Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I have a 27' landau, triple toon with a 225suzuki. I also have seastar assisted steering. Is it normal for the steering to get progressively harder as the speed increases? I'm used to a stern drive with power steering and I figured it would be different but at 30 it almost takes two hands to turn.

Do you mean Seastar Hydraulic steering? Our boat with the hydraulic steering was hard to turn and I installed the power assist unit and it's like driving a car with 1 finger. The dealer replaced the helm and hydraulic unit twice which didn't improve it. The power steering is the way to go but it's pricey. Every so often you can find them on Ebay.

I assume at slow speed it is easy to turn? Is it the same both ways at 30?

The Teleflex power steering pump to go with your SeaStar hydraulic steering system is $1,699 @ West Marine. Both Seastar and the power steering unit combined are mega-expensive items.

I'm sure they really feel fine, however.

I had a 25 ft landau with a 225 honda on it, the turning sucked on that boat 1st warranty trip they said, the dealer I bought it from put the steering unit on upside down? So I paid them to correct it an never turned any easier. At one point while pulling people tubing the counsel came lose from the floor due to turning it so hard. My advise would be to find a dealer that sold those boats an see if those power units help or crack the middle toon? They are the hardest turning boats I have ever been in. I personally think those boats were not designed to turn at any speed at all. So I would want to know for sure this would cure the problem an not create another an waste money.

Get a bigger wheel

GregF wrote:Get a bigger wheel

Good suggestion. Young guys that is why the steering wheels were so large on the 50's cars. Funny don't remember my 57 chevy being that hard to steer, but then again I didn't miss air conditoning in the 60's either. Anything that took hp away was a no no so we were fast but sweated a lot.
doc

Freddie Prinze said those tiny steering wheels were invented by Mexicans so it was easier to drive in handcuffs.

If you do have the power assisted steering, when you turn the steering wheel with the key on you will hear the servo's kick in and make a soft "wizzing' sound. Mine and several others with the power assist had a problem where it would kick out and steer hard. I added a 2nd ground wire to the pump and mounting bracket, making a wire shaped like a 'Y' then grounded it to the ground bar in the electrical distribution box. It fixed it permanently. And the all the other boats with the same problem. If you don't have the power assist, add it! Its easy to do and I have seen them advertised for under $850
Good luck with it!
Bryan

Bryden24shp wrote:If you do have the power assisted steering, when you turn the steering wheel with the key on you will hear the servo's kick in and make a soft "wizzing' sound. Mine and several others with the power assist had a problem where it would kick out and steer hard. I added a 2nd ground wire to the pump and mounting bracket, making a wire shaped like a 'Y' then grounded it to the ground bar in the electrical distribution box. It fixed it permanently. And the all the other boats with the same problem. If you don't have the power assist, add it! Its easy to do and I have seen them advertised for under $850
Good luck with it!
Bryan

I would like to install power assist in my new boat. where did you find it for that price?
Dave

[/quote]
I would like to install power assist in my new boat. where did you find it for that price?
Dave[/quote]
I found one here for $800.00http://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/boa/2746892133.html
I paid $600.00 for mine on Craigslist.

Keep your eyes on Ebay.

I have a 22 ft avalon 115hp with the baystar hydraulic steering. I have no difficulty turning whatsoever

Bryden24shp wrote:Keep your eyes on Ebay.

I dont think i would want to buy a used one. Just dont know what youre going to get. No real way of testing is there?

NH Tooner wrote:

Bryden24shp wrote:Keep your eyes on Ebay.

I dont think i would want to buy a used one. Just dont know what youre going to get. No real way of testing is there?

The one I bought on craigslist was used (from a stolen boat that was recovered) and was only 3 months old. The wiring harness was cut but I called Teleflex in Canada and they sent me a new one for free. It's been installed for 2 years now and no problems. I wish I would've done it sooner, what a difference.
I just found this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/Teleflex-Marine ... 35b8f29a6f