Seastar Helm

[budhod]

In the process of installing hydraulic lines for my new Autopilot, the installer broke my Seastar Helm, probably by overtightening the fitting.

My boat is a 2003 31TE and had the original helm. I wonder if anyone has had to replace a helm or if there is a reasonable life expectancy on this unit. I think the installer should be responsible for all or part of the damage to my helm.

[Tree]

I think the installer should be responsible for all or part of the damage to my helm.

Too right! I recently installed an autopilot on my 28 and needed to check if the unit had check valves installed, spoke to the Seastar distributors over here and found the unit was still currently made - 14 years after is was installed.

I don't think you should have an issue sourcing one, IIRC on the 28 the ports are 1/2npt threads but the back side of the unit is only cast aluminium. It shouldn't have broken, only if someone was over tightening it.

[RobS]

100% on him.