Salmonslayers Boat & Fish Board

[Jim Bishop]

My problem was lack of confidence in myself at the start....not any more.

Expert/friend spent a number of years as boat manufacturer, that was 20+ years ago...standards have changed since then.

I can relate to the steering story. When I first picked up the 26', with the new/used SeaStar hydraulic two station steering, which had just been bled and serviced, I have a copy of the invoice from previous owner....anyway, I drove the thing from West Vancouver to Ladysmith on this Island, in January, in a snowstorm with at times 20k wind....I forget now but about 3-4 hour trip.

When I got to the marina at Ladysmith, I had NO steering, zippo zero nada none. I knew lock to lock was getting worse as we were crossing.

Reason...someone, in addition to not hooking the two helms up properly, had left one extra line in that ended in the engine compartment, I guess in case someone wanted to add auto pilot....but that someone didn't cap off the hose. Every time I turned the helm over reasonably hard, hydraulic fluid was spit into the bilge, until it was all gonzo.

I now know that steering system, intimately, on two of my boats.