Has anyone installed the Bay star center mount kit on a gatortail motor? I have seen where some have installed the sea star kit which is quite a bit more expensive. Thanks for the help in advance!

That damn side mount Sea Star cylinder is expensive right. You have to buy the components separately and I think think total is about 900 bucks.

You can get a Bay Star system for about 500 bucks delivered to your house off of EBay.

Correct, but it looks like everyone has been putting on the sea star center mount , so I was wondering if there was a reason for the more expensive one. I hate to order the bay star and it not work out.

I sont think there is much difference. My brothers 21 Foot Nordic Star with a 150 HP came with the Bay Star.

Bay Star is rated for 150 I think. The front mount rams on both systems are pretty much the same.

I cant see why they going with the more expensive system.

Either works but sea star has less turns from lock to lock.

When doing center mount you have to grind on the arm where trim hits when trimmed up all the way. You'll know what I'm talking about when you get to that point

Thanks Willet. I think I'll save the money and deal with the more turns to lock.

U will probably regret that when u have to work it trying to get unstuck

Point taken, but man a steering wheel knob would have been very helpful in that situation. The website shows both at 5 turns to lock, but I do remember reading that they have one that is 4 or 4.5

Its not that bad. I think its only one additional revolution.

Baystar is rated 150 hp and under. Seastar is rated up to 350 hp. The baystar is a couple step above no feed back steering. Seastar is a lot smother than baystar.

Niqqer knob makes life so much easier!

Gator tail uses a side mount U-flex ram and U-flex helm on most of their rigs. It gets the job done for a cheaper hydraulic steering but it sucks compared to the sea star. Teleflex Seastar center ram and helm is just overall beefier, better and easier to hook up. I'm sure bay star isn't bad but haven't had any extra money laying around just to try it and not end up liking it.

Not that we are even talking about side mount rams, but with a side mount you have to worry about backing into stuff like trees. The ram will get bent very easily and once its bent it is very hard to get back right.

anyone have a pn# handy for a hydraulic center ram bay or seastar for a 35 GTR?

Sea star pro is 4.5 turns lock to lock that system is roughly $1200. I installed this on my bayboat. Used mostly on bass boats.

I have the Sea Star Pro on both of my Comm fishing boats. As debo stated the turning is minimal. My buddy has the bay star on his plate boat and it seems to be a all day affair turning his rig.
I would agree with others that if you used it on a mm it would be bothersome to be turning a bunch one way and then a bunch back each time you got stuck in the mud.
I really like the stick steering set up myself but stick steering is not for Yamaha F200 motors.

Teleflex has very good customer service. I was having a problem with my cylinder leaking hydro fluid and called their number. At first I got some lady that was giving me the run around and I asked to speak with someone over her. She gave me a guy who I spoke with for two minutes and he sent me a new cylinder overnight with return postage for the leaky one. I was told to take the new cylinder out along with the new hydro fluid drop the old cylinder in the box and return. They sent me three bottle of hydro fluid with the new cylinder. He gave me his cell number and told me to call him anytime I had any questions or problems. I told him I was a comm fisherman and he said he did not care. He wanted customers happy.
That is why I bought the second Sea Star Pro for my other boat.

Come on now... You're looking at it all wrong and backasswards, the 150HP rating is for an open water outboard that is not supposed to hit anything or have the restriction of mud and such.... Better pony up and get the better one.

not sure if this guy is on MMT >> http://youtu.be/Z0Mf4MlCVj8 but this is the steering ram I"m looking for.
anyone one else using one on their GTR or is the side mount the way to go?
dont care for the side ram hangin out to be hit by a branch or anything.

I have a whole cc setup for a gtr for sale it has the side mount ram

Not 100% sure about the cc gatortail rigs and how its all set up. My buddy has one with the bay star center mount and you can't trim all the way up because the frame wants to hit the ram mount. Others I seen had the ram mounted to the side which would eliminate that problem. Same problem with my bay boat, can't trim the motor all the way up because the motor hits the hydro ram being it's mounted in the center.

Like a lot of things, I am working on a different arm for the center mount rams to keep them from rubbing the trim unit, just have to find the time to finish stuff up

Anything new on this. I have the bay star and it sucks compared to the sea star! Not Crazy about the way the Sea star sticks out of the side waiting to get knocked off but ill have to live with it if thats the only option.

I use a seastar 2.0 helm with front mount cylinder and it works well, did not want the steering cylinder sticking out to 1 side. It is the model that fits a mercury outboard. It does rub the bottom of my trim unit when trimmed all the way up(2011 GTR 35). BTW the higher the number (1.7, 2.0. 2.4) the higher volume the pump, higher volume less turns stop to stop, less turn turns stop to stop means more resistance felt at steering wheel. So you have guesstimate what is comfortable or what you can live with. Lower number also mean cheaper price.