|
| while there may "technically" be no requirement for power assisted steering on boats over 20' long, boat companies want happy customers...so you do see more than one rating listed by some companies on tiller rigs depending on whether or not the boat has the power steering.
in the case of the Skeeter that i bought, my best guess is that it's a combination of marketing and access to the technology. Skeeter is owned by Yamaha and was happy to put 150hp motors on the boat when they had access to the Merten-designed "Power Tiller Steering" system in 2009 and earlier.
it's my understanding that starting in 2010 when Mercury bought the Power Tiller Steering system from Merten that Yamaha had to switch to the "Titan Tiller Steering" system (also designed by Merten) which is only able to handle motors up to 115hp.
rather than create an incentive for people to put Mercury motors on Skeeter boats, Yamaha/Skeeter lowered the rating to 115hp to keep their Yamaha motors the most obvious pairing for it. actual sales seem to favor the 115hp over the 150hp on that hull anyway, so it probably hasn't mattered too much in terms of sales for a niche market like big tillers. but i imagine if/when Yamaha has access to a different power steering system that can handle the 150hp motors, they'll raise the rating on the WX2000T again.
i've got an '09 with the 150hp rating paired with the Power Tiller Steering. it's really a great innovation: i've only been out once so far, but hopping on plane with no handle feedback and cruising at over 45mph with no motor torque is pretty freaking sweet.
| |
|
