What are my options for second station steering? - Boating & Fishing Information and Reports Forum

Prodigal Son · #1 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 01:47 AM

I currently have a cable steering setup and am having a tower fitted on...the boat that the tower came off of had a second helm up there with a three line hydraulic setup. Is that my only option? (Switch over my primary helm to hydraulic and then add the second hydraulic helm up there?)

If not what can I do?

If hydraulic is the only way to go, what brand, what size pump(s), etc.

Thanks,
Ryan

fishbard · #2 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 06:40 AM

There are, or at least used to be dual cable helms, where the upper helm cable went to the lower helm mechanism. They probably aren't made anymore. I think you have to change everything over to hydraulic, since your cable system is likely a no feed back type. You won't be sorry--much better than cable steering--well, maybe your wallet will be sorry.

blueh20pc · #3 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 05:42 PM

Ryan, you'd definately want to go hydraulic.

Get another Hynautic helm and the morse controls off ebay.

This is one of the big advantages of fly by wire, like Merc and Zuke have. Just plug in another set of controls.

Prodigal Son · #4 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 06:40 PM

Yeah Chris, that's what I figured...and that's also more money than the $0 I currently have budgeted toward converting to hydraulic steering.

So, for striper season this will be a "spotting tower" and I'll just stick the little cousin up there with a life jacket on and some binoculars with orders to holler when he sees working gannets.

blueh20pc · #5 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prodigal Son

Yeah Chris, that's what I figured...and that's also more money than the $0 I currently have budgeted toward converting to hydraulic steering.

So, for striper season this will be a "spotting tower" and I'll just stick the little cousin up there with a life jacket on and some binoculars with orders to holler when he sees working gannets.

Exactly, That's called a cobia tower down here.

Put a rod holder up there for him.

Have a 20 lb spinning outfit with a white or chartreuse bucktail hanging off it.

Also, many junkyards here at the coast have junker bayliners with hydraulic steering on them. You may be able to pick up a working helm there for like 50 bucks.

Prodigal Son · #6 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 07:15 PM

Hadn't really thought about used...there's more than one boat junkyard around here...might be worth a look. Thanks for the idea.

About the rod holder...don't worry, when I bought the tower I brought him over to check it out and his first complaint was that there was no rod-holder up there for him (he'd already claimed the tower as his spot).