Anyone converted steering

[willy]

Has anyone converted to hydraulic steering, how hard a job? and is that steering you buy motor brand specific, if I change out in a year or two will I need different apparutus at the transom for different brand motor?

[Pipe_Dream]

Willy, I can't tell you how difficult it is to physically do it. I can only tell you how difficult it was to write the check to have it done. ;) When I went up from 150 hp to 200 hp it seemed like the right decision, and I'm glad I did it.

I believe that they are all universal. BTW, I went with Sea Star.

[willy]

Thanks Pipe, can't afford to write the check either. But I do know it would be the single biggest improvement I can make on my v20. The cable steering is notchy feeling and I have adjusted the little fin as far as it can go and still get right turn torque steer.

[victore]

i put in a no feedback cable and helm setup and it improved the boat dramatically for about $150 and 2 hours time. you can go from idle to 40 mph without touching the steering wheel. no tork steer.

[willy]

Please tell me more because that is definetly more in my price range ;D but someone on this site told me they had very little improvement with their system, which one did you get and what engine do you have it on?

[reelapeelin]

Willy, I put the no-feed-back (NFB) cable on mine 3 yrs ago and REAL happy w/it...one of the BEST improvements ever...outta the hole and straight across the water w/no hands...MJ keeps wantin' to know what I do w/my hands if I ain't steerin'...why cuppin' tha nortons of course!! ;D...

[willy]

Thanks Rap sounds like my best way to go, which one did you go with? And I'm avoiding any more talk about Nortons and stuff with those Massachusets boys. Seems to get them all exited :o ;D :o

[reelapeelin]

It's a single cable rated up to 150 hp...I can take a closer look tomorrow if ya need it...yeah...thinkin' it gets WAY TOO COLD FOR THOSE GUYS... ::)

[willy]

Yea Rap the one I found yesterday was for max 4 cyl engine, if I repower in the future with a 150 I will have to scrap it. So if you get a chance to see what brand and model would help, going to do the job this winter ;)

[reelapeelin]

Willy, mine's a Teleflex NFB 4.2 Rotary...4.2 turns lock to lock for V6 and smaller and 50 mph and less is what it says here (West) $215...shop around, you might save on the same unit...as I said before, I've been real pleased w/this system and this doesn't bother me, but there is a little ''free-play'' in the wheel after 3 yrs of use...not excessive, but not ''dead-on'', so if ANY ''play'' in the wheel bothers you go ahead w/hydraulic...Pretty sure you can handle installation... ;)...

[willy]

Thanks Rap, by free play you mean like a take up when you turn left or right? Or do you mean you have to keep correcting the steering while underway a little back and forth

[phatdaddy]

Willy, I installed the nfb system this spring and really enjoy it. I have a 150 Mariner and its true no hands steering. I was replacing teleflex with teleflex nfb, so there was no adaptation, just undo the helm slide the cable out and install new parts. It's not a replacement for hydraulic, but a lot better than regular at 1/3 the price.

[bigshrimpin]

My Dad busted a few ribs once on an old boat (when he let go of the steering wheel to put in a hull plug). As soon as the ribs heeled . . . we replaced the helm with NFB. Made a huge difference.

[reelapeelin]

Willy, by free-play, I mean in the wheel's movement B4 the motor responds...once set, the motor has NO movement to it....that's what I meant about ''outta the hole and across the water w/NO hands...''

That movement above is no a problem for me...it's not by any means, ''excessive''... ;) ;D...