Plastic Or Cooper?

doggo112954 · #1 10-18-2003, 05:20 PM

I am installing seastar hydraulic steering on my 23.Any thoughts on using copper tubing over the standard plastic lines?Sea Star sells a kit that allows you to do this,but I have never seen anyone use it.

Roland Rodriguez · #2 10-18-2003, 05:54 PM

I would strongly suggest against using copper. The electrolisys alone will force you to change the tubing in a couple of years. I have never seen copper used. The lines are a cost issue. Now... there are two kinds of lines. One of the lines is fiber reinforced and goes for about 3 bucks a foot. The other line is pure plastic and can be used on vessels that travel under 70 knots. (thats us) the cost on this is about .75 cents a foot. Let me know if you have problems finding this tubing in your neck of the woods. The cost saving is unbeleivable.

PipeDreamsMarine · #3 10-18-2003, 09:22 PM

I really hate to do this but.. Roland your wrong. sorry.. I've built over 10 boats in my life time (all of them certified by the USCG to carry passengers for hire and a few custom Sport Fishes) and have use copper on all of them. In fact it is required by the USCG for certification of any boat built to carry passengers. I put it in my own 27' boat 10 years ago and haven't looked at it since...Doggo if you use the copper tubing kits for your install make sure you use a good grade of tube and use a tubing bender to make your bends, secure the tubing every 18" with tube clamps (the Perko type with the rubber). When you get to the steering cyl, then change to the fiber hose for the run to the cyl, that is exposed to the outside forces...
Sorry Roland... I just needed to clear the record on this..

Capt Chuck · #4 10-18-2003, 10:26 PM

Hey Don
Do be honest with you, I really don't know the pros & cons of copper vs plastic for the hydraulic lines and I repect your expertise. But one thing I can say safely, is that those Perko line clamps would not be the favorable way to go.

It appears doggo is from Florida and he won't get 10 years out of those rubber clamps if used below decks in the Fl heat. After a very short time the rubber crumbles he will be left with the two different metals in contact with each other. Then we all know the result. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

barnacle · #5 10-19-2003, 02:36 PM

The plasitc lines are much easyer to install but there is no problems using copper. Some of our boats have over 15 years on them with copper lines and no problems. If it was me I would spend the extra for the plastic sea star lines.

Roland Rodriguez · #6 10-20-2003, 09:56 PM

I stand corrected.
On our Seacrafts down here its plastic and have never seen any Seacrafts or Contenders rigged with copper. I must agree with Capt. Steele I surely do not know the pro's and con's of copper vs plastic. Anyway.....a good quorum always yields the best results.

jw · #7 10-21-2003, 10:27 AM

As to the copper and plastic steering lines. My other mistress, Banshee, a 1970 Hatteras Convertible, has had the original copper, k type, in her for steering since she was new. The only problem I have encountered was my own damn self and damaged some of it, replaced about 10 feet due to could not run the same original path.
Of corse you switch over to plastic or rubber, parker makes a lot of different hoses and fittings for everything.
JW

doggo112954 · #8 10-26-2003, 05:43 PM

Thanks for all the feedback guys.I,m still pondering the situation, but now I,ve found a deal on the plastic lines that might sway me.Seacraft owners are the best.