Hydraulic steering – what brands do you suggest??

[Rod_Bender]

G-day

I have purchased a half cabin boat off Blue Water Alloy boats in Brissy. It arrives later this month. I would like to fit hydraulic steering to it. It will have a 150 EFI merc fitted to the back. What brands of steering do people suggest. I have heard Hydrive supply a good system with no faults.. Have other's had good experience with Baystar or Sea Star???

Thanks for all your help!

Rod Bender.

[Spaniard_King]

If you want the ducks guts.. this is it

http://www.bla.com.au/index.php?fn=productGroupView&dId=1&id=1668&eId=10&sId=e0007944e86a2c3f1941cfda18f785ab

Tested and prooven in seriously hard comercial application for power boat steering :)

[captain rednut]

Hi Rod Bender Dont Go Past Australian Made Hydrive Steering Systems

[FNQCairns]

Yeah what Garry says, one of those systems that is pure class like no other out there short of commercial units, I use that same cylinder (hynautic k6) but with the 2.0 hydrive helm, Garrys link is cheaper as a kit than mine came to all purchased seperate, the 2.0 is the go.

cheers fnq

[tin can marlin]

I think the baystar is the pick of them the boys at bluewater will be able to get it for you cheaper as they would have a acc with bla. I tell you what scott makes a great boat. When it is finshed put some photos on ausfish.

[griz066]

This is the only steering worth having forget the rest ths is the best.

http://www.hydrive.com.au/site/product.html

[Moonlighter]

I bought a Hydrive kit and fitted it myself a few years ago and its been great ever since - I'd recommend them based on this experience.

Grant

[Spaniard_King]

This is the only steering worth having forget the rest ths is the best.

http://www.hydrive.com.au/site/product.html

Griz, I have tested every system on the market and hydrive is not the best. Bull horn systems suffer from dissimilar metal issues between the outer arms and the rods and quite often the locking mechanism is not fitted correctly eventually working loose causing sloopy steering which the operator is un aware of.

[Spaniard_King]

Yeah what Garry says, one of those systems that is pure class like no other out there short of commercial units, I use that same cylinder (hynautic k6) but with the 2.0 hydrive helm, Garrys link is cheaper as a kit than mine came to all purchased seperate, the 2.0 is the go.

cheers fnq

Scott, why did you go the 2.00 helm. I found un less you have 1/2 inch hoses it made the steering a bit on the heavy side??. we found the 1.7 to be best as it felt the lightest with 4.5 turns from lock to lock.. and you know where we have to run our boats;) Mind you we do use the inner steering link hole for greater lock;D

[onerabbit]

Not had a problem from my Hydrive so far.
Compared to cable drive is like heaven.

Muzz

[Outsider1]

I don't care what hydraulic system you go to for, just go hydraulic. Chalk and cheese compared to cable. Best money I ever spent on the boat.

Cheers

Dave

[FNQCairns]

Scott, why did you go the 2.00 helm. I found un less you have 1/2 inch hoses it made the steering a bit on the heavy side??. we found the 1.7 to be best as it felt the lightest with 4.5 turns from lock to lock.. and you know where we have to run our boats;) Mind you we do use the inner steering link hole for greater lock;D

Yeah I agree Garry the physics says it must, at least with the cheaper helms we use although my 2 year old when she was could turn it easily, I do have the larger hoses too but included a constriction down to more normal ID cause I couldn't source the ideal elbows I wanted at the time, still with 4.5 lock to lock it's nice to drive on the water dodging stuff, would go to 3.0 lock to lock as ideal although the cost for a helm that can do that well is too expensive.

Yeah well it is a 4st so I guess you can get away with using the inner hole ;D;D;D;D

cheers fnq

[Rod_Bender]

Thanks guys for all your help. I will touch base with scotty at Blue Water Boats and seek his opinion also.