Tom wrote:

I really
like the hydraulic steering although it takes a little getting used to
- not as responsive as cable but much more stable and effortless.

Thats helpful regarding my hydraulic steering question. Do you mean
that it requires a bit more rotation but has less slop or slack when
changing directions?

-rick-

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 21:00:12 -0800, -rick- wrote:

Tom wrote:

I really
like the hydraulic steering although it takes a little getting used to
- not as responsive as cable but much more stable and effortless.

Thats helpful regarding my hydraulic steering question. Do you mean
that it requires a bit more rotation but has less slop or slack when
changing directions?

Different Tom here, but I can give you my experience.

There is considerably less slack when turning and the changes aren't
as abrupt as they are with mechanical steering - the changes are
smooth and easy.

Oddly, you do get some feedback from hydraulic steering - it's not a
lot, almost ephemeral, but it's there.

Rotation is about the same lock to lock.

Later,

Tom

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

Different Tom here, but I can give you my experience.

There is considerably less slack when turning and the changes aren't
as abrupt as they are with mechanical steering - the changes are
smooth and easy.

Oddly, you do get some feedback from hydraulic steering - it's not a
lot, almost ephemeral, but it's there.

Rotation is about the same lock to lock.

Thanks Tom, I'm tired of the free play in my helm and cable setup and
thinking of trying a hydraulic helm. Lack of slack is the goal.

-rick-

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 21:00:12 -0800, -rick- wrote:


Thats helpful regarding my hydraulic steering question. Do you mean
that it requires a bit more rotation but has less slop or slack when
changing directions?
Rick - sorry for the delay in answering - just got home from the bay.
With cable steering I always got an immediate response when the wheel
was moved (even just a little). With the hydraulic it doesn't seem to
respond quite as sensitively but there is no slop - just seems to be a
more gentle turn- if that makes sense. This may have more turns hard
over to hard over than my previous systems which may account for that.
There is no resistance to turning the wheel like there is on cable
steering but you still have a feel - just like power steering on an
auto. So far I really like it. Hope that answers your question - if
not hit me again and I'll try to explain it better. Take care.

Tom..........

Tom wrote:

Rick - sorry for the delay in answering - just got home from the bay.
With cable steering I always got an immediate response when the wheel
was moved (even just a little). With the hydraulic it doesn't seem to
respond quite as sensitively but there is no slop - just seems to be a
more gentle turn- if that makes sense. This may have more turns hard
over to hard over than my previous systems which may account for that.
There is no resistance to turning the wheel like there is on cable
steering but you still have a feel - just like power steering on an
auto. So far I really like it. Hope that answers your question - if
not hit me again and I'll try to explain it better. Take care.

Tom..........

That's a fine explanation. It sounds like you had a good low slop cable
unit, perhaps a rack & pinion helm and a low flex cable. I'm not so
fortunate as I'm getting ~ 45 degrees slop at the wheel and don't have
the lateral space for a rack & pinion helm. Thanks for the info, it's
appreciated.

-rick-

That's a fine explanation. It sounds like you had a good low slop cable
unit, perhaps a rack & pinion helm and a low flex cable. I'm not so
fortunate as I'm getting ~ 45 degrees slop at the wheel and don't have
the lateral space for a rack & pinion helm. Thanks for the info, it's
appreciated.

Yep - mine were rack and pinion. Are you using pulleys? So far I'm
very pleased with the hydraulic. Good luck with your replacement.

On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 13:14:07 GMT, (Tom)
wrote:


That's a fine explanation. It sounds like you had a good low slop cable
unit, perhaps a rack & pinion helm and a low flex cable. I'm not so
fortunate as I'm getting ~ 45 degrees slop at the wheel and don't have
the lateral space for a rack & pinion helm. Thanks for the info, it's
appreciated.

Yep - mine were rack and pinion. Are you using pulleys? So far I'm
very pleased with the hydraulic. Good luck with your replacement.

When you run your boat in some wave action, I'd be very curious if you
can effect how the boat enters waves and whether you have any spray or
residual pounding. Or if you can change and smooth out the pounding
in say 6 to 18" of wave action.

Where I run my Ranger over in Narragansett Bay, it can turn from flat
calm to 1 foot in a hurry. My Ranger, I readily admit, does not run
very well in that kind of wave action and it's a slow ride back
without taking a beating at speed.

The jack plate didn't work very well for me, but I'd be curious if it
works well for you in that regard.

It would help resolve a long standing debate. :)

Later,

Tom

When you run your boat in some wave action, I'd be very curious if you
can effect how the boat enters waves and whether you have any spray or
residual pounding. Or if you can change and smooth out the pounding
in say 6 to 18" of wave action.

Where I run my Ranger over in Narragansett Bay, it can turn from flat
calm to 1 foot in a hurry. My Ranger, I readily admit, does not run
very well in that kind of wave action and it's a slow ride back
without taking a beating at speed.

Tom - sorry for the delay - just got back in town. We're not going to
the bay this weekend - forecast in 60's and possible rain but
hopefully I can try that next weekend and let you know. I've had it in
similar chop so far and it rides pretty smooth and dry. I've dropped
the trim tabs and smoothed the ride but haven't tried affecting it
with the jack plate but that's something else to experiment with. So
far I've only piddled with it to affect the time to get on plane and
the effect on speed. I'll try it and let you know if it makes any
difference. Take care.

Tom..............

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 17:27:02 GMT, (Tom)
wrote:


When you run your boat in some wave action, I'd be very curious if you
can effect how the boat enters waves and whether you have any spray or
residual pounding. Or if you can change and smooth out the pounding
in say 6 to 18" of wave action.

Where I run my Ranger over in Narragansett Bay, it can turn from flat
calm to 1 foot in a hurry. My Ranger, I readily admit, does not run
very well in that kind of wave action and it's a slow ride back
without taking a beating at speed.

Tom - sorry for the delay - just got back in town. We're not going to
the bay this weekend - forecast in 60's and possible rain but
hopefully I can try that next weekend and let you know. I've had it in
similar chop so far and it rides pretty smooth and dry. I've dropped
the trim tabs and smoothed the ride but haven't tried affecting it
with the jack plate but that's something else to experiment with. So
far I've only piddled with it to affect the time to get on plane and
the effect on speed. I'll try it and let you know if it makes any
difference. Take care.

10-4

Later,

Tom

When you run your boat in some wave action, I'd be very curious if you
can effect how the boat enters waves and whether you have any spray or
residual pounding. Or if you can change and smooth out the pounding
in say 6 to 18" of wave action.

Where I run my Ranger over in Narragansett Bay, it can turn from flat
calm to 1 foot in a hurry. My Ranger, I readily admit, does not run
very well in that kind of wave action and it's a slow ride back
without taking a beating at speed.

The jack plate didn't work very well for me, but I'd be curious if it
works well for you in that regard.

It would help resolve a long standing debate. :)

Tom - just got back from the bay but didn't get a chance to try out
the jack plate in any chop - not much wind and very little chop. Did
get to try shallow water a couple of times. Got into just about a foot
and a half of water - raised the jack plate and lowered the trim tabs
and shot onto plane - no problems. Then I got into less than a foot of
water and that was a different story - managed to remove quite a bit
of paint from the lower unit and dug a new channel for future
navigation. I always thought the red buoys were supposed to be on your
right when returning to port - apparently this doesn't hold true for
orange buoys as someone placed them on the left side of the channel
(so much for my assumption that they were faded red) :-). Anyway - I
was pleased with the performance in shallow water - have to go out of
town next weekend so it will be a couple of weeks before I put her
back in the water but I'll keep your request in mind if it gets
choppy. Take care.

Tom...........