Posts: 32959
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The Warrior has been for a long time, doesn't mean the USCG has approved it. The Mertens System that Mercury bought is a full hydraulic far superior to the Warrior system; the Warrior is an assist, and Mercury offers the full hydraulic and could easily put it on a Merc small block V6 on the 18' Lund; there's your sign. Look it up in the USCG regs, there's no provision for hydraulic steering for a tiller to be rated as remote steering. Most big tillers have a 25" transom. the key is static float plane transom measurement, not height.
Warrior was plumb clean bankrupt out of business, if the steering system allowed for selling a bigger tiller, it'd be on every brand out there.
That's why you can't buy an 18' Ranger, Tuffy, or Skeeter with a 140 HP motor.
Draw whatever conclusion you want except that hydraulic steering on a tiller is considered remote steering by the USCG.
I'm hoping that changes, and soon, the Mertens system is bulletproof. It should change, but there's more to the formula than you might know including the 180degree turn test, seating in the boat, and more. A tiller can be turned MUCH more quickly than a wheel, and that's part of the issue.
My guess is none of the companies that are compliant want to be the test case baby. |
