Steering system

[danshat]

As I am almost done painting the outside it is now time to start looking inside. The original hydraulic steering is completely gone and now I have no idea what to put in it's place. The "expert" at Worst Marine tried to convince me to go with a pull pull steering like they use on a lot of sailboats. I told him I would ask the real experts - you guys! The boat is a 34' DCFB. I am replacing the engines as well and will probably be around the 300 - 330 hp range. The teleflex website seems to stop at about twin 300 hp engines so I am at a loss. Any advice is greatly appreciated. BTW it will be a complete new system with cylinders and helm.

 

[Boatsb]

Dan the teleflex/hynautic units are still available for your boat. I just re plumed mine and I can get you all the info you need.

What did yiu do with the old stuff? I am looking for spare parts for my hynautic system just in case.

http://ww2.seastarsteering.com/INBOARD/inboard.htm

 

[Pascal]

there is only one choice for steering in my opinion: Hynautic!

simple, low maintenance and it works VERY well. It's the standard on inboard boats of almost any size. oh... and Hatteras used it!

 

[rwetherington]

call Steve and he can give you the same system that was on the boat. I think it will be avaible from telfex and i think it is a k1 ram. Steve can tell you what Hatteras used on your boat.

 

[Brian Degulis]

The hynautic systems on our boats is over complicated out dated junk. Take a look at Teleflex Sea Star Hydraulic. It's simpler just 2 lines no seperate pressurized resevoir or lock valve just a helm pump and cylinder and it requires much less effort to turn than the hynautic. It also does not require metal or plastic lines you can use 1 wire hydraulic hose. I've put hundreds of these systems in the boats we build and they just beat the hynautic in every way.

Brian

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I have to agree with you Brian!! I have the two station Teleflex on the Roamer and the only thing better was the OEM "armstrong" unit. I used the black plastic tubing to the engine room and then went copper. Tough to beat! ws

 

[danshat]

Thanks for the input guys. Several of the other threads about this top mention running copper pipe. I'm assuming that this is after you exit the bilge area? and does it make a difference versus the hydraulic tubing?

 

[Boatsb]

Yes there is a difference between copper and the HP hose. Copper ( refrigeration grade ) tubing has no streatch but needs to be run with sweeping bends plus vibration will weaken it. Tubing has streatch and the more you use the more streatch there is. It's like the brakes on your car. Using the copper for the stationary runs and the tubing for the flexible ones.

Per Teleflex/Hynautic the difference for the 40 foot I ran would be significant so they recommended I use copper and hose intelligently. All my connections from the helm and the ram are hose. Up to 3 foot long with the HP connections. FYI the connectors are $10 each and the hose is about 2 x the cost of copper.

 

[wndsr]

I am not going to get in the middle of which system to use. But, if you want an original system, or for you guys needing spare parts, I have the complete system off of the 34' Hatteras that I have been parting out. Let me know if I may be of any help.
Thanks
Ben

 

[Boatsb]

Is it the hynautic helm? I am looking for parts. If so please call me 407-739-5450

 

[Brian Degulis]

All of the manufacturers recomend coper or plastic because of the stretch factor. If you use 1 wire hydraulic hose on the sea star system you will not see any diffrence between that and coper. I guess there would have to be some diffrence but it's not something you can feel at all. The hose is just so much easier to run and no problems with vibration or corosion.

Brian

 

[Boatsb]

Amen to the easier to run. I just spent a half day in the bilge running 3 40 foot copper runs to the bridge from the rudder board. It was a learning experience.

 

[Walter P]

Brian,

You stated that the Teleflex (more modern) actually gave better performance insofar as ease of steering. Just how much better is it and in your opinion, would it be worth my while to replace the original Hynautic system on my 1982 48 MY? My steering is single station and takes a lot of effort to turn the wheel. I have had several Hatteras boats over the years and this present one has the hardest steering of all of the others by far, and they were all 2 station boats to boot. I have looked into a power steering system and I understand they start at well over $3 grand.

Walt