My builder is proposing various steering systems:
1) Manual hydraulic
2) Cable steering
3) Gear/shaft/U-joint mechanical - simple "Z" shape would require a total of three 90 degree turns and a pair of U-joints
My boat has only a pilothouse control station and a 30 inch wheel is easy to accommodate. An autopilot will need a hydraulic cylinder to be mounted to the steering quadrant, which would offer much-appreciated redundancy.
My previous 65ft power boat had cable steering and personally I thought it was fantastic: it offered "feel" and the kingspoke on the wheel never drifted even a fraction of a degree. Very tight. However you certainly could feel friction in the system.
A drive shaft system should have lower friction than the cable but would pass through the cabins belowdecks, and with only 6ft 4in headroom down there the shaft would be obtrusive.
The requirement is for simplicity and dependability. Personally I'm inclined to either #1 or #2.
Some feedback please.
1) Manual hydraulic
2) Cable steering
3) Gear/shaft/U-joint mechanical - simple "Z" shape would require a total of three 90 degree turns and a pair of U-joints
My boat has only a pilothouse control station and a 30 inch wheel is easy to accommodate. An autopilot will need a hydraulic cylinder to be mounted to the steering quadrant, which would offer much-appreciated redundancy.
My previous 65ft power boat had cable steering and personally I thought it was fantastic: it offered "feel" and the kingspoke on the wheel never drifted even a fraction of a degree. Very tight. However you certainly could feel friction in the system.
A drive shaft system should have lower friction than the cable but would pass through the cabins belowdecks, and with only 6ft 4in headroom down there the shaft would be obtrusive.
The requirement is for simplicity and dependability. Personally I'm inclined to either #1 or #2.
Some feedback please.