sundowner and think it over. If it still seems like a brilliant idea after several days and such sessions, it just might be worth doing.

Good Luck!

Joe. :lol: :thup
 
AWESOME JOE

(In conclusion) Go have a Sundowner and think it over. If it still seems like a brilliant idea after several days and such sessions, it just might be worth doing.

Truly words of wisdom :)

H :wink:
 
I think 22' Criusers started coming with Hydraulic steering standard in 2006 and later. Not too much to wear out with hydraulic. Cable types of steering if not maintained can need a replacment cable from time to time especially in a saltwater enviroment. The Venture series boats I think always came with hydraulic. As mentioned before anything over 70 hp that I would buy; I would spring for hydraulic steering. Handling a boat in a head sea coming in at you from at about 45 degrees (front quarter) or a following sea coming in at an angle on the stern will make you glad you had an autopilot and hydraulic steering. Also mentioned before is the idea of at least a simple autopilot with a wireless remote control. The simple autopilot can hold your heading. For us both hydraulic steering and the autopilot represent valuable pieces of equipment we would not want to be without. We use it a lot mostly when just loafing along on longer stretches. Especially nice in longer no wake zones or low speed canal traveling. You still have to watch what is going on but it makes for enjoying a cup of coffee without wearing it or doing other things that just won't wait.
D.D.
 
Our 2008 came with hydraulic steering as standard equipment from the factory. I've never had a boat with anything other than hydraulic steering and it has proven to be totally reliable in 3 and a half years of use on the C-Dory and 15 years on the Whaler.

If you use your boat to cruise on for long distances, strongly consider an autopilot. I remember hearing from several people on this site to get an autopilot when we got our C-Dory. I thought it was crazy to have an autopilot in a small boat...after all, how hard can steering be? But after having an autopilot installed and using it for ~30 hours, I'm sold. It makes slow cruising painless and long days easy. You still have to keep a sharp lookout, but it's much more relaxing when you don't have to steer. And the computers and pumps can steer a much straighter course than I can.
 
Sure would be nice to know if they went standard in 2006.... I look at the ads, and frankly, most don't say.... and often the owners/dealers act like they don't really know. Before I get on a plane or drive long distances to see the boat, it would be nice to understand what it is we're getting into :)

But, good to know that the regular steering is "doable" and that we can change it out fairly easily if it becomes a problem.

We are just waiting for the right boat at a good price at this point!
 
I have cable on a 22 angler and it's fine.

You can put an auto pilot on cable steering. I have seen posts that say you can not but I have ordered one. I think it's called seatrack ....it ray marine. It bolts right in line under the steering wheel. They were displayed at the boat show

Chris
 
Our 2005 CD22 came with hydaulic steering as an option. We are so glad to have opted to add it. It makes steering a breeze and as others mentioned, allowed me to add a Raymarine S1000 wireless autopilot.

I don't have experience on boats larger than 16' feet with cable steering but I can tell you that my 16' C-Dory Angler with cable steering was not nearly as easy or enjoyable to steer as our CD22.

If you have a choice, choose a CD22 with hydraulic steering. You won't regret it.
 
Will-C":2jguyl0w said:
Handling a boat in a head sea coming in at you from at about 45 degrees (front quarter) or a following sea coming in at an angle on the stern will make you glad you had an autopilot and hydraulic steering. Also mentioned before is the idea of at least a simple autopilot with a wireless remote control. The simple autopilot can hold your heading.
D.D.
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Exactly!! & why we switched to hydraulic steering & added a auto pilot very soon after our 2004 Alaska cruise. On the last leg crossing the Dixon entrance to Prince Rupert we encountered the 45 degree nasty head sea for many hours. That constant working the wheel inflamed my right elbow so bad I had to have surgery for tendinitis shortly there after.. Of course the casting for coho & some very long cruising days one in particular of 252 miles contributed also. The auto pilot & hydraulic steering sure made our Alaska cruises in 07 & 10 much more relaxing & enjoyable.

Jay
 
I used to break the linkages on my twin 45s before I swithed over to hydraulic. I have never had a problems since. I have had lots of boats without it, and really I can't tell that much of a difference when both systems are operating as they should.
 
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