Alternative to hydraulic steering?

[bchaney]

Hey guys, I currently have cable steering on my 90hp OB and it can be somewhat difficult to handle. In some some situations it takes a lot of force on the wheel just to keep the boat going straight. From what I read, hydraulic steering is the best option but the kits I see online are $600-1200+. Anyone know of a less expensive alternative way to make steering easier?

I found some old threads on "Drew Marine Steering Stabilizers" but I don't think they're being manufactured anymore.

 

[Scott Danforth]

boating is expensive.

however my first guess would be to adjust your tab under the AV plate.

 

[dingbat]

Steering should not be hard on any well maintained and or adjusted steering system.

Pull and lubricate the steering ram and adjust the trim tab as Scott noted.

I have the no feed back (NFB) steering system on a much larger, more powerful boat. When motor is properly trimmed, I can walk away from the helm at cruise speed.

 

[PartsVu]

I am curious if the steering feedback torque is the same regardless of speed or trim? Often adjusting your power trim angle will cause the steering to feel much more even in both directions -- especially if your engine mounting height is not ideal. You might also look at how the steering cable connects to the engine tiller. If there is an issue with the geometry, it will cause hard steering conditions, but what you're describing seems more like torque feedback than an engine that is hard to turn on its own.

 

[QBhoy]

I had this issue on a wee fletcher 16 with a 90hp with telefkex manual steering and no trim anode.
I currently have the same issue with a fletcher 19 with 115 CT big gear case and fancy prop.
There is no getting away from it completely and all together. It can be softened by speeding up and more trim but usually this is beyond the comfortable cruising speed. It’s also noticeable at anything much over 1000 rpm up until planing speed, then more.
Smaller diameter props and specifically X7 fancy props make a difference. So does getting a trim anode and cutting a bit out of it to allow the prop clearance (apparently there is a specific trim anode you can buy. I can’t find them though)...but ultimately you need some sort of anti feedback steering system. Whether it be manual or hydraulic. There is no getting around it for the most part. God knows, I’ve tried.

 

[bchaney]

Thanks for the help guys! I totally forgot about the trim tab under my AV plate. I will try adjusting it to see how much that helps. If it's not enough, that NFB system looks like a good, less expensive alternative to hydraulic. Boating doesn't have to be expensive.
The wheel and cable moves freely so it seems to be well lubricated and in good shape. When we're slowly cruising it's not bad but seems to get worse at higher speeds. The issue is that I have to fight the wheel in order to keep the boat going in the direction that I want. If I let go of the wheel the boat will turn itself. I have seen the issue referred to as torque steer, tho I'm not sure if I like that term.

I will pay closer attention to the issue next time I'm out. I usually only adjust trim based on the amount of chop, but I will mess with it to see how it affects the steering.

 

[Texasmark]

Hey guys, I currently have cable steering on my 90hp OB and it can be somewhat difficult to handle. In some some situations it takes a lot of force on the wheel just to keep the boat going straight. From what I read, hydraulic steering is the best option but the kits I see online are $600-1200+. Anyone know of a less expensive alternative way to make steering easier?

I found some old threads on "Drew Marine Steering Stabilizers" but I don't think they're being manufactured anymore.

Teleflex Co. makes a No-Feedback steering system. I ordered mine directly from them. They tell you how to order the right cable length and all. Very nice, polite folks, priced right works great. The trim tab has to be set right (as others have mentioned....if it has one....some boats running at high trim angles frequently (bass boats) have it removed as it's useless, but it is sensitive to trim positions so you adjust it (looking from the rear, turn rear of it towards the direction the boat wants to go when you release the wheel) for the trim setting that you run most often. Trim settings lower than the set point will/can cause the steering to seek the opposite direction....problems cured with no-feedback steering.