Steering system gives skippers more control

Ultraflex's adjustable steering system will be available in New Zealand later this month.

Ultraflex's adjustable steering system will be available in New Zealand later this month.

A new "adjustable" steering system, due in New Zealand later this month, will allow skippers to adjust the feedback or sensitivity of their steering to match the way the boat is being driven at the time.

The new system, Ultraflex's Master Drive, has been designed for outboard-powered boats and is best suited to larger outboard installations (250-350hp) or multi-rig applications. On a vessel with Master Drive, the skipper simply uses a special dash-mounted keypad to choose the most appropriate mode.

"Experienced powerboat operators know that, in an ideal world, skippers would have different levels of steering sensitivity depending on whether they were trolling, cruising or running flat-out," explains Grant Matthew, Ultraflex product manager at New Zealand distributor Lusty and Blundell.

"With Master Drive on board they have just that ... Skippers always have the ideal power steering system, regardless of whether they are undertaking slow-speed, tight-quarter manoeuvres or blasting along at high speeds in a straight line."

Matthew says skippers can change modes whenever they like or as often as they like. "There is no need to bring the boat to a complete stop or put the engine in neutral."

Matthew says the new Master Drive system has been designed to cope with all types of sea conditions, can be used with dual helm stations and is able to operate in conjunction with an autopilot.

Using a quiet 12v power steer pump, Master Drive is said to draw minimal current and comes with an IP67 waterproof rating. The system is ignition-protected, can be mounted vertically or horizontally and will revert to a fully functional manual system if there is a loss of power.