hydraulic steering experience for my old 1982 Johnson 90 hp v4 outboard?

[Scott Danforth]

2.5 to 3.5 miles per gallon is actually good. If you want fuel economy in a boat, get one with a sail

 

[ib18]

No Title

I had some help from a friend to install the Baystar Hydraulic HK4200A-3 system and pivot adaptor HA4642 yesterday and today had my wife's help to add the oil and bleed the air from the tubes and cylinders. This new upgrade served THREE purposes:
(1) I was rubbing my fingers against my Garmin GPSmap498 when I was turning the steering wheel before, because the old helm was only 1 inch deep. The new hydraulic pump helm is great. It is almost 4 inches deep, so I have a lot more room and won't be rubbing my fingers against the Garmin anymore.
(2) No more dealing with my old rusty tilt tube. The upgrade has its own hydraulic cylinder that slide from left to right on its own rod.
(3) No hard turning like the cable steering, because it is hydraulic so turning should be much easier and smoother.

Downsize is cost. $650 + pivot plate $80 =$730 vs. $150 new cable plus new OC helm and a tilt tube (new or used) $50 so total about $200.

There may be Black Friday sale coming soon, so good luck and safe boating and fishing.

I will post my installation video and tips on youtube to help others who is also thinking of converting to a hydraulic system due to the pesky and persistent stuck cable or tired of hard turning due to cable steering.

 

[ib18]

I will also post water test video for my new upgrade Baystar hydraulic steering system (HK4200A-3 plus HA4642) soon.

 

[Scott Danforth]

A new cable helm and tilt tube would have been about 150

 

[ib18]

A new cable helm and tilt tube would have been about 150

Wow, Thanks for the better, cheaper and faster pricing. Thanksgiving sale may push the $150 even lower so buyers' time coming in a few weeks. Time to go shopping if you can wait but I cannot wait for my boat to be in the water. Already very disappointed this weekend for not getting out on the water to go boating and fishing - LOL

A stuck cable just not safe to go out and risk my life (play hard but safe) - LOL

 

[ib18]

No Title

Dang, one diy project after another non-stop (LOL). My venture boat trailer tire treads are gone and bulging on the side wall. some rubbers even break off from the bulging areas. So, time to order new tires. Water test may be delayed next weekend.

 

[ib18]

Man, the water test of baystar hydraulic steering system was great and superior to the mechanical cable steering especially when turning for a U-turn
I used to slow way down and take a much bigger turn. But, now much easier to turn and smaller turn too.

 

[ib18]

here are my water test results videos - I am going to shoot some aerial view from my 10 feet long DIY curtain rod telescoping aerial view camera rod to capture my boat turning Video using the new BayStar hydraulic steering system. I feel like driving a $10K brand new boat with this $600 upgrade - LOL

 

[ib18]

LOL - I had my steering reversed - so I turned my wheel to the right but my boat went to the left at the boat ramp. I didn't want to fix it at the ramp. It just took some used to until I was able to make it out of the boat dock and into the Potomac river. I got home and finally switched the 2 hydraulic tubes to correct my steering and will test drive it this weekend. I thought the oil was going to shoot out of the tubes, but no. The switching tubes was easy and done in 10 minutes.

​Watch how I did it.

Stay tuned for aerial view video and pictures.