Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

anyone heard of gimbal rings breaking on Baja's that don't have Hydraulic Steering? is it a bunch of crap? is it exclusive to Baja? Causing boat spinouts? Thanks Lynn.

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

Never heard of it and would seriously doubt if it were true it would only effect Baja's.

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

Thats what i figured. i think i have a jealous friend, helping to spread some rumors around town...imagine that. :eek:

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

Yes it happened to our mechanics boat.

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

What causes the problem? can it be prevented? Thanks Lynn

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

pol-katt,

what type of setup are you running?

model, motor etc.

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

a 2002 232 Boss w/ a 6.2mpi Bravo 1. Thanks Lynn
with hydraulic steering.

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

Gimbal rings do break and are a wink leak on the Mercury drives.

I discussed this with several people in Miami at the boat show including Teague Custom Marine and Max Machine Worx.

It has nothing to do with Baja at all. It does not have anything to do with hydraulic steering either from what I can tell.

Simply a weak link and from what I have learned, hours of operation and horsepower probably are the biggest reasons for failure.

We can only hope that Merc does make some improvements in this area soon. Of course unless you buy a new boat you will have to fork out the bucks anyway.

IMCO and Max Machine Worx have some much better Gimbal rings on the market now.

Good Luck

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

Does your jealous ( and apparently uneducated,
boatwise) friend realize that MerCruiser makes
the powetrain,( which contains the vaunted gimbal
ring) and that they sell it to practically
every boat maker out there ???

The boat brand has nothing to do with it.

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

Exactly!!!
He actually drives a race boat(i really don't want to say who) he is listed when i have done a search on this forum but is not a member that i can tell.

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

if/when a gimbal breaks...are you DOOMED? :evilb:

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

Pol-Katt,

With your setup I wouldn't worry about it. I had a 1999 H2X with the 7.4. I ran this boat all over the country, lakes, oceans etc and never had an issue. Just make sure you keep up on your maint.

Can something always happen? Sure but if you keep up with your maint. and have everything checked out a failure will be very rare.

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

Thanks Lynn

Re: Baja's w/out Hydraulic Steering?
 

After trying too heal from his wreck. No boats over 80 MPH, doesn't have hydraulic streering put on.