Favorite Seastar dealer with knowledge?

[hellbents-10]

Need to place an order but would really like to make sure the details are right. Any vendors here? Steering and jack plate stuff.

[roadkill636]

We here are much more knowledgeable than ANY dealer.
Ask away

[mjw930]

From a steering standpoint, BoatSteer are a great resource and more than wiling to just talk about options. http://www.boatsteer.com. For Jack Plates I use https://www.seatechmarineproducts.com/jack-plates/seastar-jack-plates/seastar-hydraulic-jackplate/. While they aren't an installing dealer they have some of the best prices in the US and a lot of knowledge about the product and are not afraid to reach out to Dometic (SeaStar) when needed.

[DangerNewb]

I'm no expert but the 4 sea star systems I've had all had a small amount of side to side slop in them. Each was basically identical. I don't believe it was air as I tried bleeding a couple of them a couple times. The one Uflex I had was rock solid with no slop. I'm going with Uflex for any new systems I buy. AnchorExpress had the Uflex system at $880ish plus hoses put you at $1k. Back ordered.

[Smalltownbassin]

I'm no expert but the 4 sea star systems I've had all had a small amount of side to side slop in them. Each was basically identical. I don't believe it was air as I tried bleeding a couple of them a couple times. The one Uflex I had was rock solid with no slop. I'm going with Uflex for any new systems I buy. AnchorExpress had the Uflex system at $880ish plus hoses put you at $1k. Back ordered.

I was wondering that about my seastar system. I even bought a hose and fitting kit just to bleed the system of what i thought had to be air in it. Not a single bubble purged and i still have about 1/2 inch of play either way on the cylinder and the helm has about an inch both ways before you can feel it actually push fluid. I was about to start replacing parts! The play in the cylinder is a real PITA especially at idle when she likes to sound good. Dang motor looks like its gonna have a come apart back there but its just the loose sea star cylinder.

[InjectorService]

I was wondering that about my seastar system. I even bought a hose and fitting kit just to bleed the system of what i thought had to be air in it. Not a single bubble purged and i still have about 1/2 inch of play either way on the cylinder and the helm has about an inch both ways before you can feel it actually push fluid. I was about to start replacing parts! The play in the cylinder is a real PITA especially at idle when she likes to sound good. Dang motor looks like its gonna have a come apart back there but its just the loose sea star cylinder.

Thats not right at all. Theres definately air in there. Did you use a power purger?

[DangerNewb]

None of mine have moved a half inch at the hydraulic cylinder. I'd say maybe an 1/8 inch total play. 1/8 at the cylinder is a decent about of movement at the rear of the motor. All were close to identical so I chalked it up to that being normal. My uflex didn't move any material amount.

[LakeFever]

Seastar pro has about an 1/8” or less movement after careful bleeding. I didn’t notice any slop feeling at speed it was tight. If it’s bled properly you cannot turn the wheel past it’s lock no matter how hard you try. Bleeding was a challenge and requires a couple cracks at it over a couple days to get the micro bubbles all out.

I posted a link and how to do this here a couple years ago. I can dig it up if you like

[hellbents-10]

Interesting, I keep looking at the Silversteer too.....decisions!

[LakeFever]

In previous discussion here it was said that the seastar valve switching is what causes this tiny bit of play vs the uflex which is apparently different somehow? Only what I read keep in mind. Brand bias and whatnot is something to consider there doesn’t seem to be a lot of love for seastar brand here. Seemed the same way with etec brp too, and omc.

I can tell you this much I had two rigs with tight dual cable steering and the seastar was superior in every imaginable way imo. A massive upgrade

[Smalltownbassin]

Thats not right at all. Theres definately air in there. Did you use a power purger?

I used the bleed system kit you can purchase. Its simply a hose with fittings that is connected to both bleed barbs on the cylinder. Once you connect it you have to put another hose on the fill port at the helm with a bottle of fluid attached to let fluid in as the air comes out. I spent 30 minutes turning the wheel several dozen times one way and then the other to push any trapped air to the helm so it could get out. The system was already full of fluid and i never saw a single bubble rise up the fill tube or move from one side of the cylinder to the other. Beats me. I dont have any leaks either. Any thoughts on what the issue could be if its not air?

[Smalltownbassin]

I can also force the wheel past full stop either direction in small increments. You think the problem could be bypass in the helm or you still leaning on air somehow being trapped in that wont purge? I guess i could start with replacing all seals anyway even though there aren't any leaks. That's definitely cheaper than a new helm. I don't like the idea of throwing money at something with hopes that it sticks somewhere. Id like to know the issue. How can i post a video here thats not a link to something on the web?

[InjectorService]

I can also force the wheel past full stop either direction in small increments. You think the problem could be bypass in the helm or you still leaning on air somehow being trapped in that wont purge? I guess i could start with replacing all seals anyway even though there aren't any leaks. That's definitely cheaper than a new helm. I don't like the idea of throwing money at something with hopes that it sticks somewhere. Id like to know the issue. How can i post a video here thats not a link to something on the web?

I'm not a steering expert by any means, but in my personal experience, I used to fight with steering systems and they were really tough to get right. Once I started using the power purger, it went so quick and was so much easier. Its a big expense I know, but I won't be without one again. Now if this is a one off situation, maybe you want to bring it to a shop that has one, or see if you could borrow/rent theirs?

As far as other possible causes of this, I'm not an expert so I will leave it to someone else to answer. Maybe a sticking check valve or something?

Blake

[22R]

Have you tried this ?


Absolute easiest way to bleed seastar uflex hydraulic steering system - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pix1t7ROQ6U)

22R

[Smalltownbassin]

Have you tried this ?


Absolute easiest way to bleed seastar uflex hydraulic steering system - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pix1t7ROQ6U)

22R

Yes. Its pretty much the same thing as the hose and fitting kit i bought just for bleeding it. I may have to do what Injectorservice said and take it to a shop. Of course ill try several more times before i do that though :D

[Smalltownbassin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu1fFziRMjM

This is what i used

[DangerNewb]

I'll add that I've never had any handling issues with the sea star system and currently running 2 of them. I figured the amount of movement I'm seeing is the valve design. But if I'm buying new and have a choice I'll go with uflex. But fine with either if its already on a boat. Half inch in either direction like was described is too much for comfort and needs to be figured out. Funny story, I called uflex and asked what the strongest system they sold was and the guy about hung up on me when I mentioned small light boat capable of 100mph. He wanted nothing to do with it. I ordered the silversteer 2.0. But not from uflex directly. Don't think he would have sold me the system if I bribed him. Who knows when I'll ever see it though.

[LakeFever]

Have you tried this ?


Absolute easiest way to bleed seastar uflex hydraulic steering system - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pix1t7ROQ6U)

22R


this is the method I did and it worked great. Bled once and couldn’t see any air at all left but could still crank the wheel past the stops. I left the bleed system connected and let it sit for a day. Went back and cracked the bleeders and bled again. It’s important not to turn the wheel before cracking the bleeders. After the second go I could no longer crank past the stops it was nice and tight. Still a bit of play at the cylinder end though.

[David]

What does Mark use on the Tuffs that he rigs? That was my approach with my SS 2000. I called Allison and ordered there.

[hellbents-10]

Mark has had success with Seastar and also has been a huge help to me on the 2 boats I have had built by him. I also have have a thirst for knowledge and would like to learn as much as I can about this as I go!

[rgsauger]

Might sound nuts but I installed a barb fitting in my seastar helm, hooked up a long clear tube, then used my Mity brake bleed pump to pull a vacuum on it. Got a ton of micro bubbles out.

[25two.stroke]

I've installed many complete new seastar systems and swapped more helms / rams / lines than I care to number. Weather bleeding by hand or with the power purger I always have some play, like what is listed above about +/- 1/8" This amount increases if the bushing at the steering pivot is worn or if the knuckle on the tilt tube is loose/adjusted wrong.
That being said, I could order and send the original thread poster here a system, but I don't know what questions he was wanting answered. What questions do you have about the products? If you are doing a single engine its pretty simple what you need. Double engines with double rams rather than a tie-bar is a little complicated, but not THAT hard to figure. You should be able to order everything you need online without me or a dealer, then ask your questions away on here.

Moving on to personal preference as most have done on here, I don't like the 1/8 of play that sea star has. I never tried uflex on my rigs but I've driven uflex boats and noticed that they look pretty tight. I went to Hynautic after seastar and never looked back (why I never tried uflex). Hynautic is super tight and theres no movement of steering lines (so you do a clean rigging job and steering lines don't get abraded). Das my opinion on steering, even though that was not at all the original question.

[FUJIMO]

...i used to like the hynautic k-6 cylinders, until they stopped making them. great cylinder. did they start making them again?...https://cdn8.bigcommerce.com/s-hz7o37/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/2951/916/ma_sea_HynCylinder_011__02751.1396628017.jpg?c=2

[25two.stroke]

No. And the only pain in the a** is getting parts. I end up making stuff for them. Y'all who don't know, seastar bought this company and discontinued the product...tryna get a monopoly or somethin

[hellbents-10]

Boatsteer has been great to deal with so far. Just need to get my hose lengths figured out this weekend and pull the trigger. I have the jackplate and acc. for that on order now too!

[LakeFever]

What jackplate did you choose?