hydraulic steering - internal vs. exernal
05-13-2016 | 10:42 AM
#11
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 512
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From: Merritt Island, FL
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.
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.
05-13-2016 | 11:11 AM
#12
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From: Toledo Oh
05-13-2016 | 12:48 PM
#14
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From: Central IL / Green Bay, WI
05-13-2016 | 02:45 PM
#15
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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
05-16-2016 | 09:39 AM
#16
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 512
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From: Merritt Island, FL
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
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
05-16-2016 | 11:45 AM
#19
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,733
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From: bel air, md
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.
05-16-2016 | 01:23 PM
#20
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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
