Offshoreonly.com - hydraulic steering

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- General Boating Discussion (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion-51/)

- - hydraulic steering - internal vs. exernal (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion/337322-hydraulic-steering-internal-vs-exernal.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by phragle (Post 4438661)

Because ALL the load is on the little tiller arm and the upper gimble pin. Thats an incredible load on one small joint. External you have 2 large rams spreading that load across the transom.

Unless the boat/transom assembly is brand spankin new, with internal steering you can grab the drive and there will be some side to side wiggle. That wiggle continues to beat the tiller gimble joint creating ever increasing slop which negatively effects handling. With external ram steering, everything is rock solid with no wiggle, steering is precise and handling is improved.

Internal and external do not steer from same point on the drive. Internal is thru the little tiller arm, while external is thru 2 rams with on end attached to the transom and the other ends attached to either a large heavy duty bracket attached to the drive or a special back cap.

I misunderstood what the OP was asking. I thought he was talking about having the rams mounted inside the drives vs outside of the drives. My bad. Carry on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottgjerdingen (Post 4438664)

So why don't you see more external units, is it asthetics, cost, overkill in most cases?

Its really rather common actually. if your running around the 65~70 + mph it basically becomes a necessity.

Sounds like I am just looking at slow boats :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottgjerdingen (Post 4438689)

Sounds like I am just looking at slow boats :D

Yea. Look in the classifieds here on OSO. My swag is that 80% of them have external hydraulic steering, and 100% of them want it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottgjerdingen (Post 4438664)

So why don't you see more external units, is it asthetics, cost, overkill in most cases?

Money.

On 70MPH and up boats, they become common and necessary.

At 80MPH the comparatively weak internal steering can't overcome the force of water flowing over the skeg to actually turn anymore - and the seals blow the oil by...

Oh- the wheel turns...but the boat doesn't.

UD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Dave (Post 4438746)

steering is overrated

Plus ITS makes it so much easier to replace your drive every couple of seasons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by racinfast002 (Post 4439557)

steering is overrated

I agree. I've been 85 in a boat with No power steering at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooRob (Post 4439591)

Plus ITS makes it so much easier to replace your drive every couple of seasons.

Plus it makes it easier to replace the boat when you get into a high speed spin out and the drive rips off the back of the boat. Down she goes. Just make sure the insurance is paid up and your good to go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Baja (Post 4439605)

I agree. I've been 85 in a boat with No power steering at all.

So have myself and most performance boaters at some time in their boating careers.

2 things turned me around-

1. One day I had to tighten a turn at speed and couldn't. Almost had a head on around horseshoe bend in Parker at 85. My sphincter never has relaxed from this.

2. I got tired of replacing gimbles and found out steering extended the life dramatically. Steering actually has an ROI if you are going to keep the boat and mod it over time.

UD