steering questions

can anyone talk with me about replacing mechanical steering system with hydraulic on 18ft fish and ski with 150hp outboard motor?

 

Just go to your local chandlery, but why add complexity & cost, when the original still works?

 

The cost difference between the two should make this an easy decision. There's no reason to use hydraulic systems on a boat that size, though a mechanical steering system with 150 UP should be an "anti-feed back" type.

 

I hate to sound stupid but what is a chandlery? My steering does work but it is very hard to steer and pulls very hard from low end torque. I adjusted the fin under the skeg plate, and attached a wedged plate on the side of the bottom skeg, that helped some but that makes it pull the other direction on the top end, and I can never take my hand off of the steering wheel. I don't understand the mechanical ''zero feedback'' steering. Will it help with the issues above? I not interested in spending a lot of $$ but I have always heard hydraulic would, I'm just looking for some advice on what to do and what will and want work.

 

limeboy.

A Chandlery is a place where they sell boat equipment.
Go to Teleflex Marine web site and read all about steering systems there, they have a very informative site, and they sell pull pull cables, hyd and every other thing that you may need.

 

Are your propeller blades damaged at all.

 

You have either a maintenance issue and/or an adjustment issue and/or a worn out steering assembly (most probable). Again the cost differences should have you looking at fixing and/or replacing what you have, rather then a full up new type of steering system.

 

No there is no damage to my prop blades. I will go to Teleflex site and check it out, thanks. If my existing system does't have maint. issues or is not worn out what adjustment issues could I have, and what can I adjust, or how, to eliminate them?

 

There are several different steering systems used on small craft. Adjustments are usually limited and obvious, such as removing slack in the linkages or replacing worn elements. It would be helpful to narrow down the possibilities, with a make, year and model of your boat and the steering system currently installed.

It's very probable you just need a new cable, though since you're reporting helm pressure from engine torque, you clearly need an anti-feed back setup.

Cables aren't very costly, but they can be a pain in the butt to install if you've never done it before.