anyone here have experience installing hydraulic steering? Just wondering if it is worth it to even contemplate.
(trying to be smarter by learning from others' experiences)

I just installed a SeaStar unit on my Skeeter about a month ago. It was alot easier than it looked when I opened up the box. The hardest part would have to be bleeding the air out of the system. I was fortunate enough to have a buddy with a power purge unit, so he was able to bleed it correctly after I did not. It is well worth the install time, I don't know why I ever owned a boat without it.

I have bled a few for guys that couldn't figure it out. I have a hand vacuum pump that I bought for bleeding trailer brakes, and it works just as well for the steering hydraulics. You can find them locally for about $25 if you shop around. Definitely worth the $$$.

I use a Mityvac for brake bleeding but the steering wheel is easier for me in the Seastar Pro system. I overdid the amount run through the system a little as the system comes with 2 quarts and I ran a total of just less than three. You can reuse the fluid especially in a new system.
Here's a hint to make it work that I didn't do but was told that it makes it much easier/faster. Prefill the helm pump before you mount it. We didn't and it took almost 30 minutes before the helm started pumping the fluid.

Just take your time. Before you pull the steering cables out, attach a lenght of electric wire to pull the hoses in. It makes a mess no matter how you try to bleed it. I have had the best results attaching the bottle at the cylinder bleed with a pump like you use for filling your lower unit. The kit comes with a pretty long hose with a fitting you can screw into the helm with other end in a clean coffee can to catch the overflow if needed later. Do this on each side then start turning the wheel to the stops and start bleeding at the cylinder till it fills solid at the stop. If it fills spungy you still have air. Good Luck

About how much does a hyd. steering kit cost? I am about to have to replace my cables and thought about going the hyd. route....

A complete kit is expensive. On the order of $800 or so. Bleeding them is fairly easy, especially if you have someone helping you. I just replaced the cylinder on mine and used a clear tube looped over the bleed valve to keep it from being a mess. Bleeding the system took all of 10 minutes.

Oh well

about 3 years ago, I look my Skeeter ZX185 to a place in Mesquite called West Boats and they installed SeaStar Pro and replaced my water empeller for $1000. Took them 1/2 day to do it.

Not sure what their rates are now, but I would call them if you live close to Mesquite. Save yourself the aggrivation/headache.

http://www.westboats.com/

- JD

Thank you to all who responded. It is something I need to do since the torque is rather pronounced when at speed since I have the skeg set for medium cruise.
Sometimes at WOT it seems unsafe given the amount of strain on the wheel. Will retain and employ the recommendations made here.
Will check first at WestBoats since I'm in Dallas during the week and that installation price sounds reasonable.
Appreciate the advise.

make that "advice"