28 foot Baha fishermen steering

[dgm43]

I purchase a 28Ft Baha fisherman this year. The boat has dual engines and mechanical steering and we use it to troll for salmon and trout in Lake Ontario. We have been trolling with one engine and two sea anchors and are obtaining reasonable performance. It is difficult to steer particularly in a following sea and require considerable force to turn the wheel with the engine running although the wheel turns easily when the boat is not moving. Someone else in the marina suggested we increase the size of the rudders to improve the steering and I believe that installing hydraulic steering would ease the steering and allow us to install an auto pilot. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Don

[CaptSpike]

Hydraulic is much better if you can afford it. I made the switch yrs ago and have never looked back.

 

Spike

Edited July 7, 2013 by CaptSpike

[Hooked On U]

I have a 285 Fisherman. I had Hydraulic steering installed and a Simrad AP24 . I had the AP 24 talk to the fish finder for bottom tracking and the Garmin GPS for routes and position of course. The unit will practically park the boot in the slip.I love it.

[dgm43]

Thankyou to both of you for the information.  Did either of youy put larger rudders on the boat as well?

[Missdemeanor]

I put larger custom rudders on my 313 ....what a difference......

At the time I did upgrade to Hydraulic steering from teleflex. The rudders that were on the boat were tiny.....

Edited July 8, 2013 by Missdemeanor

[Hooked On U]

I still have the original rudders. I understand that the larger rudders

help in how the boat handles. I have a friend who just put the larger

rudders on his boat. He likes how his boat responds with them.

[dgm43]

Missdemeanor Thank you for the information. Who did your custom rudders?