Thoughts on best current steering systems

**Galazkiewicz** · 01-18-2025, 03:59 AM

Background: Very clean 96 Barefoot Sanger with 200 EFI bought intending to clean and tune has turned into a ground up rebuild upgrade. Gonna be a ski boat like no other. They tried to get me to go with the flow and throw an Opti 250 Pro XS on it for speed, but I'm not having it. Gotta have a 2.5 to make her alive. Looking for a clean, unmolested, low hour ProMax 225X to work with. But first I'm working on infrastructure. Topic is steering.

Too much info for me to know what my best options are and I want a setup that 1) Is safe, strong and reliable, 2) Functions very good, and 3) Is going to be cool and unusual (for a ski boat.)

Let me have it all you seasoned veterans of all things that scream and fly...

**LakeFever** · 01-18-2025, 05:20 AM

Seastar pro helm and tournament cylinder

**DangerNewb** · 01-18-2025, 06:24 AM

Uflex Silversteer. Every Seastar system I've had had way more play in it than Uflex. I've had about 6 or 7 Seastar systems and when I have an opportunity to rig a boat that needs steering it's an easy decision. I'm going with Uflex every time.

**LakeFever** · 01-18-2025, 06:58 AM

Never used a uflex but my seastar pro has zero play. Bleeding is a bit tricky but using the gravity method is the best imo. The way to know you have it bled perfect is if you can’t turn the wheel past lock. Mine won’t budge

**Galazkiewicz** · 01-18-2025, 11:36 AM

Anyone using side rams these days? Capilano/Latham a waste of money? Or cable and pulley to electric? Or any part of it electric? Power assist? Remember, I'm brand new with outboards so be nice to me please. I really don't know anything except what I read about at this point. I'm looking for cool and exotic options too but I need to be informed when I start heading outside the guardrails. Thanks guys.

**25two.stroke** · 01-18-2025, 12:40 PM

I have always loved barefoot boats, especially a sanger. First boat I ever got towed behind was a barefoot sanger with a 91 200 efi...capable of towing a single tube or a skier over 70 mph with a 23p high five. I've been tempted to buy one for years and every one I go to look at is rotten; and I am not willing to put the effort into a restoration of a ski boat I would only use once or twice a year. That being said, if I ever did find a good one I would be dropping a 280 on it no questions asked. One of our parts supplier representatives up here in Northern California actually has that dream setup of mine...a barefoot sanger with a 280 that he purchased from the Mercury classroom in Hayward when it closed. It was a display motor there, not a test motor, so it had 0 hours. Wanna say he paid like 6 or 8k for it LOL.

Back to steering...the best and most unique you are going to find is either power assist cable (like F1H2O) or power assist hydraulic. I would definitely opt for hydraulic on a rec boat so you don't have to worry about constant string maintenance. The "Invisible touch" power steering is a dream to drive on V bottom boats, and quite durable. Literal ZERO effort steering. Not sure what part of "Califirnia" you are in LOL but if you are up in the bay area you should come check out this Bullet boat I have with that invisible touch.

The second choice hydro steering I would go with is a Seastar 2.4 helm with a Hynautic K6 ram. That ram is a simple clean front mount that not too many people use. I have 3 of them. Love 2 things about it: it bleeds to where your steering is ROCK solid...better than any seastar ram, and the ram itself plus the steering hoses are in a fixed position unlike any other front mount cylinder. The fact that it is fixed eliminates any possible kinking or chaffing of your hoses and allows you to route them in a tight, super clean looking way with no slack. The main downside to the K6 is they don't make it anymore. There are some floating around for sale and I even was able to find one brand new in a box.

**pcrussell50** · 01-18-2025, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by 25two.stroke

The "Invisible touch" power steering is a dream to drive on V bottom boats, and quite durable. Literal ZERO effort steering.

Apologies for the dumb question, but is "zero effort steering" similar to no feed back or no feel steering? Or is it zero effort, but you still have feel?

I have a 2.4/200 on a fast 18. It's a family rec boat, and I have not had it faster than low sixty with the Bimini top on. It is a big full coverage Bimini for the big desert lakes in the summer heat. Anyway, at that speed, it's still easy to drive and not super dependent on much in the way of feel, IMHO.

-Peter

**25two.stroke** · 01-18-2025, 01:23 PM

The invisible touch is literally as the name suggests. Not ideal for all applications and it takes some getting used to. It has no feel, no resistance, no feedback. I have never flown an airplane, but I imagine that what it feels like with no resistance. You can flick the steering wheel with a finger and it will go from one lock to the other. When you are driving you have no feel other than what your body is feeling from the boats reactions. You can't feel anything from the wheel.

**JPEROG** · 01-18-2025, 05:41 PM

Seastar 2.4 Helm, Zeiger or Latham side ram, Zeiger or Latham wingplate, and seastar power assist electric pump. I have used this combination on 6 different boats now.

Combination works wonderfully and is the strongest.

Joe

**pcrussell50** · 01-19-2025, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by JPEROG

Seastar 2.4 Helm, Zeiger or Latham side ram, Zeiger or Latham wingplate, and seastar power assist electric pump. I have used this combination on 6 different boats now.

Combination works wonderfully and is the strongest.

Joe

Hey Joe (where you goin’ with that gun in your hand

)

For boats around the size/weight of our BW Montauks, would you still use power assist? Mine has Baystar (so not even Seastar), and 90hp (max rating for that hull). I have no complaints. Of course it’ll only do 40 on a good day (unlike yours with big power). Anyway it’s hard to imagine needing boost on a 2000lb boat. Although maybe that all changes when you start getting 70’s or faster?

Did you get my Jimi Hendrix bit in there?

-Peter

**Galazkiewicz** · 01-19-2025, 04:40 PM

I can't find anything about Invisible Touch on Marine Steering website

**powerabout** · 01-20-2025, 04:52 AM

Anybody gone electric yet? Dometic?
At least the wheel stays in the same place

**JPEROG** · 01-20-2025, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by pcrussell50

Hey Joe (where you goin’ with that gun in your hand

)

For boats around the size/weight of our BW Montauks, would you still use power assist? Mine has Baystar (so not even Seastar), and 90hp (max rating for that hull). I have no complaints. Of course it’ll only do 40 on a good day (unlike yours with big power). Anyway it’s hard to imagine needing boost on a 2000lb boat. Although maybe that all changes when you start getting 70’s or faster?

Did you get my Jimi Hendrix bit in there?

-Peter

I have a decent size tab added to the 130 skeg on the Montauk. No power assist, just a seastar front mount.

The lyrics went through my head as I read your post

.

Joe

**Galazkiewicz** · 01-20-2025, 10:13 PM

Joe,

I like your advice about the SeaStar 2.4 with the Latham side ram and a plate. From my scouring around it seems that the only way to go if using an unbalanced ram and a SeaStar helm is the 2.4 and not a Pro. Is that statement correct? And that satisfies my desire to go with something unique on a ski boat by using a side ram. One of the things I was looking to learn from my original post was whether side rams were even used effectively nowadays. Most of what I had read about them seemed to be from older information. I also liked the Hynautic K6 if I go front ram and found and bought one on eBay yesterday. I am intrigued by the "Invisible Touch" mentioned by 25 two stroke above. I could find almost zero info about that anywhere though. I have to assume that other helms and systems will also provide that same effortless turning and low lock to lock turn count as well? I dont know how much they cost, but I like the looks and presumed quality of the Latham stainless helms. And even though my boat is far from a race boat, I also like the quick disconnect steering wheel just for the cool factor. And this question strays from the OP but anyone have thought about putting a 280 on my Barefoot Sanger? Like I said at the start, the local Merc mechanic Scott Pellaton from Sanger referred me to was pointing me pretty hard toward a 2-stroke 250 Pro XS, the same motor Scott is putting on his 96, and I know its a good, reliable motor that would make my boat a rocket, I am not the kind of guy that wants to be like everyone else. 2.5 is the only way for me. I need that sound. I don't care about gas mileage or listening to a stereo at all. I don't even know if I'll replace the stereo I ripped out. As far as I'm concerned stereos are for those colored artificial amphibious assault boats I saw on the lake this year. For a second I thought there was a Vatican Embassy at the marina, Noriega had escaped and was holed up inside and we were trying to flush him out again...

**Galazkiewicz** · 02-02-2025, 02:13 AM

Ok I have decided which way to go with my steering setup. Almost. I purchased a Hynautic K6 but decided that it just doesn't have enough of the "wow" factor for my Barefoot Sanger build. At the engine end, on my Merc 200XS SST (now with a 20" mid and CLE lower) Zeiger plate, pin and side ram. At the helm I'm going with a Capilano 1275V. And yes, a Capilano 1275V does work with a single, unbalanced ram. Onetime here on S&F, who I bought my 200XS from, has been running the exact system for years on his boat with no problems whatsoever. The only thing undecided about steering is whether I go with a Latham trim wheel or quick disconnect wheel