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Spec-ing out a boat with 3 tubes and 150+++ power? You MUST order assisted steering! (details inside

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goldnrod24

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Despite the many, many discussions here, I was ambivalent about ordering the power assist steering on my new boat. Bennington "recommends" but doesn't "require" it. After all, approx. $2800 is a lot of cabbage.


Ultimately, the guys here convinced me to have it factory-installed, even though I was prepared to retrofit if it turned out later that I wanted it.


The dealer said, "We NEVER install it on 21 foot boats with a 150." I insisted. They claimed they needed to "run it by engineering to be sure it could be done." When I visited the factory while my boat was being rigged, the crew good-naturedly ribbed me and said, "This is the first 21' S-series boat we've ever installed assisted steering on. Are you a weakling?"


I told the boys down at my regular watering hole the story and they called me a sissy. Yesterday, they were still making fun of me. "How's that new power steering, Nancy?"


Even "Alicedream," a good guy member here had to move heaven and earth to get a retrofit on his new boat. But he got it and you can read his posts here in support.


Let me be perfectly clear..... If you are purchasing a Bennington with either the SPS or ESP and a motor that is a 150 or larger, YOU MUST SPECIFY THAT YOU WANT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. I know, they come with SeaStar hydraulic steering. THIS IS NOT ENOUGH!


Power assisted steering transforms your boat into a real power boat. I love doing a 180* turn at full acceleration from a dead stop and my passengers love it, too. If you are pulling tubes (or expect to in the future) assisted steering makes it a pleasure, not a chore.


In conclusion, do not let anyone dissuade from selecting this option. Message me or many of the owners here if you are still on the fence. We will hold an intervention and make sure you select this option.
 
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Well said, Randy. During our shopping evaluations we compared a 2275GCW Express with Merc 150 non-assist Seastar vs another brand with 250 and power assist. The difference in the experience was dramatic. I was coming from a DD inboard, where steering is effortless too, so when the GCW dealer told me the "standard" hydraulic was all you'd ever need I didn't go for it. At anything over 30mph, it was a bit of a wrestling match for my wife, at which point she thought the $$$ for PS didn't matter too much any more ;-)
 
Great post!  You are absolutely right. I drove my boat for two weeks with hydraulic steering and still loved the boat but the steering was annoyingly difficult. I thought I had a completely different boat this weekend. If you don't have it with a motor that size, you will never get the full benefit of the tri-toon packages.
 
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Never had a boat w/out power steering........is it really a chore w/out it?!?
 
BigKahuna said:
Never had a boat w/out power steering........is it really a chore w/out it?!?
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Next time we take the boat out I'll turn off the p/s and let you try.
 
cwag911 said:
Next time we take the boat out I'll turn off the p/s and let you try.
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Okay just curious. Didn't know you could turn your PS off.
 
goldnrod24 said:
Let me be perfectly clear..... If you are purchasing a Bennington with either the SPS or ESP and a motor that is a 150 or larger, YOU MUST SPECIFY THAT YOU WANT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. I know, they come with SeaStar hydraulic steering. THIS IS NOT ENOUGH!
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 Right on the money with this one Randy! I really believe many of the sales people do not get to operate many of the configurations that a Bennington is available with. So they don't have the experience with the operations of the options. But , if you want any of the upgraded pontoon log uSpgrades to get more performance,you'll be wanting to have PS. Or your not going to be happy with the end results when you are driving the boat. As for PS on non performance packages,I would want PS on anything over 22' or 130 HP. It just makes the whole boating experience sooooooo much better!
 
BigKahuna said:
Okay just curious. Didn't know you could turn your PS off.
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When I installed the pump I connected the trigger wire to a spare switch on the dash and not to the key.
 
Amen Randy! The difference is unbelievable. We had the nephew out the other day and when you can make a 14 year old kid smile and shake his head in disbelief when making banking turns in a "pontoon" it feels good.
 
Not having ever piloted a pontoon without power steering, I really can't appreciate what that might be like. However, I can tell you that my set up (ESP w/ 250hp electronic power steering) drives like a car. Turns are effortless and it tracks straight as an arrow. In fact, my eight year old daughter can really get it going back and forth and in circles with ease (sitting on my lap, I might add). I thought my bowrider was easy to maneuver, but this one has it beat.
 
I need to look at adding to my 21slx with 150. I know someone here did it by themselves. Maybe Carl? Might want to see if you have a post or pictures of the project. Sounds like a good project for this winter....
 
I had the bracket made locally, bought hoses on ebay but not aftermarket.


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My boat has the F150 and just SeaStar.  Sure, I'd like to have power steering assist.  But it's simply too expensive for what you get.


The truth is that I seldom make tight turns when going 30 mph+.  And that's when the boat gets hard to steer.


It sure would be nice if power steering assist was properly priced for what you get.  The option would be to get a Mercury motor with internal power steering pump for less.
 
Banaman,it's worth it . As for the self contained power steering in the Mercury motor. Wait to you see the cost for rerigging your boat to operate the new motor. But if you are ordering a new boat,you definitely should look at the option of the Mercury or evinrude G2 motor. I looked at going from a Evinrude G1 to a G2, and the rerigging killed the deal. I would have pulled out the seastar system. 
 
I have a 150 with just cable steering and I turn sharp when pulling tubes.  As my trim intuition improved, my steertng  effort decreased. It's tolerable.


I'll probably hold off and sink the power steering cost into my next boat.
 
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I think it is strictly a matter of choice. We have an 21 SLX, SPS, 150 Yamaha, and only the Sea Star Hydraulic steering instead of cable. We are on a river with tight turns, and often go 30 mph+. 


While I am certain electric power assist will make the steering easier, it is not a necessity. we manage just fine without it.
 
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I have hydraulic steering but not sure if I have the power assist???  My boat is a 2005 tri-toon....was that even available then?  I'm pretty happy with the ease of my steering but it does get a little harder at full throttle but nothing crazy hard or anything like that.  I can let go of the steering wheel and the boat maintains the current heading that the steering is making it do if that helps anyone here answer my question.
 
Keith, you have an I/O so you do have power steering like a car. Looking at your engine you should see a p/s pump driven by the drive belt.
 
Yeah that's exactly what I thought.  The fill reservoir for it is on top of my helm on the right side....little black cap.  Thanks.  Ok so all this power assist stuff I keep reading you guys post is just for those outboards then I take it?
 
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