SeaStar Hydraulic Pro Steering

Would you like to have better control of your boat, less arm fatigue from driving and no feedback from your outboard? If the answer is “yes,” then read on about how the Teleflex SeaStar Hydraulic steering is the absolute best upgrade that you can make to your boat.

Installation of this unit will take about five hours with average tools. The most time-consuming task is the removal of the original cables and trying to figure out the installation, as the manual only provides for a new install and not a conversion from an old cable unit.

A few things that I noticed were that you will need to remove the bolt-on steering cable tube for the hydraulic unit. Make sure that the new hydraulic unit cylinder is connected directly to the outboard and that you remove the old cable bolt-on tube.

Another is that the hydraulic lines may need to be routed in a different path than the old cables. My cables came through the back of the boat, high up and were covered by a chrome cap. The new hydraulic lines were better routed through the side of the splash well where the fuel and electrical lines penetrate. Make sure that the hydraulic hoses are not pinched during steering or trimming of the motor.

If you have a hydraulic jackplate, trim the motor in both highest and lowest position on the jack. Bleeding the lines is a two-person affair, but not overly complicated and can be accomplished rather quickly. If your boat is equipped with on the wheel trim (the type with the two buttons and the coiled wires) you will need to upgrade to the “turn signal” type of trim.

On the water, the difference is very noticeable. The light feel in the steering wheel takes only a few moments to get use to, but the ease of turning takes only seconds to appreciate. On pad, there is no torque steer and very little feedback. You can literally let go of the steering wheel (I don't recommend doing this) and the boat will still go straight. I found that the 40-minute run that I usually make on Lake Erie does not make my arms nearly as fatigued as with the cable steering, enhancing my ability to catch fish, especially in the first 20 minutes following the run. I now look forward to driving the boat for extended periods!