Another Seastar helm tidbit

[grouperjim]

My Seastar helm's warranty will be expiring soon so I wanted to make sure it was performing like it was new.

Recently, I could turn the wheel slowly without the engine turning. Cleaning the two check valves located on either side of the helm fixed the problem.

The other issue I was having was a minor one, but one I wanted to correct never the less. The issue was when trailering the boat, the engine would gradually flop over to one side instead staying upright where I left it.

After talking to Mark at Teleflex he described how to fix the issue.

Essentially, I had to remove the helm again from the dash (easy enough). Remove the two check valves, then stretch about an 1/8 of an inch the spring that controls the tension on the ballbearing.

I am happy to report the issue is resolved as the system will hold enough hydraulic pressure on each side to keep the engine stationary.

 

[jeffnick]

I always trailer with my motor against the stop rather than in the middle. There's no movement of the motor going down the road (= no activity of the steering system).

Can anyone suggest why this might not be a sound presumption?

 

[grouperjim]

for trailering that makes sense to me. my only issue would be at the ramp when the boat slides off the trailer. with the engine cocked to one side i would have to get up in the boat and straighten it prior to launch so the boat would launch true.