200 hpdi on a 18

[sailcat]

Butch, I put the seastar hydraulic on my 20' when I installed the 200. It's amazing after having cable. One finger steering and straight as an arrow when you let go of the wheel. No torque push at all.

[ocuyler]

No torque push at all

No, only whiplash...

[sailcat]

Otto, Look at the pictures you took at the CSC gathering.
Notice Rodney hanging onto the same post the whole time,
never left the spot. I have his hand inprints in aluminum. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[bigblockdock]

Bobber, No torque, I would not know how to act!!! When I had the bass boats, hydraulic steering was not being used except in work boats and larger crafts. You needed to let up on the throttle to make a left turn! I did not think about steering torque when I put the 150 on. I does just fine at cruising speeds with little trim but when you start to put the hammer down and add more trim, the torque comes in big time. I've driven a 42 ft. charter boat with hydraulic steering and it was nice, just a few more turns on the steering wheel to go left to right. Did the orig. steering wheel work on the new system? I'm seeing prices in the area of 700 to 900 dollars for the systems. I have a relative who has been nursing a worn out cable on his boat which has the same size and type as mine so maybe he will buy it if I give him a good price. I put it in the SC the same time I put the 150 on, 2 wks ago. Any idea's as to where to get the best price on a system? Butch

[sailcat]

As long as you have a half moon key in your wheel it will work. But to get better response I went to a 13" wheel and a suicide knob. Also went to the inside hole on the motor. It seems to be about the same as with cable.
I forgot where I got it from but the seastar is about $650. Look around and you may find them cheaper. Mine had everything including the oil.
I had to do a little modification on the splash well to help when I tilt the motor up. Just not a whole lot of room there.

[bigblockdock]

Thanks for the info Bobber, I'll check the local marine supply places, we have West Marine and Boaters World around here. I use to work at a local marine dealer and my son is doing a work study there for school so I'll check there also. We used the boat today to go flounder fishing in Va. and did not need to worry with the trim or top speeds because it was 35 degrees when we put in. You got to love huh? didn't do much as the water temp was 47 degrees, down from 56 last week. It warmed up fast and the ride in was better that the ride out! Hope to raise the motor one hole by next weekend so we can try that out if its alittle warmer. Butch

[Finster]

Yo B, you may want to look into a bigger trailer... [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[sailcat]

Fin, By the time I get done loading 5 days worth of fishing, diving and wakeboarding to go to the Keys. It is a wonder I don't need 3 axles. And I got a heck of a deal on this one. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]