best steering system for my boat???

[TTriton]

As a couple people know I got this boat not to long ago and I'm very close to start rigging it. But my question is with steering. It currently has a dual cable pully type steering but I'm not sure that is what I want. I don't plan to race I just want to be a weekend flyier. I was thinking about going hydrolic but going that fast and having a hydrolic jackplate I think having more of a feel in the steering wheel would be a better idea. So now I'm thinking about dual cable rack and pinion. What is any ones idea's?? I'll have a mostly stock V-6 Merc with a offshore midsection with solid mounts and ubove water exhaust and a CLE gearcase. The boat is 18 foot long and a beam of 5' 7" and I was told that the hull weighs about 350 pounds but I have not weighed it myself but I have no problem dead lifting the stern so I know for sure that it is light!

[Raceman]

Lee, I've had a bunch of boats with cable/pulley steering since the 70's. One of my STV's has it now, as does the 16 Allison. When I ordered the 2001 drag I ordered it that way also. It's the most positive/sensitive system you can run. It's also easy to keep up. In that it does give t he driver more feedback, it also passes along things like steering torque. Are you sure that boat is a Critchfield. When I blew my unlimited Allison over in '81, Rusty Cambell was there with a cut down 20' Allison with a wooden deck that looked EXACTLY like the picture of your boat. I was just curious if that could be the same boat.

[patches]

i quite curious about that boat and what kind it is.let me know if you would sell it. is it a v-bottom or a mod-vp tunnel

[patches]

i'd stay with the cable pulley system. we have it on 16ft speedcraft(copy of allison).no comparison for sensitivity and absolute total lack of slack in steering

[TTriton]

I was told that it was a critchfield by the guy that I got it from and I had found pictures of smaller critchfields and there are many simalarities. Also the bottom does not look like a Allison but I'm no pro here. I could be wrong

[TTriton]

the boat is a v bottom with a pad.

[patches]

since its a v i'd definitely stay with the cable/pulley.anybody know where i can get one of these boats

[TTriton]

where can I get more info on the cable pully system. All the parts that I have are quite old and just don't want to take a chance with it comming apart. Is there anything that I should know. I've never seen cable pully steering systems for sale. But then again I've never looked.

[TTriton]

I was told there were only a couple made but I'm reserching for more info. I was also told that Danny Agnew has the sister to the one that I have. I got mine from Michael R. Martin in south carolina.

[patches]

as soon as i saw your picture i fell in love with that boat. i'd like to see more pictures whenever you get a chance or as your rigging is coming along

[TTriton]

Sure.. I was planning to to togeater a small web page when I get started. I still have several other projects that I have to get done with first. But I'm working as fast as I can to get to my project. I want to go flying!

[Rickracer]

Rex Marine has some replacement parts for cable pulley systems, and I'm pretty sure Seebold racing has pretty much whatever you might need for it. If I can help you in any way , let me know, I do handle Rex Marine.

[TTriton]

http://www.terranova.net/~ttriton/critchfield/2/

here are more pics that I took today. the sky was over cast so the pics are not great. But there are more here and also show the bottom. I'll be takeing many more when I start to work.

[patches]

hull looks very similar to brothers 16ft speedcraft(allison copy) so i think there on to something when they compare it to an allison. keep us posted. that boat should run real good.

[TTriton]

I've had several people compair them to the ally. And last night I spoke with a guy named mike that is a big into the ally line of boats was familair with the critchfield and told me that is was a knockoff of the older sytle ally. I only hope is runs as well as the ally. I took a ride in one this morning with Bo from KonTiki resort and it was a thrill. I've never been in a ally before and I was very impressed. I've gone fast in Mirages, Hydrostreams, Skaters, Hydrolifts, and Action Marines. I know understand the following behind them and I must admit they are a great boat.

[ShipBear]

That is one nice looking hull..At one time I was talking to the guy that owned it, Was in SC...But I didn't have time to get up there..I was told it was a 20' hull..?
But you say it's 18'..Thats going to be one nice boat when you are finished with it........Good Luck..

Larry
[email protected]

[patches]

if you go into the hulls under 20' forum and go back to june 3 you will find a post for an 18' allison maybe you can see enough of the bottom to see the similarities. your gonna have alot of fun in that boat and it oughta be fast. so what do you have planned for the motor.