Second Steering Station Project

[Damandan]

Purchased my boat last September and I am just getting around to working on it again as spring starts to warm things up.

One of my projects is adding a second helm. I had the original binnacle control mount just bolted to the rail of my boat. Looked through a lot of posts on what I needed and what I should be paying. Miss Teak has a great post up on the hull truth about his second steering station for a Parker 25. http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/105253-second-helm.html

I went even simpler than he did and didn't even bother building a box for my Morse controls. (The hole would still allow me to build a box if I wanted to later on) Just bolted it straight on the back. I'm pretty happy with how clean it looks. Still in the process of running the teleflex and hydraulic lines. Nothing fancy no trim/tilt or key switch but I may add them someday if I use the station enough.

I bought a 13" destroyer wheel with a stainless steel center (it's going to be outside).
Morse Controls all stainless
1.7cu in Seastar Hydraulic Helm (HH5271)

What I am planning on for running the hydraulic hoses is using the 90 degree fittings so the hoses lay flat against the back of the house and won't get snagged or interfere with my seat. The teleflex is far enough over that I can bend it under my rail and out of my way. Will take pics of that once I get them all run.

 

[Bryan 2530]

Looks good, clean install. :!:

 

[Damandan]

So I ran into some difficulties with the Seastar second steering helm. After buying the second station fitting kit and purchasing the plastic Seastar line I came to the realization that the line used on the original one helm install was of a larger diameter and a soft hose (compared to the new hard plasic 3/8 line). This made it impossible for me to T into the existing line without running all new (not what I wanted to do). What I ended up having to do was purchasing new fittings to T directly into the first helm and run separate lines back to the new helm and keep the existing lines as is to the engine.

I like this option better for a couple reasons. I don't trust the new springy black line as much as the softer original line to take the abuse from the sun and potentially some nicks and impacts being on deck and connected to the engine. Also if anything was to happen to the second helm or any of the lines run to it. I could disconnect it, plug the end of the T's and be back to a regular single helm steering station to get you home.

The bleeding process was a bit of a pain, as all the air had to go from the newly installed second helm, through the T-fittings up against the first helm and then down the original lines to the engine. Took about 8-10 times of locking left to locking right to get the majority of the air out.

 

[DaleH]

What I ended up having to do was purchasing new fittings to T directly into the first helm and run separate lines back to the new helm and keep the existing lines as is to the engine.

That's what I ended up doing too and I prefer it over simply tee'ing in, less the cost addition. But whereas I'm now adding a 3rd station, I need all new lines from aft to cockpit helm, to main helm, and up to the toona tower. Can you say 'cha-ching'!