Which steering replacement is best option

[AlaskaMan]

I think the entire cost plus shipping was no more than $200.00. BWYachts provided custom installation instructions with pictures. The pictures weren't the best quality but they give you a good idea of what you have to do. I had to buy a bigger hole saw but the rest of the tools needed are what the average person has in his garage or can borrow from a friend. The rubber boot isn't part of the steering gear replacement package so you have to order that separately. I think getting that over the nuts was harder than most anything else. I didn't have any problem getting the wheel off with just a block of wood, a rubber mallet and some choice words. The entire project took me a couple of days to complete.
If you go call BWY this week they are closed for their annual MacGregor rendezvous.
Good luck

[R Rae]

Just completed insallation of T. Rotary System. Very easy to do, imho.

Removing the steering wheel becomes very easy when you apply heat around the hub with $25 heat gun!

By removing the rack from the pedestal end of the cable first (held onto the cable by 2 soft cast pins & retaining plate) The old cable can then be pulled through the rubber seal at the transom without damaging the seal.

My new Teleflex cable was then pushed in through the seal, then pulled up into the pedestal.

Mounting the planetary gear box required jig sawing a 3 1/4" Dia doughnut from around the original 1 1/4" Dia. hole, and drilling 3 bolt holes.

With tools at the ready the whole job took maybe 1 1/2 hours

Smooth as silk. We'll see how it is in the water this weekend

Cheers...r

[R Rae]

Ran the boat with the new Teleflex rotary steering with astounding results.

Smooth as silk she were! No slop, ie. backlash.

I purchased the 10 foot length which is longer than necessary, but gave nice gentle bends down below where it isn't seen.



.

[ronacarme]

Gail at Blue Water Yachts supplied, for $210 plus shipping, a U-Flex Rack Tech 8 unit. Anchorage Marine Services (Holland MI) installed it Tuesday on our 2001 X lying in its slip across the street. The original steering unit, despite my very casual lubes, was stiff turning right and had virtually no left turning capability. The new unit turns so easilly you can steer the boat just with one hand palming the wheel hub, I think even more easilly than when the boat was new. The sole drawback so far is that sailing with the boat heeled to starboard and the 9.9 Honda tilted up, the weight of the motor head caused it to fall over and so turned the steering wheel clockwise and changed course 90 degrees or so to starboard. Problem cured with a shock cord hooked to a wheel spoke and to the upper lip ofthe opposite cockpit locker. Maybe tightening the motor steering clamp would do it.
Ron

[vkmaynard]

Why would you want a steering system without backlash on a sailboat?

Steering feedback is important.

Victor

[jschrade]

One of the major irritants on my new 26M is the steering.

- prone to running in circles when let go - especially under power. I suppose a wheel lock or bungie would solve this when sailing but not motoring.
- very difficult to turn - on a new boat!
- only turns a little bit in one direction all the way in the other direction

This is something that is heading up my list to deal with and one of the zero backlash systems is sounding very interesting. From the talk of the "no backlash" systems, it sounds like a potential poor man's autopilot.

Jim

[Catigale]

Jim - something isnt right with that boat...

[R Rae]

Why would you want a steering system without backlash on a sailboat?

Steering feedback is important.

Victor

I find the steering to be so light and direct that any pressure from the rudders is immediately felt on the wheel. Standing at the rear of the Mac. and grasping one of the rudders I can easily turn the steering wheel above. Nice.

Backlash is little more than manufacturing slop IMHO.

Go2marine.com charged $157.00 incl. shipping for the 10 footer Teleflex System.