I experienced unresponsive steering last spring after my boat had sat for 3 months. After my Tech bled my lines and told me about the valve sticking in the helm, I though that I might have gotten lucky and the fix would work. As my luck is never that good, my steering seems to be acting up the last couple of trips out. My tracking has been off and in crossing seas I've felt like I was really having to constantly steer/over steer to maintain headings. My helm is still clicking occasionally as it has done since purchasing the boat 3 years ago. The final straw was last weekend at the docks when I noticed my engine falling off to the side repeatedly with it trimmed all up out of the water. I knew it was time to make a call to my Tech to confirm my suspicions of the need for a helm unit. As luck would have it, it's worse, he has told me that the seal in the ram at the motor is likely leaking and it can't be rebuilt. As I already know the helm is also in bad shape, it looks like a steering overhaul is going to happen. My Tech, who I trust, is recommending replacing everything with a Uflex system. According to him, it's much better than Seastar as the ram is solid stainless vs chrome coated steel etc.. And that is what he replaces all of his customers units with. The kit is around $850 plus the instal. Very exciting. As I mentioned, my Tech is excellent but I thought I'd toss out for recommendations to my CP crew on all of this. I know Wart has posted something on the steering system but I can't find it. Thanks guys!
