Planning Hydraulic Steering Install

[Bud Kennedy]

I noticed that my steering cables were beginning to get a bit stiff making the wheel a wee bit harder to turn.  From prior experience this is just a step it goes through until those cables really begin to seize an making steering a tough process.  Upon thinking about this, perhaps it is about time to consider changing to a hydraulic steering system.

Fact is the Ranger is 30 years old so this kind of upgrade is probably a natural chain of events.  As I have been watching installation videos a few question begin to arise about how to select and order everything that is needed.  One of these things is a backing plate that is used behind the dash to strengthen the dash itself a bit.  I also assume that I should expect that I will have to increase the size of the dash opening to fit the 3" required for the searstar pro unit.  Because of this I am thinking I should order the backing plate.

Although the hydraulic hoses are a fairly straight forward install the pull through the gunnel of the boat may be a real exercise.  Obviously things like pull strings will be something that is required.  I also not that my splash well is good sized so space should be be a big deal when mounting the replacement hydraulic steering assembly.

OK, so those are my comments and questions.  Can anyone give me any pointers to help me make sure I order the right stuff to do this job.  It looks fairly straight forward and don't anticipate too many problems other than removing the old steering which might be a bit tough given the fact that the boat is 30 years old and I am a half blind 75 year old geezer that will likely be doing this install alone.

Bottom line, do you think this is something I can do myself or should I just bite the bullet and have a service shop do it.  I would like to save a bit versus paying the labor charges from a service shop.  I would guess that the charges would be somewhere in the 500 to 800 range but I am just guessing at this moment.  I am handy with tools and have performed a lot of maintenance work in my younger days but that was then and this is now.

[Princeton_Man]

I installed my SeaStar Pro completely by myself. I will say that running the hydraulic lines would have been much easier/quicker if I'd had someone pulling the pull string while I fed the lines. Working under the helm will probably be the hardest part for you.

While I didn't have a helper, I highly recommend one. You will need someone to turn the wheel while you bleed the system.

I used a right angle grinder with a cut-off wheel to cut the old steering cables at the motor then attached pull strings and pulled them out at the helm.

[Mike Cork]

I've got no experience with the install. But would like to piggy back on P_M, anything under the helm for very long is difficult and I'm only 50ish, three back surgeries don't help.

I know you've got some good mechanical knowledge and abilities, but I see this needing a mindless assistant to help with pulling the hoses and the "open" and "close" as you bleed it.

[Donald Garner]

Bud, I've never have attempted to do what your thinking about.  I know you are handy in getting things done etc. Most of the guys I've ran around with that did this task said it works better with 2 guys doing it.

Just my 2 cents....I would find a marine dealership and let them do this task.  They can order everything and they can fight with those cables and mounting headaches.  I don't know what the cost would be but to me it would be worth it letting a dealership doing this.  You should get a warranty with the install I would think and that's something to think about also.  If you did this where are you going to work on it at?  If you do it outside of your house something to think about is the weather?  You might get started and all a sudden you got chitty weather to work in.

You're going to really love that hydraulic steering.  Like Princeton_Man I have SeaStar in my Stratos also and it works great.

Good luck on making this decision.

[Bassinkorea]

I will echo Donald here, get the shop to do it. Once it's done you'll wonder why you didn't do it soon. I switched from cable to a Seastar system 7 or 8 years ago and it is totally night and day.

[FD]

My daughter was 12 when she helped me do the steering on my old Stratos. 
It only took us about 3 hours.

I did not have to use a backing plate because the dash was very beefy.

I did not have to enlarge the hole but about a 1/4 inch.  I used a jig saw.

Pull your pull rope through when you remove the old cables.

The bleeding process us the most time consuming part of the install.


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[Bud Kennedy]

Thanks to everyone for your guidance.  I pretty much have decided to let a dealer do it.  Things are just a whole lot different when you are 75 and only have one eye.  Makes things a bit difficult especially when the old bones are not quite as agile as they were just a few short years ago.  Also true is having to deal with changing weather conditions.  The install would have to be done outside and that can be a bit iffy if you know what I mean.  I did not want to spend the install money but it seems like it will be money properly spent.  Most likely I will have it done during the winter months when the dealers have a bit less demand on their shops.  Fishing is a year around deal her but a lot of folks put em up during the winter months and then start getting ready for spring during February or so.  So perhaps January would be the best time to get this done.

[Princeton_Man]

Thanks to everyone for your guidance.  I pretty much have decided to let a dealer do it.  Things are just a whole lot different when you are 75 and only have one eye.  Makes things a bit difficult especially when the old bones are not quite as agile as they were just a few short years ago.  Also true is having to deal with changing weather conditions.  The install would have to be done outside and that can be a bit iffy if you know what I mean.  I did not want to spend the install money but it seems like it will be money properly spent.  Most likely I will have it done during the winter months when the dealers have a bit less demand on their shops.  Fishing is a year around deal her but a lot of folks put em up during the winter months and then start getting ready for spring during February or so.  So perhaps January would be the best time to get this done.

I wish we were a little closer, I'd give you a hand. You're welcome to come spend the weekend in WV and we'll get her done. You'll spend less at the gas pumps than you will with the dealer.