I have an 03' Velocity 260, with a top speed of 70mph on GPS. I don't have plans to make his thing any quicker than it is, it'll probably be around another two years before moving up. I'm looking for some insight on what the most PRACTICAL hydraulic steering setup would be for my application. Money is an object, or I'd have foregone the questions and be installing a dual ram full hydraulic instead of making a new thread.

I boat primarily in Lake Michigan and run the boat pretty hard. Cable steering is fun, clipping the tops off of 2-4's in a 26'er. I'm looking at bang for the buck here. My main goal is not needing to give the wheel so much input to keep the boat tracking straight. My wallet says replacing the cable with a new one and a single ram external will make me happy with reducing the feedback to the wheel and slop in the steering. My brain is torn between a single ram full setup, or dual ram add on. I know I can buy parts and build the inside part of the system for cheaper than anyone is selling it as well.

Spend your money how ever you want, Full hydraulic will go straight where the add on will still wander.

if you really plan on stepping up in a couple years and your going to spend a minimum of 3-4 k to do it rite find that boat with it on it already and save your cash..lots of deals out their..

I have to disagree with this statement. The external ram(s) will be hydraulically locked either way and the drive will not wander. The power steering pump puts out the same hydraulic pressure regardless. The difference is that you will still have the slop in your steering wheel from the cable but the drive will stay put.

A single ram add on will accomplish what you're looking for. I've been in a couple of boats before and after single ram add on and it is a day and night difference. Out of all my upgrades that I have ever done my dual ram full hydraulic steering was the best.

Fire your boat up on a hose with your add on external rams, bump either side of the drive and watch it take off, the water does the same thing. Unless DCB screwed up rigging 2 brand new boats with dual external rams it will most certainly wander.

I'll definitely do that. I have access to a dual ram add on system and I know that it is solid when the engines are off (unlike cable) and I was positive the it didn't move when the engines were running. I thought the valve locked the hydraulic fluid (running or not). If it didn't the non-rod side of the cylinder would always overcome the rod side and it would be a constant fight. My boat would ever so slightly drift to the port side when underway. I would have to correct the steering wheel about 2" every couple mins. I found I had a tiny leak in a cylinder inner seal.

On another note, had a friend hit something at 70mph with dual add on and ripped the drive right off. Only thing keeping the drive from laying on the bottom of the river was the external cylinder connected to the wingplate. Lucky for him we just put the add on 2 days prior.

I think you can do the add on first then try it out, if you like it then job done. If you still don't think it is tight enough then you can do the inside to the helm. That way you only spend extra if you feel it is not good enough and you are not duplicating labor or parts. No wasted money. Only you will know what is good enough for you. Just my two cents.

My dual ram add on on my single engine 28 Pantera still pulled to the side due to prop torque and wandered at idle speeds.
It was also very stiff when at idle speed and docking.

the add on will still wonder, and turn when you let go of the wheel as it still uses the steering arm through the transom to steer, so when you push on the drive, it moves the arm and pushes the cable which will open the valve in the hydraulic steering. if someone is holding the steering wheel still it wont do it cause you aren't allowing the cable to move. That goes away when you go full hydraulic cause the steering arm is no longer used. I have a single ram mayfair add on, put on a new steering cable, and it is ALOT nicer. Obviously going full hydraulic is alot better but, the add on will give you alot of rigidity, and safety while making your steering feel better

I installed a single full hydraulic system on my 2002 280 Velocity last spring. All that why peopleI can say is WOW. It is a completely different boat now. The boat goes exactly where you steer it. The boat does not wander at all anymore. It is a real pleasure to drive now.

Give Kenny at Velocity a call. He set me up with the complete system, all the hoses were premade to fit my boat. The price wasn't bad. Give Kenny a call!

An add on system will still wonder because of the slack in the cables. There is a reason why they sell both.