Replace my engine controls with...

[Captned]

Hynautic hydraulic engine controls? I have cables now but I have recently driven several boats with the hydraulic systems. What a difference. I have had the pleasure in the last two years to have a cable snap leaving my starboard engine in reverse (about twenty seconds to figure that out - spinning next to a giant concrete bulkhead) and when delivering a 50' Sea Ray with electronic controls, suddenly no starboard reverse at the haul out slip.

Has anyone replaced their cables with the Hynautic hydraulic engine controls?


Thanks in advance

Captned

 

[Pascal]

i wonder if the odds of a cable breaking aren't lower than an hydraulic hose springing a leak ? how the hydraulic pressure supplied, a pump?

after all, we see more questions on hydraulic steering issues than broken cables.

 

[MikeP]

Of course, hydraulics have a long and proven history of being darned good - look at the braking system on any road vehicle.

I don't have any idea of the relative robustness of the hynautic system vs a brake system but I'd think it was pretty good. We use hydraulic steering whcih generally seems pretty reliable - some leaks and seeps sometimes but seldom a total teering faliure. Then again, "seldom" is too often if it happens to you!

I don't think I would be concerned about the hydraulic control system. I don't see any reason to replace the cable system but if someone from Hynautic came along and said, "we're offering free converstions from cable-to-hydraulic installations today," I'd say, sure, go ahead.

IF, on the other hand, they offered free cable-to-electronic control installations free of charge, I'd politely say, "Thanks but no thank you - talk to the guy with the digital-dashed E-type"

 

[NAN-PO 41]

I have used boats with cable controls and electronic controls but not many with hydraulic yet. I believe that overall the cable type is simple and dependable. Any that I have seen problems with have given ample advance warning. IE: stiffness, looseness, visible chafing etc. You couldn't give me electronic controls. Just my opinion.
Fred

 

[thoward]

I have owned both and I would go with cables because you can "feel" the engine/trans. I have blown a seal in the shifter slave unit and it is a PITA to track down a leak. You also have lots of places to get a leak. The cable either works or not and it takes no time to diagnose the problem. Teleflex has some newer cables that are smooth as silk.

 

[JLR]

I have Hynautic hydraulic steering and controls. They are great. However, they are a real PITA if you ever need to bleed them.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Once you exceed 2 stations, I think hydraulic makes sense as it gets to be hard to move all of those cables and levers. If you only have one or 2 stations, probably cables are the most simple and reliable way to go.

 

[GaryNW]

Hynautic controls have about a 30 year history of acceptability to west coast and Alaska fishermen. Easy to do (3) or more stations and probably considered more KISS than electronics (cheaper too). Seems to me that hydraulic or electronic become attractive when more than (2) stations are needed and cable runs become excessive in length. If I had a (2) station boat with worn out cables, I think replacing with the best damn cables on the market would be the way to go.
Gary

 

[LBDboater]

Hope I don't get hanged and torched for this... but electronic controls aren't as bad as they're made out. For one, they're a lot more reliable now. They're workable ranges have increased 10 fold since the first ones were introduced. Also, although you hear the horror stories, you never hear the positive stories. You only hear the negatives, and whats wrong with them. If I were redoing the boat today, I would add electronic controls.

 

[captddis]

The Hynautic controls are very reliable. However since Teleflex bought out Hynautic ,parts are getting scarce and I bet they get discontinued. Same for the steering, little by little only the Teleflex cylinders will be available.

 

[MikeP]

LBD - Why do you prefer the electronic controls to "conventional ones."

I have to admit I don't see any advantage to them - we're just moving a throttle/tranny lever - and it seems that it's a needlessly complicated way to do so and there is a greater failure possibility. But I have no experience with them so I'd be interested in your thoughts on their advantages.

 

[garyd]

I have electonic controls part of the DDEC system. I have had great success with them. I would strongly suggest if your redoing your boat to consider installing them they are great!

They go into and out of gear without the effort and you have a nice positive shift. You must get use to them you can't try them for a couple of minutes and think not for me. After you use them for a while they grow on you. Kinda like a/c, generator, and windlass.

For both throttle and shift I have emergency back-ups. I have two completely diferent ways to shift or add power. If ya just got cables ya just got cables. I like the redundency.

garyd

 

[Walter P]

Thanks a lot guys. Just when I thought I made up my mind to install the new Glendenning electronic controls I read this thread and am back in limbo land.

I have a single station 1982 Series I 48 MY which handles as most Hatts like a dream. My only problem is that Monica and I frequently go out for cruises alone and returning to a slip in reverse can be tricky since the visibility aft is not the best from the bridge and requires me to kneel on one knee while looking back through the bridge door way across the aft deck to make sure I'm lined up properly. It has thus far not been a real problem, however my fear of a stowaway by the name of Murphy is of some concern.

With the Glendenning system, I can opt for the remote panel which includes Port and Stb throttle and clutch controls and therefore back into my slip while standing on the aft deck ready to secure the aft lines while Monica gets the bow. Of course frequently I just ask her to drop a mid ship spring line on the cleat and keep her in gear with one engine while I casually secure the other lines. I think the Glendenning system is pretty nifty, but I suppose I could have a second set of conventional cable controls installed on the aft deck and install a standard Glendenning syncronizer (which is part of the electronic system)

What to do......... Advice anyone?

Walt

 

[LBDboater]

Mine is similar to GaryD. The integrated synchronizers, the effortlessness (this makes me sound lazy, but you have to use them), the remote capabilities, increased confidence in docking, etc. The ones I have used also have the redundant power sources, which, as GaryD has already said, more redundant than cables. I'm telling you, the new control have come a long way. They have better operating ranges (the old ones had to have between 11.5 to 15 v.; the new ones range from 6v to 18v) and they also have redundancy now! Take a look at the new systems before making up your mind, and take all the horror stories with a grain of salt. The same can happen on cable and hydraulic systems, although many people claim they would be able to "limp" in with the broken cable. Hydraulic leaks (rare) are a little less easy to "limp in" but, some people on these forum are against electronic changes, and will begrudge the horror stories they have heard.

 

[Boss Lady]

I personally think that if you only have two stations then the cables can't be beat. My next choice would be hydraulic system. I do not trust electronic controls. You can keep a cable or hydraulic system functional even with a problem, but when the problems start with the electronics systems, even the pros have problems getting to work right. I have met Murphy in person too many times. It has to be bullet proof for me to be happy with it.

 

[Boss Lady]

Mine is similar to GaryD. The integrated synchronizers, the effortlessness (this makes me sound lazy, but you have to use them), the remote capabilities, increased confidence in docking, etc. The ones I have used also have the redundant power sources, which, as GaryD has already said, more redundant than cables. I'm telling you, the new control have come a long way. They have better operating ranges (the old ones had to have between 11.5 to 15 v.; the new ones range from 6v to 18v) and they also have redundancy now! Take a look at the new systems before making up your mind, and take all the horror stories with a grain of salt. The same can happen on cable and hydraulic systems, although many people claim they would be able to "limp" in with the broken cable. Hydraulic leaks (rare) are a little less easy to "limp in" but, some people on these forum are against electronic changes, and will begrudge the horror stories they have heard.

I agree with you that they have come a long way. when they have a multi-year trouble free track record, I will be interested, I will spare you my first hand horror stories, since I have posted them before.

 

[garyd]

Chris I've used them without a hickup for 2.5 years. So far so good. Now that I've posted this they will screw up.

garyd

 

[Maynard Rupp]

We have been looking at a re-power of "Unity" with diesels. One of the wish list candidates is the Cummins QSB-9 at 380 hp. These engines are common rail and computer controlled. I sure like their electronic shift and throttles. They have engine sync and "slow speed" as part of their system. Slow speed performs the same function as trolling valves. They also have one simple 6" square screen that displays all engine parameters for us gearheads. The other thing I like is the shifter lockout when the engines are above a certain rpm. I really hate to admit my stupidity, but I have, on many occasions, jammed a throttle forward when I really wanted to shift from reverse to forward. One person operating our boat even shifted from forward to reverse instead of retarding the throttles to idle.Ouch! I am not sure I will ever get used to the throttles being on the left. I think I am OK until I get into a touchy situation when docking. I then push the throttle forward instead of shifting from reverse. So far I have never had a problem because of that. Anyone on the dock wonders about my sanity though. The Cummins package has single lever controls so I could do whatever I want with my other hand like wave at pretty girls or something. The only disadvantage besides concerns about computer failures, is cost. They don't give those engines away.

 

[garyd]

Maynard the other nice thing about the elctronic controls is being able to use the wheel. Some say don't touch the wheel I say bull. Try docking in a good current without the wheel, not going to happen. And if ya don't use it alll the time you don't get the experience.

I relocated mine from the po who had them seperated. Now they are together and I can control everything with one hand. Wave at nice hood ornaments and use the wheel.

I have had on occasion someone shift it out of gear and or into reverse at speed. With the elctronic controls it just slowly goes to idle in neutrel until ya figure it out. That alone saved me at least one transmission and the r/r.

garyd

 

[Captned]

Ok, Ok, if its cable I stay with, whats the smoothest around? And what about going to single hand controls with cables? is that an option?

Thanks,

CaptNed