DIY hydraulic steering setup
 

Anyone ever built their own setup? These hydraulic steering setups are crazy expensive. Just looking for a parts list of what all is needed. I would think you could build a dual steering setup yourself for around 1k.

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Cheap is not the first thing I would think when thinking steering. Spend the money on a proven system and do it right. JMO

Two words - SWAP SHOP

Many people on here selling perfectly good parts for decent money in the swap shop. Best way to approach it is to not look for a complete kit unless the price is right. Have seen many times where people are selling just the rams, the tie bar, the drive plates that the rams attach to, etc.

Buying boat parts brand new is redicoulous! Costs are always jacked way up, used is the way to go!

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...teering-3.html
post #28

I've got a helm for $450, and air time has a set of rams and transom hardware by zeiger

Do your research and find some good used parts in the swap shop or ebay. You can save more by buying loose parts, wing plates, helms, cylinders, pumps, fittings etc. Or buy a complete set up from someone parting a boat out or upgrading

You will be time and money ahead by buying a complete kit than by piecy-parting things together from different manufacturers and trying to make them work. At least as far as the outside hardware goes. Different companies use different length rams, different size mounts, bolt sizes, etc.

CP offers a good Mayfair outside kit at a reasonable price.

The inside stuff, the most expensive thing to find is the helm adapter. The char-lynn valve and hoses are all standard stuff.

Not to mention, all too often lately when you think you are buying something decent in the swap shop, it turns out to be somebody else's junk they are trying to unload.

Save yourself the aggravation.

Well to each his own I suppose. I guess it comes down to how deep ones pockets are? Steering kits are made for drive types, not boat types which makes them very similar to each other. Most rams I've seen are a 9" stroke. Most wing plates are very similar as well as the thru hull fittings. What it comes down to is the placement of the rams on the transom which iesimple some simple math with either a new or used set up or length of ram. The length of the rams stroke will change the position of the mounting but the math is the same. You might find a difference in the size of the bolt and bushing for the ram mounting to the plate and bracket which isn't a big deal to figure out Potatoe/Patatoe

I agree, unless you get very lucky you won't save squat by the time it's all said and done...CP has good prices....buy the time you piece it together might cost you more...

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I will just but the bullet and buy a new kit. Im tired of this 25ft boat walking at 85+mph on cable steering :lolhit:

cable steering at 85 . better bite the bullet .before you bite the dash n water !! hope youre wearing your life jacket :party-smiley-004:

If anyone is interested, I have a Bravo dual ram wingplate and transom mounts and a pair of through hull fittings for sale. Also, I built my own setup and have part numbers for everything you need to save alot of cash. All hydraulic steering parts work the same as long as that is what they are intended for. You don't have to have "marine parts" to work the same.

What do you want for the wing plate and maybe the transom mount(but that is easy to make)!

Ive built many hydro steering setups for jeeps and rock crawlers.

can someone shot me a lead on a stainless ram the black painted ones i used on jeeps im sure will not hold up.

here's were i get most of my hydro stuff (used to be cheaper but the site got popular with the offroad guys and there prices went up a bit)

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.as...name=hydraulic

Please send me the parts list.

I have a set of new cylinders if your interested.$550 each.

What brand? what size stroke and bore? and do you have any pics?

Found this nice chart too!

They are 8"stroke and have the cleavices with bushings. They are KS cylinders. I have been running a set for 3 years trouble free. They work with Imco cap and transome brackets.

I paid a lot, I really mean a lot for my full system.. I do not know if that contributes or not, but I can easily steer the boat without the power steering pump running. But then with the pump running, pinky finger is all it takes to steer. At speed, it stays heading exactly straight even crossing waves, drives are rock solid. And these are heavy TRS units. It is a full Latham system. I had it installed when the shop was doing other things to the drives, transmissions, adding thermostatic oil coolers.

This thread fits my situation as well - I'm refurbishing a 28' Checkmate with twin Bravos and watching the prices versus my pocketbook and would love to piece together my own system to save a few grand.

The plus to buying a new kit is that everything is designed to work together -
-the size of the helm to match the rams,
-the length, throw and pressure requirements of the rams
and the type of helm "valve" and where to get the steering wheel adapter are worrisome. I'm thinking to maybe go with an add-on external only until I figure out or find the internals. I do know I can't spring $4Gs for a Mayfair anytime soon...

Early mercury external steering used Corvette rams and even the control unit off the steering linkage which went on the tiller arm.