Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Noob question- can I swap out the standard steering for hydraulic (if that's what it's called) steering?

Yes. You can use teleflex baystar as long as your HP is 150 or less.

I just checked it out online. It's on my Christmas list!

If you do it you will be more than happy with it, did mane this year should of done it with the rebuild 4 years ago it made driving the toon 1000 x better now even the little ones can steer the boat with no problem.

Lakerunner, I was interested in this topic too since we have the same boats. I thought perhaps it was really more for boats with 90hp plus due to the torque; also, that 60hp was not enough hp/torque to warrant hydraulic steering. Thoughts?

Is it possible to hook up twins with the hydrolics?

Yes its just a matter of $$$$.

SoCalAngler wrote:Lakerunner, I was interested in this topic too since we have the same boats. I thought perhaps it was really more for boats with 90hp plus due to the torque; also, that 60hp was not enough hp/torque to warrant hydraulic steering. Thoughts?

From what I read online, I can use hydraulic steering on my 60 HP outboard.

you can put Hydraulic steering on almost any boat, but at some point it is over kill.

I think hydraulic steering is over kill on a 60HP. On 115 and up yes.

Margaritaman is right.

115 hp and 150 hp need the SeaStar hydraulic steering at a cost of about $725 plus labor to install. When you get over 30 mph, even the SeaStar steering takes 2 hands to make tight turns.

Above 150 horsepower, the power steering assist is really needed--at an additional cost of about $2,200 above the cost of the SeaStar. As you can tell, hydraulic steering quickly gets expensive.

For 60 or 70 hp, just stick with a high quality cable steering, and keep it well lubricated. They do a good job of steering at a fair price.

How much for quality cable steering?

http://www.seastarsolutions.com/product ... -steering/
check this out.

Actually your 60 should be pretty easy to steer, I'm thinking maybe all that's really needed is some good old fashioned maintenance. And a outboards steering really does require some attention to perform to an acceptance standard.

How To Maintain A Cable Steering System

There are several miss conceptions that boaters have about cable steering maintenance, and here they are.

The grease fittings on the outboard engine bracket grease the steering cable.;
They do not, you should follow the maintenance directions below.

Doing the proper maintenance may seem like a dirty job but it is a lot easier and cheaper than replacing your steering system.

You can start by checking the connection points under the dash to make sure they are tight and in good working order.

Then check the outer plastic jacket of your steering cable for any damaged spots.

Now for the most important part of the steering cable maintenance, the engine end of the steering cable.

The Plastic jacket of the steering cable ends as a Large Lock Nut, then from there to the end of the steering cable it becomes a telescoping ram that flattens out at the end with a 3/8 hole in it.

The hole is where the link arm connects the engine or rudder to the steering system.

1) Disconnect the link arm from the steering cable.

2) Undo the Large Lock Nut from the support tube that the ram portion of the steering cable goes through.

3) Grab the cable by the plastic jacket and pull it towards the side of the boat exposing the ram portion of the cable.

4) When you have that ram fully out of the support tube clean off the ram and clean out the tube then re grease them with a good WATER PROOF MARINE GREASE.

5) Re assemble the steering system making sure that the Large Lock Nut is fully bottomed out and that the link arm connection is secure.

Things not to do with cable steering,

Do not use your steering helm to break free a stuck steering cable.
This could damage the gears inside your helm.

Do not force any lube into the steering cables plastic jacket.
Steering cables are life time lubricated during manufacturing and the lube you use may react with the manufacturing lube. Also a stiff cable is a sign the cable needs replacing.

Penetrating oil is not a water proof marine grease do not use to lube the steering system.

Now finish up by putting a couple of shots of waterproof/resistant grease to all the fittings on the outboard, two fittings are usually found on the pinion the engine tilts on and a couple of more can be found the vertical pinion the engine itself swivels on.

Bamby wrote: ....There are several miss conceptions that boaters have about cable steering maintenance, and here they are.

The grease fittings on the outboard engine bracket grease the steering cable.;
They do not,....

.

This is true. I can't tell you how many people believe that, until shown otherwise.