Frozen Steering

[Mr. Sandman]

slightly OT :
I was never a merc fan but I had to make a loooong run (several hundred miles) with one on a delivery of sorts, it was one of the most comfortable OB's I have ever run.

The "slick" part is the very well integrated display which you can set digitally...ie, you set each engine(s) to run at 2550 rpm...perfectly and stay there, like a cruise control of sorts. It is nice when you use it and simple to figure out. Not to mention you can monitor everything (I mean everything, including history) from the display. As for the steering, you send a digital signal to the motor, the hydraulic steering unit is built into the OB housing, the only thing connecting the motor to the helm are wires. I know many old timers will balk at this idea and say "I would rather have push pull or hydraulic lines"...but don't knock it until you try this. Also, I have found the old mechanical approach has problems over time and is stiff to operate and they do leak fluid. A Lot of OB cables suffer the engine tilt syndrome...cables are like paper clips, there are only so many times you can bend them like that before they break.
This thing is like driving a video game. You have to increase the steering resistance if you desire more friction.
Again, I was skeptical and somewhat negative on all this fly by wire stuff but I am a believer now after making a few long runs with them, my next rig will have this stuff. I am sure all the other ob makers will follow suit. I notice now that Volvo is doing a very similar thing on their new diesels too.