Small runabout boat (4m) steering systems?

[simsavage]

Hello,

please excuse my lack of knowledge in this area. My 4m savage runabout is currently using a basic cable steering system. It's pretty dodgy and steering is by no means a smooth motion. I have had a quick glance at rotatory steering systems but I don't really understand how any of the systems work.
I am confident with installing a new system (I'm sure some youtube videos will help) I just don't know what type to install?

Any help would be very appreciated

[Noelm]

in general there is two types of steering, cable and hydraulic, you have cable now, the newer systems are a lot better than the older ones, but hydraulic is by far the best, but probably over kill in a 4m boat?

[simsavage]

Thanks Noelm, probably would be overkill, I might try grease the pulleys and see if that smooths things up

[scottar]

I think you have the older type cable setup from the sounds of things where the cable is literally coated wire and pulleys etc and goes down both sides of the boat - Pull/Pull Type - Fairly maintenance free provided the pully bearings are not getting wet. Very common in older rigs.

You can also get Teleflex type systems where the cable is a heavier cable that only goes down one side of the boat and then typically goes through the tilt tube of the motor before attaching to the steering tiller. The helm of these grips the cable via what looks like a heavy spring wound around a heavy centre cable and pushes and pulls inside an outer sheath - Push Pull type. These require a bit more maintenance due to the cables seizing in the tilt tube due to rust or internally within itself. This is the most common on boats to about 5.5 metres these days.

Then there is hydraulic steering which as Noelm has mentioned is really the best and produces finger light steering on small boats. This is the most expensive but definately the nicest to use. It generally requires only light maintenance unless you damge the ram rods. With the last tinny I had, 4.5 metre, I eventually chaanged to hydraulic as I got sick of maintaining the push pull. My only regret was that I didn't do it sooner.

[Noelm]

OH.... Pullies? maybe I should have mentioned another type of steering then, cable and pulley as mentioned by Scott, but I kind of thought almost all those old types would be dead and gone now, but maybe not?

[scottar]

No there are still a few around Noel. The old man's Easyrider built by Cave and Ferguson (the thing is older than me and to be frank, is in better condition than me.LOL) is still running around with the old pulley type set up. You see a few CC Rogues and similar withh it still as well.

[simsavage]

Yeah I definitely have the old pulley cable system as the cables run down both sides. Was the hydraulic steering set up difficult?

[Noelm]

Might be a good idea to let us know a bit more about the boat and motor, like HP and age, stuff like that.

[scottar]

Not really but I have done a few. I used hydrive. The system comes with instuctions. The hardest part is deciphering which hydraulic hose goes to which side of the ram but when you get it wrong (not "if" when it comes to my luck) it is not a major to change the hoses over provided you have left a bit of length. There are two common types that are typically suited to outboards. the helm unit is generally the same just the ram varies.

The cheapest option is with a non balanced ram that screws onto the end of the tilt tube. The push rod goes through the tube and then attaches to the tiller via another connecting rod. Using this type of ram, the steering ends up a bit heavier in one direction than the other due to the difference in volume between the cylinder ends.

The other type is a balanced or "bullhorn" type ram. These typically require a bit more room than the tilt tube mount but the steering ends up the same to go both ways. The hoses move on a bullhorn installation.

There is a third type which is also a balanced system that bolts to mounting holes that are provided as standard on some of the newer outboards. These are nice in so much that the steering is balanced but the hoses don't move. I have only ever fitted one of these and it did have the issue of hitting the motor mounting bolts if you tilt the motor to far. These units aren't all that common.

[simsavage]

It's a 1969 evinrude triumph 55hp. Great old motor but I'm struggling to see the point in spending a considerable amount on a steering system for such an old motor.
I've also considered a CMC tilt and trim unit but at this rate I'm probably better of updating the whole motor...
Thanks for the info scottar. The non balanced ram sounds pretty good and would be considerably smoother then the current system


What do you guys think of this
http://www.outbackmarine.com.au/Hydr...frwaAiCl8P8HAQ

[Noelm]

I am not 100% sure, but I don't think a 1969 model motor has the "standard" tilt tube, but I could be wrong.... so a side mount hydraulic system would need some sort of adapting, do you have a couple of photos of the motor? especially the front.

[scottar]

That is what I would use in you situation but as Moelm has said, make sure it will fit first. You will need to make sure that your motor has the standard tilt tube thread, that there is enough of the thread protruding from the motor mount at one end to screw the ram on to and that you have sufficent space for the ram itself beside the outboard tilt tube. If you have any queries about the hydrive, a good guy to speak to is Graeme from Hydrive Qld. They are located in Cleveland - Ph: 3821 6580.