Mechanical Steering Systems

There are three main types of boat steering, Tiller steer, Mechanical cable steering, and Hydraulic Steering. For those that have forward steering, the luxury of driving the boat via a steering wheel offers greater control of the vessel and ease. Mechanical Steering Cable systems consist of a basic singular cable attached to engine steering linkage and back to the helm. Hydraulic Steering Systems do away with cables and only consist of two small hydraulic hoses attached from the helm which then feeds down to the motor.

Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Steering:

Another reason boaters replace their boat steering systems is generally due to seized cables, rusty mechanisms, and infrequent use of boats which increases the opportunity for parts to corrode. There are no repair parts for mechanical steering cables unless you can free up your existing cable. For safety and convenience, these components must be replaced as a unit. This can be expensive over the life of the boat, adding up in hundreds of dollars to maintain or replace. Hydraulic Steering fares better with age and in the marine environment. Hydraulic steering also has a greater feel and handling for the skipper as the steering is significantly lighter compared to mechanical cable steering.

Mechanical Steering Helm Replacement:

For smaller powerboats (up to 20 feet), mechanical steering systems provide good handling performance and safe, affordable operation. A steering wheel, helm, push-pull cables, and connection kits—hardware that connects your steering system to your boat's outboard engine—are included in these kits. We'll start with the most critical component, the steering wheel.

Boat steering cables:

Mechanical steering systems use push-pull steering cables to move your engine or rudder. However, due to their design, all cables have some backlash or lost motion. Some high-performance boat/engine combos (with top speeds of more than 50 mph) can't handle this much movement and develop high-speed instability. For these high-performance boats, we recommend dual cable mechanical systems. By changing one or both cables at the engine, you can remove the majority of the backlash, reducing engine flutter and handling instability. We recommend the following routine maintenance (at least twice a season). The engine tilt tube or cable support tube, as well as the steering cable telescopic output ram, should be cleaned and lubricated.

Why shop with Outback Equipment?

• We’re Australian owned and operated – We’re based right here in the south of Brisbane. If you ever need help with an order or a product, you can call straight through to our friendly local team.

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• Delivered to your door – You don’t have to worry about darting across town to grab your order. We deliver your goods straight to your door to save you time and energy.

Order Your Mechanical Steering Kits Online Today

Stay in complete control of boat by choosing from the best mechanical steering kits on the market. For a wide range of mechanical steering systems shop online to find the finishing touches for your recreational boat today.