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Sportfire steering

C

crazycunuck

Member
Good morning everyone does anybody have advice on this. I am installing a 6" jackplate with a merc 2.5 200hp thinking about steering the boat has a single cable should i go with hydraulic steering i thought i read something a while back in the forms about being able to add a second cable any advice please thanks Grant.
 
You either have to change the system over to dual cable or hydraulic. You can't just add another cable. Hydraulic is a lot more money.
 
Mark is correct for the most part. If you currently have a single cable "rack and pinion" steering system like the one pictured below, you will have to replace everything...ie: the helm and the cable.

157054F-f.jpg

However, if you currently have a "rotary" steernig helm like the one pictured below, you could just replace the helm station out for a "dual cable" rotary helm setup and simply add a second cable (assuming your current cable is in good condition. That's exactly what I did, in fact. Just measure the length of your current cable and add another the same length. Again, ASSUMING your current cable is long enough to use with the added 6" jackplate, which it more than likely is.

157040F-f.jpg


If you go with a dual cable setup, whether it be a rotary or rack, make certain it is a "No Feedback" system.

Now, hydraulic is a whole other animal. Very pricey, but a very good choice. I don't think blowing a hose is a big concern. Certainly not any more than popping a cable, anyway. Some things to keep in mind about hydraulic is it elimantes any feedback through the wheel which is a good thing as far as torque steer. Your arms will thank you at the end of the day. However, you will losse all "road feel" for lack of a better term of your boat and it is very different from driving a cable steer boat.


Oh, I almost forgot. If you go with any dual cable kit, you'll need an add on tilt tube to attach the second cable to the motor. Something along the lines of the following pic.

ABA-42110-00-00.jpg
 
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Hey thanks for all the great info i think i will go with the hydraulic for some reason I'am leading toward that type of steering. I can get a new setup for about 550 once again thank-you for the time you spent on the info you gave me Grant.:)
 
crazycunuck said:
Hey thanks for all the great info i think i will go with the hydraulic for some reason I'am leading toward that type of steering. I can get a new setup for about 550 once again thank-you for the time you spent on the info you gave me Grant.:)
Click to expand...

I'm sure you'll be happy with a hydraulic setup, but fror $550 "new"?? I think you better check into what your considering. I was thinking Seastar Hydrualic which are a bit more pricey than that. The Baystar Hydraulic steering my be closer in price to what you have mentioned, but it not rated for 200 HP or the speeds your hull/motor combination will be capable of. Do your homework. That's a potent little package your putting together there. :bigthumb:
 
I put hyd. steering in a Allison with a real strong Evinrude that I was spraying with 200 HP and took it back out and went back to dual cable
no feed back on motor at all so when you get in trouble it's hard to drive through it when you can't tell where your motor is. It sounds like the boat you are building is going to be a hand full to handle at top speed so be CAREFUL till you get some seat time in it.. It takes all the fun out of it when you get hurt.. This is the first Checkmate that I have built the guys on this board have more experiance with these boats than I do so listen to them they have been through this before. My back ground is from single seat boats that were super light from what I have read on here it's a whole different world than what I'm use to.. check around with this board they will steer you in the right direction Just be carefull and be safe
 
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