Steering systems

[Taz]

Hello fellow boat maders i know this has been brought up before but what is the best hydrolic steering ram for outboards and where do you get them from? Burty has now scared me with my seastar ram with its single bolt attachement to the engine. So what is the best option? A sidemount ram or?
I have helm and pipes etc just need ram

[JamesM]

Marine Machine formally Mayfair or Latham are the best side rams. They're not cheap though and your Seastar Helm if its the one I think it is wont drive it as it doesnt have the capacity(CC/Revolution) for the bigger ram. Which helm do you have there should be a number on it like HH5770.

Dont worry about the bolt though it's only likely to fail if it comes loose and is subjected to a side to side shock loading. Just check it regularly and replace it once a year.

[Taz]

Its spose to be the high capacity helm oh well it s a worry though

[JamesM]

High capacity? The Seastar Pro helm as far as I know is 2.0cu.in/rev and 1500PSI. It may be that you have a 2.4 cu.in/rev. helm but that still isnt enough as the side rams have alot more volume. You would end up with loads of turns lock to lock. Whats the part number HH5??? as I'm not sure if they do a 2.4cu.in 1500PSI Pro helm. With your 2.5 (engine) you need a 1500PSI helm.

Also the seastar helms need a balanced ram which the side rams are not. I dont actually know what that means I'm just quoting it parot fashion from Scream and Fly

Dont worry about the bolt loads of people run seastar pro and dont have any problems. Its a good system.

[Taz]

Yeah but ive had other problems with mounting i need a new tube that goes through the engine cus is ****xd plus the extension that fits to the engine dont like being trimmed up. Bluddy piece of crap i say.