Steering upgrade or not?
 

Hi All,

I’m getting ready to install a M3 Procharger and wondering if I will need to upgrade my steering yet? After the install I expect to be running between 75 to low 80s (depending on elevation). Not sure I need to go to full hydraulic steering yet, has anyone used the sidewinder steering stabilizers, what do you think of them?

Powerboatin in Colorado….

I`m with TOO OLD. I feel that you should upgrade your steering before spending money on power.

Just my .02

Don't be foolish, spend the money on the steering first, power comes later.

Yes, I agree. If you don't want to spring for full hydraulic you can get the hydraulic tie in system that hooks up to your power steering. I have the WPM system. Not as good as full hydraulic, but you can use all of the stuff to upgrade to full later. It is way better than the stock steering though. You will really notice a big difference in driving also.
Safety,safety,safety Get the steering

hydraulic
 

At those speeds you are asking for a disaster with a cable failure?!?!?!?!? Plus, a full hydraulic system like Lathem has a "heavy" feel at low speeds, but when you running WOT - the boat will feel very solid under you ---- AND --- with true hydraulic system ( like lathem) the wheel will NOT EVER MOVE unless you turn the wheel (no more wheel torque to right)!!

Run safe.....

MAV

Absolutely do the steering!! Without the steering you can kill someone or seriouslye injure someone.
Do yourself a favor and do things in the right order! The 1st thing I did when "planning" to upgrade Too Old's old Sonic..... was buy steering and exhaust, the engines come after!!:) :)

Absolutely do the steering!! Without the steering you can kill someone or seriouslye injure someone.
Do yourself a favor and do things in the right order! The 1st thing I did when "planning" to upgrade Too Old's old Sonic..... was buy steering and exhaust, the engines come after!!:) :)

Dollar for dollar Hydraulic steering is one of the safest additions to make to a high speed boat. I installed it on my 25' Checkmate last year for about $3400.00 (full system), the difference it made "at all speeds" was amazing !!

I went with the Imco full hyd, what a difference.

Thanks everyone. I completely agree with the safety factor. I wanted to know when I should look at a steering upgrade (speed-safety wise), to be sure I upgrade the steering at the right time as needed, looks like now.... Any thoughts on the best direction for a single system??

Thanks again everyone, Safety does come first....

Hey 28Eliminator,

Where did you get your system?


_____________
Can't what for spring...........

I was going to add a single ram "tie-in system" (not full) to my boat. I'm only running 70 so I don't need dual ram. If I need it later (i.e. if I add a Whipple), can I add the second ram later?

Also, I've heard that slow speed steering becomes VERY stiff with a tie-in system. I've also heard from some people that the steering is no stiffer. What has been everyone's experience for those that don't have the full hyd systems?

Ric,

I added a single an IMCO single ram assist on a 26' Powerquest and had no trouble with it, 2 -3 hrs to install. I even had to run 150 miles up the Ohio River one time without power steering when one of the hoses developed a leak from rubbing a manifold. My shoulders were sore when we got home, but we made it back safe.

Wow, 2 - 3 hours ??!!! The best I've heard so far is 5 hours. You must be good!!

I think IMCO builds a very high-quality product, but I'm thinking of going with WPM for one reason (maybe a dumb one). WPM uses a wing-plate attachment so that the stock rear cover on the outdrive tower (whatever it's called) stays in place. I like that simply because the Mercury Bravo One decal stays there. I just don't like the plain look when it's removed as it must be for the IMCO system. Like I said, dumb reason, but I've heard great things about the WPM system. Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the advice, where have you found the best deal.

I just addded Imcos' full hydraulic system to my 259 Convincor. Unfortunetly, I haven't been able to test it out yet due to the weather here in the North East. Winter sucks!! Anyway, the system installed easily without any problems.

WPM Hydraulic Steering
 

Added a full system to a Baja Outlaw 24, handling improved 100%. I intened to install a Single ram tie-in, found a full WPM system here on OSO for $1200-00 complete. Probably the best money I have spent on this boat. WPM was incredibly helpful, sent me all the info needed for a self install, plus they talked me through every question I had. All the systems I have seen all seem even in quality of construction.
Now I need to find a bigger motor so I can enjoy this boating addiction even more
John

Powerboatin, CP Performance sells them. when I bought mine there were several places that sell them.
I installed WPM single last winter and I love it. I wish I would have done it long ago. I think the cost was about $1400. A friend installed a double and his is hard to steer at idle, probably because the pump can't provide enough fluid at idle for 2. It adapts to the power steering cylinder and runs off of your power steering pump.

Ric232, The single tie in works great and if you need to add the second later you can just add it the first one, but I would probably go full hydraulic at that time.
Also, a friend of mine has IMCO and has some rust on the bolts, but I haven't seen any on the WPM of mine or my other friend, that has WPM, but all that I have seen are good quality and will make it safe.
It is a pretty easy install, but I probably measured for 2 hours before I drilled any holes, didn't want to screew it up.

If you cant find used,I'll help you with a discount to get this done,were dealers for most of them,so youll have your options,safety,safety.........

I cannot deny the improvement hydraulic steering probably gives over stock. Seems obvious. Hydraulic systems are better engineered to minimize stress on the gimbal ring and to keep control of the outdrive directly. Can see the safety connection with a single drive application for sure.

I am contemplating installing this setup on my twin engine application. Problem is, I cannot see any overt saftey problem with a failure of my stock system. Seems the counter rotating props would keep me going straight. Could maybe see how steering loss may be an issue corning hard, but not sure. What is the experience from the knowledge base on OSO? I've had steering failure on duoprop single engine applications and just went straight. Got home using my trim tabs like allerons (sp?).

Help me understand better,

BT :cool:

bt-
I've experienced a steering failure in a twin (stock steering, non counter-rotating, no external tie-bar) and it's no fun!

We locked up a starboard engine at WFO (the one with the PS pump on it:eek: ) and the boat did a 180 in less than a second on its rubrail. I'm pretty sure that a shallower boat would have rolled over. The wall of spray was so huge, the other boats we were with thought we had. As it was, my hand got caught in the steering wheel as it came around and broke my hand. Without the McCleod bolsters, we would have been ejected.

When a twin with stock steering has a failure, you have a tremendous amount of hydrodynamic drag and force on the failed side, and its more than enough to push the other drive where it wants to. Drag is drag, and it won't matter much which way the prop truns on the drive (are you a little safer with counter-rotation? We turned HARD right, if the boat had a CCW on the port, in theory we would have gone left instead, since that engine was still WFO). Not something I'm curious enough about to go try.

It is also easy to be fooled into thinking that any given external system will keep you perfectly safe in the event of a failure of some type.
The safest systems will be dual-ram, full hydraulic from the helm, with a pump on both engines utilizing a priority valve set-up that shifts pressure to the good pump in case of failure. It's also much harder for the hydrodynamic force of the water over a failed drive to move a dual ram setup violently, since it has to push another ram as well. An external tie-bar is a must, and I've seen some setups have two back there..

IMHO, a good steering system is worth every penny!
Jim

Powerboatin, I agree with the rest about having external steering. Of course I would prefer you use the FULL hydraulic from the helm station all the way back. Actually, another great benefit from adding the full hydraulic is that you will be able to eliminate the stock steering from off the inside of the engine bay transom and it will give it a much cleaner appearence. Also, by adding the dual rams externally it will actually help add or reinforce some strength to the gimbal housing/ring/pin and keep it from wearing. This is especially true when the drives enter the water after coming off a wave. Have fun and be safe.

Mark/KAAMA

Thanks for the good feedback jafo. Can't agrue with anything you said. I had two hair raising events this past year with my twin engine, external tie bar, stock steering boat. The first one, I grenaded the SB engine at about 4500rpm. I noticed the tach movement immediately and pulled back. My passenger didn't notice a thing. Boat went straight, but I did have to counter steer some.

The second was more interesting. At WOT, and launching off a huge wave from a 50' or so yacht, the SB engine died in mid air (carb problem from the jolt going in). This one I didn't notice until upon reentry I started turning right very hard. Both interesting events and I guess with external steering I would have felt less feedback?

To add further to a point you made. I think without the excellent bolsters I have, I probably would not have stayed at the helm in the second event. Maybe bolsters are the real safety device to make sure you have.

BT :cool: