Retro fitting hydraulic steering to a Merry Fisher 645

[Oscar24]

Hello all!

First year with the Merry Fisher 645 and I'm loving it

Looking to the future and possible upgrades to do during the winter,
One of the things with the boat which I think could be better would be hydraulic steering, the Teleflex cable steering is quite heavy and there's some play in it so.....

Has anyone retro fitted hydraulic steering to the MF 645 or similar type?
Any recommendations or things to avoid?
Boat has the Suzuki 115

Thanks in advance
Pete

 

[scottie]

If you use proper hydraulic rubber hoses the full length or even copper with short hoses it will make a better job than nylon/plastic pipe
A local hydraulic pipe supplier will make them up for you at reasonable price
The best use for the plastic pipe is for measuring!

 

[rwoofer]

Having a 645 myself, hydraulic steering wouldn't even make it on the list of upgrades. The boat is simply not responsive enough to really notice the play or need light fast steering. Not a criticism of the boat which I love and have had for 4 seasons now.

 

[Oscar24]

Having a 645 myself, hydraulic steering wouldn't even make it on the list of upgrades. The boat is simply not responsive enough to really notice the play or need light fast steering. Not a criticism of the boat which I love and have had for 4 seasons now.

Fair point, but I recently tried a small Hardy fisher with hydraulic steering and it felt so much nicer than my set up with no play in it. Was much smoother.
Each to their own I guess.....

 

[rwoofer]

Might be worth investigating the play as mine has very little in reality i.e. not noticeable unless pointed out.

 

[GrahamHR]

When I did my PB2 training back in the mists of time, the RIB with hydraulic steering seemed a lot better than the same one but with cable steering.

Roll on 14 years. From a sloppy cable steering DPS equipped boat to a hydraulic steering DPH equipped boat; the hydraulic steering of the DPH set up is by far worse !