Does anybody know how long a typical hydraulic outboard steering
cylinder lasts in salt water usage? I'm wondering about using one
with a hydraulic autopilot pump - read on......

I have a 40' catamaran with an ususual steering system:

The rudder stocks are external (hinged at top of the transom) and are
held down at the bottom of the transom with plastic collars and rope.
This provides a kick up facility.

There are external tillers on tops of the rudder stocks. There is a
external crossbar to link the tillers. To steer the boat, there is a
tiller extension linked to the cross bar. There is also a rope
steering system with ropes/pulleys/a rope drum - wheel arrangement
that mostly lives under the bridgedeck. It's all very low tech but
simple to fix.

Now I am going to take this boat offshore cruising and the choices of
autopilots include:

- tiller pilot type like Autohelm 1000/2000/4000
- wheel steerer like Autohelm 4000
- maybe a hydraulic pilot with an external cylinder.

The helm loads are very low. Totally balanced helm. Existing pilot
is an Autohelm 1000 that copes very well, but has only seen 4-5' seas
upwind. Reaching at 25 knots of wind, full sail, and you can still
steer with the tiller extension and only very mild weather helm (with
a 3-4' tiller).

My current thought is a 4000 type pilot cause it's cheap and I have
the 1000 tiller pilot as a backup. I know it won't last forever, but
there is a 33' cat that has been using one for a few years and it's
still going o.k.

I am looking forward to being inside the saloon on a rainy day,
pushing the buttons on the remote to steer the boat

Evan Gatehouse