Hydraulic Steering on 88 Mercury 200

[jasongrms]

I want to upgrade my steering on my 1988 voyager from cable to hydraulic. It has a 1988 Mercury 200 Blackmax hanging off of the back. Seastar can't give me any direction on what cylinder I need for this engine since their catalog only goes back to 1989. I would think there would not be much difference, if any, from the 88 Merc to the 89 Merc but I am not sure. Is anyone out there running hydraulic steering on this particular engine model? Just Looking for some direction on what cylinder/system will work. These systems are expensive and I don't want to buy a system only to find out it will not work. Any input would be much appreciated!

Jason

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[AdamDK]

According to Seastar's PDF, the cylinder required is the same.

http://www.seastarsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Hydraulic-Steering-Selection-Guide-2015-SL6001-21.pdf

page 27 (of 122)

Cylinder: HC5345-3

And since they list multiple engine mfgr's using the same cylinder, with no options for different mounting plates, I think its safe to assume that the mounting bolt patterns are standardized.

[jasongrms]

Thanks AdamDK! The Seastar tech support guy was directing me to the Seastar Pro series (HC6345-3), so I didn't look any further. Thanks again for pointing this out!

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[AdamDK]

Ya, running above 60/65mph will require the Pro or Tournament series.

[alaskastreamin]

I run the pro on my boats.
Is the steering arm on your motor the thin style or the fat wide one?
I'm wondering if that is when they changed.

[jasongrms]

It looks like the thin style. How can I make sure? This is my first Hydrostream so I am still learning.

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[AdamDK]

Think of this logically.
There's only 1 model year difference between the 88's and 89's.
There's absolutely no way Merc would change the steering arm assembly. If they did, then everyone buying 1989 model year Mercs (and newer) would have had to buy all new steering systems, or adapters, to make their existing steering they had installed work with the new motor.

My dad has dual cable teleflex steering in his J-Craft. He went from using a 1970 Tower of Power 115HP Merc to a 1983/84 150HP Merc XR2 (which seized), back to a 1980 Merc 115HP. He never had to replace or adapt the steering.

[alaskastreamin]

I was wondering if the two 3/8" fine threaded holes for the steering rod (cable style) was closer or further from the tilt tube thus making the hydraulic ram mount not reach.
See, with the cable set-up, this wouldn't matter as the stainless arm would pivot to find either hole. See where I was going?

Also maybe the hydraulic ram could overpower the thinner steering arm and possibly break it at full lock. maybe a liability thing. Just speculating..

Here you go.....These are for smaller motors but you can see the shape differences.