Transition from the classical control of the engine with the help of a tiller to a full-fledged steering It's a moment of great importance for any boating, and it's at this point that the pleasure craft becomes a tool for comfortable water travel, and the ability to sit on a soft chair, rather than balancing on a transom, opens up entirely new horizons in navigation and fishing.
The current market offers many options for implementing this system. stationaryintegrated into the hull of a metal boat, or steering-stackIt's not just your budget, but also your type of engine, operating conditions and personal preferences, and in this article, we'll take a look at the nuances so you can make an informed decision.
Advantages of switching to steering and cable traction
The big argument for that is safety and ergonomics, when you're driving a boat with the help of a boat. cable-drawingYour hands are free for other tasks, and your body is securely locked in a chair, which is especially critical at high speeds or when you're in a steep wave, where holding the bumple requires a lot of physical effort.
In addition, the steering allows you to position the vessel more accurately. gear-driven In the steering machine, you can smoothly rotate the motor's transax plate, which you can't do by pulling a tiller, and it reduces the load on the transom and prolongs the life of the lower unit.
- 🚤 Significant reduction of driver fatigue during long transitions.
- ⚓ Possibility of installation of navigation devices (echo sounder, GPS) directly in front of the eyes of the steering.
- 🛡️ Increased safety by eliminating the risk of accidental fall overboard.
- 🔧 The convenience of engine maintenance, as access to candles and filters is often facilitated by the absence of a humming device.
But you also have to consider the flip side of the coin, because the steering system requires a lot of money and time to install, and you need not only the steering column, but also the quality of the steering. steering-lineThis should be consistent with the power of your motor.
Boat types: PVC vs. Aluminium
The choice of the type of body dictates its conditions for the installation of the steering mechanism. Aluminum boats They're often designed with a console, and they have a steering column attached directly to the metal, which ensures stiffness and reliability, and it's all about getting the cable length and the type of hinge connection right.
S PVC-boat The situation is more complicated. Inflatable sides cannot support a heavy console, so they use special frames or transom wheels with integrated steering wheels. There are also models with a rigid floorboard floor where you can hit the console, but this requires a high skill of a master.
⚠️ Attention! When installing the steering column on the PVC boat, make sure that the weight of the equipment does not exceed the permissible load on the inflatable tubes, otherwise this will deform the geometry of the vessel on the move.
Metal vessels can withstand more massive structures, often with full-fledged instrument panels installed on them. VDO-indicators For inflatable boats, the priority is the ease and the ability to quickly disassemble the structure for transportation.
Design and selection of steering machine
The heart of the whole system is steering-machineIt's this knot that converts the rotation of the steering wheel into the translational motion of the cable. There are two main types of mechanisms: rack and worm, and racks are considered more reliable for powerful motors, because they allow direct force transmission without backlashes.
When choosing, consider the number of turns of the steering wheel from stop to stop. The standard value for small craft is 2.75 or 3.25 revolutions. Less turns makes the steering more sharp, which can be dangerous at high speed, and more is unnecessarily slow.
How to extend the life of a steering machine?
Lubricate gears regularly with lithium lubrication and flush the gear with fresh water after each exit into salt water. Corrosion is the main enemy of any mechanical knots on the boat.
Compatibility with the type of cable is an important parameter. Most manufacturers use the standard. SSC62 or SSC134The use of incompatible components can lead to a system jamming at the most inopportune time.
Installation of the system: step-by-step instructions
Steering is a very careful process, and it always starts with wiring the console and wiring the cable to the transom, and a mistake at this point can cause the cable to have too little of a bend radius, which is unacceptable.
Then there's the cable, which goes as straight as possible, without any sharp inflections, if you use cable channels, make sure that there are no sharp edges inside that can damage the braid, and you can lock the cable to the motor bracket with special clamps.
☑️ Checklist before first launch
The final step is to adjust the tension and check the system under load, so the motor should turn smoothly, without jerking, and if you feel jamming, you should review the tracing of the cable or lubricate the connections.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter of cable | Thickness of the inner cable | Standard 3/16” or 5/16” |
| Length of cable | Distance from column to motor | Take with a margin of 15-20 cm |
| Materials | Core composition | Stainless steel (AISI 304/316) |
| Shell type | Protective layer | High-pressure polyethylene |
Service and typical problems
Any mechanism requires maintenance, and steering is no exception. corrosion And then you get dirt inside the shirt of the cable, and over time, the lubricant is washed out, and the friction increases, making the control tight.
Periodically check the condition of the cable tips. If you notice a wire stratification or damage to the braid, the cable must be replaced immediately. Operation of the damaged cable can lead to its breakage and loss of control of the vessel.
⚠️ Attention! Never use graphite lubricants for plastic steering machine elements, as they can cause polymer destruction. Use only specialized silicone or lithium compounds.
To prevent acidification of threaded joints, use copper lubrication (anti-seize) when assembling nodes in contact with water.
Tuning and additional accessories
Once the basic system is installed, many owners are thinking about upgrading. hydraulic-amplifier This completely eliminates the force on the wheel, making one-finger control possible even on powerful motors.
It’s also worth considering installing autopilot if you frequently walk straight courses or troll. Current systems integrate seamlessly with existing steering thrust and can be controlled from a smartphone.
Don't forget the aesthetics: chrome or matte console elements, dashboard lighting and comfortable armrests make a utilitarian vessel a comfortable boat, but remember that any additional weight affects the performance.
A well-assembled steering system increases the liquidity of the boat during resale and significantly expands the possibilities of its use.
Legal and security aspects
Making changes to the design of a small vessel, which includes the steering installation, formally requires registration with the GIMS if this changes the technical specifications specified in the boat's ticket. In practice, for removable consoles on PVC boats, this is treated loyally, but for a capital insertion in aluminum may be questionable.
The main safety rule is the presence of an emergency shutdown of the engine (Stop or Kirlig button). When driving with the steering wheel, the driver is further from the engine, and in the event of a person falling overboard or other emergencies, the ability to immediately shut down the engine is critical.
Do I need to register the steering wheel in GIMS?
If the steering installation does not change the passenger capacity, load capacity or length of the vessel, and is carried out on regular seats (or through removable structures), then registration of changes is usually not required. However, if you are welding a new console on a metal boat, increasing its height or changing the center of gravity, you theoretically need to make changes to the boat's ticket.
Which cable to choose for the engine 40 hp?
For a 40 hp motor, the best choice would be the SSC62 cable (3/16 inch diameter) that can withstand up to 1800 N, which is enough for this power class. The thicker cable (SSC134) only makes sense for engines over 70-80 hp, as it is stiffer and requires more effort to rotate the steering wheel without power.
Can you make the steering yourself?
Making a full-fledged steering machine from scratch at home is extremely difficult because of the need for accurate processing of gears. However, to assemble a system from finished components (a used steering column, a new cable, a homemade console made of plywood or aluminum) is a very real task for a home craftsman with skills in working with metal and tools.