HYDRAULIC Steering for TRS/30' Scarab
 

I am starting my search for a low budget hydraulic steering system for my Scarab. I am intrested in trying to peice together the piceces I need to complete the conversion or buy a complete used kit. Has any one gone this route with any success? Does anyone have a kit they want to sell.

The boat is a 1980 30' scarab with TRS drives.

I goy mine from XS marine..small guy ..some people had problems with Brian..I DID NOT !..i THINK HIS SITE IS www.xsperformancemarine.com

I have pieced together many steering systems over the years for budget boaters. Start with the caps for your trs drives Ebay or where ever you can find them used. Even the merc caps work good just get the bolts and spacers. Next find some rams many good ones used ones out there, Latham, marine machine, mayfair, wpm, Hydrive,or the kind with the exposed bolts Hynautic or Kobert. All work well. You have to decide what steering pump Full hydraulic or power steering? Power steering is the way to go but full hydraulic isn't bad just harder to steer. Helm Pump Full hydrualic Capliano or Hynatutic. Power steering Charlynn and now you need a reservior bottle (latham) and the piece to connect a steering wheel to it. Aeroquip #6 fittings to connect everything, you can find these used also, there removable fittings and just buy new hose. I personally prefer full hydraulic steering on boats under 75mph it's simpler to rig ,but harder to turn and less expensive. Good luck w/ that nice scarab.

Does anyone make a full hydraulic kit right now? All the ones I've seen new use the power steering pump.

How much was your kit...And do you have any pictures of the the inside installation?

The difference between power steering and the full hydraulic is the helm pump. The two different pumps are Hynautic 41 and capliano 1275Hv. The hynautic pump is easier to turn but need a resevoir can. The capliano is a self contained unit. If you are using a single ram,I would go straight hydraulic. IMO it would be easier. The hynautic pump is larger and needs some room under the dash. I have a good Hynautic Helm pump I would sell, if you knew for sure it would work for your application. The capliano pump is smaller and requires less room under the dash.

Do you have dimensions? I really would like hydraulic internal steering if I could find a setup. I really want 0 feedback, no power steering pump to drive, and I don't get to speeds where I really need external so I can save some money with internal (unless external is cheaper?)

IMO you could even use a seastar O/B model helm pump that mounts above the dash (2.1model) and a single ram mounted externally. The trs tiller arm is the weak link and almost always has some play in it. PM me if you have any questions and I will try and help. A full hydraulic system is the way to go on your boat. jay

If your looking for an off the shelf TRS system WPM has them. I talked last summer to them I think around $2800-$3200
http://www.wpmracing.com/home.htm

I have pieced one together off of E-bay. $600 for Marine Machine cylinders, bought hoses at my local Parker hydraulic shop, I have a Seastar helm pump off of E-bay, I am looking for a H-41 or a 1275 now, I made my own wing plates and transom mounts at work, (go with back cap mount syle not the top cap mount, you might have interference at a later date if you add any silencing devices)

I have almost about $1000 into my system

I actually like the closed helm pump system it might be a little harder to turn and a couple more turns lock to lock, but if you have the engine go down that has the steering pump on it you still have good steering.

Northernoffshore, what helm pump do you have available???

I have a big hynautic h41 with the resevoir call 239-437-9480.jay

What is the resevoir for? If plumbed with 2 cylinders you can get away without it, right?
I'll call you after work.

i just installed an imco full system. very nice product. was about $4000. but that with everything for a full system. i installed my rams inbetween the drives on my scarab/trs

I would love to see pictures of your install....Pictures of the inside especially. Did the 4k include a steering wheel?:)

total under 3k....

We carry Imco, Mayfair, WPM, and Zegler if you end up wanting new prices. There is alot to be said for buying a complete kit. The time and energy spent running around, making brackets etc...adds up real fast.

Let us know if we can help get you some pricing.

[email protected]

Kirk

I emailed you... no response yet.

no wheel so add $150. i am in the process of installing new engines so i can get you some good pic's inside. i redid the whole back of the boat this winter, new transm. gasket's, painted the transom, painted outdrive's & transom assembly's. pulled both engines added hyd. steering. did alot of neglected stuff. i will post pic's here & in the scarab forum.

Thank you ...I will keep an I out for the pictures. do you have borg-warners or merc trans?

trs & borg-warner trannys. i just got my engines back and dyno'd. 2 months behind but worth it. 468's , 470hp @5500 & 505ftlbs @ 4800rpm. i'm hoping to hold the drive's & tranny's together. they should i'm easy on it. had 420 hp before

also, i didn't like spending $$$ on the steering but i didnt want to take any chances and didnt realy know how to put one together. i will say imco was great to deal with direct.

When I rebuilt my boat 3 years ago I rebuilt boat gimbles....new tiller arms upper and lower swivel shafts...all new bearings, steering calble and helm. The steering really tighten up and was quite enjoyable to drive. (the old parts were wasted) Now I have just as much play in it as I did before and I pulled the access plugs out and saw the tiller arm not even moving as I moved the drives from side to side. Went to tighten up the bolt and It is already ready to break. I dont want to deal with replacing that tiller arm again and sure as hell don't want to replace another swivel shaft so Instead I am considering going Hyd.

Am I missing somthing with this fu ckin tiller arm. Right now the boat is way to loose to enjoy.

I have a pair of Marine Machine brackets that I can not use with my Konrads. These are the really strong ones that bolt to the bell housing.

i did the same. rebuilt the gimble's,new swivel pins, the whole 9 yrds. but all the steering componants just looked to nasty to rebuild, expes. at 70 mph or so. the only thing i had to do was i made a stainless plate on the dash cause the new helm needs a smaller hole in the dash than the original steering used. i filled it but didn't want to paint it so i made a plate to cover.looks good i'll take a pic. of that also

hope these help you westcoast..

more of my rebuild

Very cool...thanks for posting

Hey West Coast! Someone just stole my TRS outdrives off of my 1978 30' Scarab and I have decided to part the boat out. I have an Imco system that I will be selling as soon as the insurance co settles up. I had it installed at Kurt's Performance Marine in Brick, NJ. He called it a partial Hydraulic system meaning that it assists the existing stock cable/PS system. I have supercharged 468's that moved the boat 82mph on the gps and the system worked great! It has 2 stainless rams, thru hull fittings, inside transom PS ram modified with extra fittings for the new rams, latham reservoir, hoses and all fittings. The only things I am missing for this set up is the drive caps which where taken with the drives. Since I just pulled the engines I can send you pics of the whole set up and inside and out. Should be an easy thing to drop right into your boat. Nice by the way. I can let it all go for $2K. I also have a like new K-Plane set up with race pumps and 2 sets of Imco PowerFlo's with polished stainless risers if your interested email me at [email protected] for my contack info.