Seastar Steering on a £3,000,000 motor yacht!!!

[JamesM]

I went to Southampton boat show today and went on a few of the big Sunseekers, the 66 and the 82. When looking around I noticed that both boats were using nothing more special than a 1000PSI Seastar 2.0 cubic inch helm. So my question is, how does the steering work on these big motor yachts? I find it almost impossible to believe that the Seastar helm is driving the steering rams directly. The 66 had two helms one in the normal driving position and one on the flybridge so I guess there must be some sort of remote thingy setup going on.

[Jon Fuller]

With a 'ballanced' rudder system, there's very little effort required to steer. Power assistance isn't really needed.

[jimmy h]

The seastar helm unit operates a servo ram valveblock assembly wich then operates a larger ram wich moves the rudders.