Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

Looking for an education on hydraulic steering, specifically the pros/cons and details on "add-on" systems vs "full" systems. Obviously interested in costs and level of effort as well. This would be for a twin Bravo installation.

Thanks!

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

you wont need it till you buy those 600 Sterlings!!!

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

Best is full hydraulic. I ran a cable/hydraulic for years in a 77 mph boat with no problems. Cost was alot less than full hydraulic. Personally IMO if you make sure the cable is fresh and greased regularly, then an add on system is O.K. if you are on a budget. It sure beats no hydraulic at all !!!

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

Dockrocker,
I posted a similar thread a few months ago asking "why a full hydraulic system is safer than an add on using the steering cable". No one could really offer a true explanation. The answer I keep getting is a full hydraulic is better. My question has always been, how does the hydraulic cylinders on the transom of the boat know how they are actuated? Does the steering cable have more stress on it at 70 MPH than 30MPH? If so, explain how. Or, is this all a matter of ease of steering at low docking RPM. I'm anxious to hear the responses you get.

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

I was with a guy on a poker run last year that the" Full "steering broke its not fool proof!

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

I've driven both, I own full hydraulic.
From my experiences, the "add on"
has more "play" in it.
From, 1. cable slop.
And 2. the required movement of the cable
to activate the steer valve.

Either one is better than none.......I just
prefer the quicker reaction of the full hyd. setup.

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

Here's a little test for you, next time you have your boat out. You can start in the no wake area. Point the boat straight, hold the wheel stationary and see if the boat stays straight. Try it again at several different speeds, if it stays straight you probably don't need the full hydraulic stearing. If it wanders all over, then you'll see the advantages of the stock cable and external add ons.

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

I had Cable/Hyd on the Bullet.....Ran to PIB with a bud in 6+
seas..Had a ball Lotsa air....Stopped to pull into the harbor & the Helm unit let go ! Freewheeled....I'll NEVER be without FULL Hyd again !!

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

The cost difference is about $1000.00 between the two.

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

I think the threat comes from total loss of steering. I'd imagine that a burst in the hydraulics is VERY rare (if ever)but could imagine a cable snapping very easily. Even a full hydraulic leaking is going to be gradual giving the driver time to react compared to a cable snapping. Am I getting closer???

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

I was just told a month ago of a boat that developed a fluid leak in a full hydraulic system and had a sudden failure resulting in the boat barrell rolling. I had always been under the belief that the safety factor of full hydraulic was that it would just stick where it failed. I was told no, that with a loss of fluid you can get loss of control. Anybody no whether this is the truth?

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

I don't know if you would lose the hydraulic stearing in your boat any more often than in your car. I've never seen a cable snap, but I do remember fighting to keep my boat running straight before I installed the full hydraulic stearing. You might have to drive a boat with full hydraulic to understand.

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

GPM, that was my next question. How often has anyone seen a cable snap without warning? I would bet the ones that break have not be inspected in years, or maybe never inspected. I would assume that a performance boater, one smart enough to want hydraulic steering would perform regular inspections on their equipment.
I am not trying to prove that full hydraulic is not better than the add on system, I just want to understand why and the major cost justification.

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

Whiteknuckle, I did try to explain some of the problems with cable add-on systems in the previous thread. There are pro's and con's to both. Yes, if you have a serious leak you can lose the steering, but there are warning signs. If you have a serious leak with the add-on, with a hard side load you may not be able to hold the steering so it still could get away from you. The add-on system is still hard on the tiller arm because even the best hydraulic systems have some spring (air & hose expansion) in them, so a sudden hard load will go through to the tiller arm until the hydraulics can respond. On a full hydraulic there is still the "spring" in the system, but it just moves that little bit and doesn't really load anything up on the transom besides the cylinders.
Another factor that most people don't notice, although it has nothing to do with add-on vs full hydraulic, is that there is not a single add-on or full hydraulic external cylinder setup that has the right gemoetry through the full trim range. The only systems that do have the cylinders built into the transom assembly (MC6, ITS, & maybe the IMCO box w/cylinders). Add-on external cylinder kits try to minimize this by getting the mounting points on the transom at the correct height and by how far the cylinder pivots are out from the transom. When you trim without steering, the cylinders will have to extend or compress slightly and there isn't any relief in the system so some extra load goes into the gimbal ring. This isn't really much of a problem on a running boat because you are probably moving the wheel around while under way which relieves the pressure.
It really comes down to cost vs benefit, and the biggest benefit is "feel".

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

I prefer the full system after having add on in my old power play. I can let the wheel got at 90mph in my cat and it runs dead nut straight.

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

I just upgraded my add-on system to a full system this spring. There steering feels much more precise. If I turn the wheel a inch, the boat responds. No corrections are needed to keep the boat on track. With just the add-on system I had to maintain slight pressure on the wheel to stay on track.

Personally, I NEVER heard of a steering cable fail. My steering was pretty decent with just the add-on but it is better now.

Having experienced the same boat with both the full and the add-on, I would say that it was worth the additional cost. If you are starting from scratch I would buy a FULL system and be done with it.

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

does or can someone take a pic of the brazil valve installed ???jus wondering how it looks installed,thanks,dave

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

I'm not familiar with this add on system you guys are talking about. Anyone have a link to what it looks like, how it works and costs?

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

will the brazil valve work if you have dual cable steering???

Re: Pros/Cons/Details - full vs add-on hydraulic steering
 

Go with a full system. I'm not a big fan of the add-on systems at all.