Hydraulic Steering For An Older Bass Boat

[Doug]

I have a 1987 Bass Cat Pantera bass boat that needs the steering replaced. I am considering switching from mechanical to hydraulic. When I contacted Bass Cat I received this comment. "Due to the 1987 model boats still having wood in them I would be concerned about Hydraulic steering because of the pressure this will put on the transom". I have been unable to find any similar comments anywhere. Does this make any sense to anyone? The only thing I can think of is that I that I use the feedback to properly trim the motor, so I guess without the feedback an operator might run around without trimming. But I never thought that was really a problem. Has anyone had an issues with hydraulic steering on older boats?

[5bites]

I can't think of one reason why it would make any difference whatsoever. Maybe someone like wrench can chime in. That just doesn't add up to me though.

[fishinwrench]

I'm not a big fan of hydraulic steering on bassboats unless the outboard is as big and heavy as a refrigerator making dual cable steering feel clumsy.

The other extra "pressure" they are referring to is the twisting pressure on the mount which could cause one edge of the mounting bracket to sink into a soft transom and bust or pull out the opposite mounting bolts on a hard turn.

You don't have that with dual cable steering because the motor is not pushing/pulling against the opposite corner of the mount during a turn, it is pushing against the helm (through the cables).

To understand in a different scenario consider where the most pressure is on a hydraulic tilt/trim system vs. raising the motor manually.

[5bites]

Just curious, why do you not like hydraulic steering? I couldn't not have it personally. Well on a 150+ outboard anyway.

[TTJJ]

nm

[fishinwrench]

Just curious, why do you not like hydraulic steering? I couldn't not have it personally. Well on a 150+ outboard anyway.

I'm just "old school". I can tell a lot about the outboard and how it is running by feeling it through the rigid cables, so for me it us just a confidence thing. Hydraulic systems are almost like remote control to me, I don't feel connected to the outboard.

[5bites]

I can see that for sure.

[Doug]

Thanks for the great reponses everyone.

I continue to go back and forth.

I was thinking hydraulic for two reasons.

One, little or no maintenance. Mechanical seems to just get gradually worse and worse until it needs to be replaced.

Two, It looks like the motor will need to be removed to put in new mechanical cables. I had to cut one of the old ones out because of the angle from the access. I figured for the price of paying to have the new cables installed I could just upgrade.

Also, there sure seems to be a lot of people raving about hydraulic.

[5bites]

Hydraulic is lots safer and easier to drive. If you can do it I highly recommend it.

[fishinwrench]

Hoses are a hell of a lot easier to fish thru the gunnels than a set of cables, that's for sure.

And hyd. systems are the bees knees on pontoons.

Hoses are hoses though, and seals are seals... and they will require replacement (just like cables) in about the same amount of time.