Installation instructions and other lies

Bud Kennedy · September 18, 2021, 01:40:36 PM

Having decided to replace my existing steering cables, I have purchased a completey new steering system from Seastar. Yes, I decided to stay with cable steering as a more affordable option to hydraulic steering.

After a lengthy telephone effort with Seastar I was encouraged to update the entire system to include the helm control unit. As it turns out, engineering changes and product upgrades indicated that my existing 30 years old helm section might not marry up with their newest cable products and that was the reason for including the new helm control. This system is a bit different as it uses only a single rack system vs the double rack system currently installed. This configuration too is a result of the product line upgrade. No big deal one rack with two cables sounds ok to me. I ordered the new system on a Wednesday afternoon and Friday late morning the unit was delivered by UPS.

Like any red- blooded American male, it then became my obsession to open the box and examine all the goodies inside. This is when you learn that unpacking the box of somewhat stiff cables means that you can never put them back in the box. After examining the contents, I pulled the installation instructions from the box and this is when the fun begins.

The installation instructions are quite basic with not much information but a step-by-step description of the sequence of the install. The exterior of the shipping carton does have an exploded view of the parts and pieces and that is good enough for me. So far pretty basic stuff. After reading the instructions in detail I realize they don't have much to say about pulling the cables other than just telling you to just do it. Since I am replacing existing steering the instructions that pulling new cables is not as simple as the just do it indication.

The cable channel in the old Ranger is crammed with other wires ranging from throttle and shift cables, electrical items and transducer wiring and most likely other items that I have never seen. I think it would have been appropriate for the instructions to at least indicate that this part of the install will be a gigantic PITA. I guess there really isn't much they could have said because it is what it is. Perhaps the reference in the instructions should read as **it happens when discussion takes place about pulling the cables.

Now my problem is that the tech won't be here until Wednesday and today is Saturday. My impatient ego is yelling at me to go get the boat from storage and just do it by myself. The problem with this is my ego is writing a check that my 75- year- old body isn't prepared to cash. While this is unfortunate and I will wait for the technician but I can tell you it is driving me crazy as I write this post. Now my ego is making statements like just go ahead and remove the existing helm stuff. Presently I have decided not to do that but Mr. ego will make the suggestion once again when the boat is here on Monday.

Princeton_Man · September 18, 2021, 05:21:18 PM

Ignore your ego Bud. It was quite a task just pulling the hydraulic lines on my Stratos.
I cut the old cables at the motor using a right angle grinder with a cut-off wheel. That made it easier to pull the cables out from the console. I pulled a couple pull strings with the old cables. Then I pulled my hydraulic lines with the strings. Somehow, I managed to accomplish the task without damaging any of the connectors or harnesses, but it took a while. It would have been a whole lot easier with a second person. I can't even imagine having to pull two of those steering cables without help. Let the professional do it, if he breaks anything doing it, he'll have to fix it.

Bud Kennedy · September 18, 2021, 07:35:28 PM

You're right Jim. I am gonna leave it alone. I had these cables replaced about 10-12 years ago while we had our place at Santee. Since the boat lived there I just took it to Berkeley Outdoors in Moncks Corner and had it done. If the mobile guy does not want to do this job, I have a back up dealer who has done work for me before that says they will also do it in their shop using the product I already have bought. Not an easy job no matter how you slice it.

D.W. Verts · September 19, 2021, 07:14:09 AM

Boat rigging, de-rigging, and re-rigging. I did it for almost twenty-one years. It is never easy, never fun, and I have lost a lot of blood over it. Not to mention the fiberglass infusions I've inflicted on myself. Would I do it myself today? Oh yeah, I would. That's the advantage to my "youth".

Smart decision Mr. Kennedy. You'll be better off, happier (although slightly poorer) and you wont be peeling that 'glass out of your azz! It's a shame what the hydraulic systems are bringing, tho'. Actually, the SHAME is in the profit margin- I know what cost is to a dealer on a SeaStar system. They are almost doubling the price around here.

Dale

Oldfart9999 · September 20, 2021, 06:25:24 AM

I want/need to have my steering fixed next spring, no way am I going to do it, I'll be down for a month with my joints.
Rodney

D.W. Verts · September 20, 2021, 09:45:26 PM

Well Rodney, you need to be smokin' better joints... HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!

Dale

Oldfart9999 · September 21, 2021, 06:17:56 AM

Quote from: D.W. Verts on September 20, 2021, 09:45:26 PM
Well Rodney, you need to be smokin' better joints... HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!

Dale

Hmmmmmmmm.............. Only drugs I do are prescription because of doing jobs like this.
Rodney

Wizard · September 24, 2021, 06:59:27 PM

I've never inhaled. Honest, Injun!
The boats in the 60-70's needed wiring replaced every couple of years. It was a pain in the rear to do. The wiring wasn't protected and rubbed against ever sharp edge inside the gunnels. Stuffing wires through PVC tubes inside the gunnels helped the wires to last longer. Today, riggers use pre made wiring harness and it's still a tedious job to do. Steering cables are no fun to do at age 75.

Wizard

Bud Kennedy · September 24, 2021, 07:10:22 PM

The mobil service guy can't do the job so I will have to put the boat in the shop this winter sometime to have the new cables installed. I learned that you actually have to unbolt the motor to make it possible to remove and pull new cables correctly. I now understand why some just cut the old cables off with a side grinder because it sure is a pain in the butt.

Been wondering if this might be a good time to also put in new shift linkage cables and throttle cables since the already installed cable runs have to be somewhat molested by this process anyway. Until then I will continue to use the existing cables since the mobil service tech did a compete cleaning and re lube of the existing it makes the boat useable but still needs new cables sometime. At least during our short winter I won't be using the boat so the dealer can keep it for a few weeks Kind of like a no harm no foul since I don't go out in the winter too much anyway. I will just target to have everything completed and ready to go by March 1st or so.