Sidewinder Outdrive Stabilizer???
 

I was perusing las year's Eddie Marine catalog and came across an interesting alternative to the hydraulic steering expense, especially for moderate powered single applications.

The literature states:
- Low cost alternative to expensive hydraulic add-on systems.
- Eliminates worn & broken steering, & tie bar joints.
- Reduces blowout hazard
- Controls steering shimmy.
- Improves steering repsonse, while giving you more control.
- Dampens excessive out-drive shock & vibration.
- Ten stage velocity sensing valving system, becomes progressively stiffer with speed.
- Eliminates the danger of the boat turning violently in the event of steering failure.

Single cylinder kit approx. $400.00
Dual cylinder kit approx. $790.00

Does anyone know anything about these and if so, what do you think about it as a mild upgrade?...

Waterfoul has one
bought it due to loose/wore bravo gimble bearing and tiller arm. helped him a ton to mask that problem, but he has a newer drive now

probably works good, but seems like a lot of money for
what it is: i.e. a waterproof shock absorber.... but then it goes on a boat so move the decimal point over:p

I think the "velocity compensating" actually means the velocity of the ram itself. viscous fluids are progressive via just plain physics, acting force through an orifice is a function of the ram velocity squared, but their valves may expand on that.

seemed to do what waterfoul wanted, and may reduce wear over time on your steering sytem.

Sounds like it might smooth out the handling at the wheel especially i the rough. It also sounds like it adds a little extra security should the drive go at speed. $400 compared to none or $4K+ isn't so bad...Did he mention how it felt or if it helped smooth out the helm?...

Hopefully I can give you an answer in the near future, since I have one sitting here waiting to go on. I have heard that those that have got them, really like the difference.

I too am interested....I would like something that would keep the outdrive in check in rough water and keep the outdrive from violently turning on its own... I don't need anything for my normal driving to assist me. But if it secures the drive AND gives a little help in rough water it's worth it to me....Seems like someone on the board could make something like this for less than Drew offers:D "For Under $500.00"

Bad-Habit

buy a used external steering system if cost is a problem...if you need this band-aid...you need external steering...

buy the way,,, i have installed one and removed one. only to install full hydrulics on a boat.

Audacity the point being I guess, is an alternative to shelling out big dollars (even for used one) for configurations where it's borderline needing anything. If the option was nothing or a little something it sounds like a reasonable option for a minor expense...

really i don't think it's minor $$...if you need one of these you are running the boat harder than the rigging will allow. it will cost you $$ down the road. anyone that has upgraded to external steering will tell you it totally changed the boat. personally, i would not drill holes in the hull for this band-aid...atually i have one that i'm going to try to install on my truck:)

and the ones they sell at the auto parts store???...we have two of them mounted to our ob 50hp mod inflatable cat!!...i think they cost 15 bucks.

I spoke with Drew about the benefits of these vs. hydraulics last year. After reading the info, I figured for $400 it was worth it. I was in the process of ordering (assuming the $400 price) until I found out you need 2 for $800 (1 on each side of the drive). I have a single 502 MAG/MPI Bravo. In the end, I did not make the order. Wasn't enough $ difference vs. a hydraulic ram off existing pump.

Just FYI
Waterfoul only has one.
1/2 the damping as two, but works great for him

IMHO save your pennies until you can install an add-on external steering system. Everything else is just a band-aid

Call it a band aid if you want. I believe it has other benefits other than steering control at speed.

Several years ago I lost my powersteering belt at WFO with 4 people on board. We ALL ended up on the floor under the port bolster. All of us!!! Boat kept going at about 40 mph (that's about where the throtle ended up as I was tossed down). I managed to get up and stop the boat. There was a boat less than 100 feet to my port. LUCKY the boat turned to starboard. LUCKY no one was hurt.

I talked to Drew at length about this issue. He told me that even ONE of his units would have kept the boat from turning so violently. I bought one. It takes a lot of the play out of the wheel at speed. I can run wide open in 3 footers (24 foot Baja) and let go of the wheel to adjust the GPS or something else without letting go of the throttle. Boat maintains a straight course. Can any of you with stock steering only do this?

Second thing that makes me believe that this product works as advertised is that last season I broke my gimbal ring in 3 places and could still maintain steering at planing speeds (I didn't realize it was broken till back on the trailer). I did notice that the boat steered really sloppy that day and I took it easy on the way back to the trailer. I am CONVINCED that without the stabilizer I would not have been able to do so.

Call it a band aid if you wish. Some of us are simply not able to afford ANY kind of hydraulic systems, new or used. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as "budget boating" which some on this board just do not understand. It is simply too much money for many of us to upgrade. A set of used steering costs more than I spend on gas a season. So, buy steering and sit in the boat in the driveway? Or spend $400 for a little peace of mind and go boating every weekend? You do the math. I've had mine on my boat for 5 years.

BUT, they do fade with time. I had a friend in the sign business get me some chrome vinyl and put it over the cylinder. 2 years ago now and it looks good still.

See you on the water. :D

I bought a pair from CP-Performance last season for my 28ft Scarab and have been very pleased. The stabilizers worked as advertised.
I don't race this boat, but it will run 75mph + with the built 502 thats in it.
The steering in the boat is in good shape, and I'm sure the stabilizers will help it last a lot longer.
The stabilizers give the boat a more controlled, tighter feel at high speed in the rougher water.
I have had a full hydraulic steering system in a previous boat, and granted it is the ideal setup, it also cost upwards of $2000 for a full system.
If I were to race this boat I would probably go for the hydraulic, but for recreational high performance speeds under 80mph, I think the stabilizers work just fine!
I, like a lot of the people on this board, only have so much $$$ to spend for boating! The house, wife, kids, pets etc all seem to continually take shots at the boating $$!! I think spending $800 for stabilizers instead of $1500 for a "partial" or $2000 for a full hydraulic system was a better value!

Drew once offered OSO members a discount on these too. Reckless, if you can get some others to go in on it with you, he may offer it again.

Mike

I was looking at the marine machine single ram kit for my Bravo1 Part No.: 135-SM107 Now is this a kit to replace my steering system or an add on kit? It was on the CP Performance webhttp://www.cpperformance.com/products/Controls/212.asp site.