If your on a tight budget just replace the cable as it will be a fair bit cheaper then changing over. If your keen on Hydraulic steering stick with Hydrive. Have a few mates who have had the other well known brands and had to replace after only a few years. Have always fitted Hydrive to my boats and never had a problem to date. Just make sure you get the right size to suit your motor. Budget $900 min

If your on a tight budget just replace the cable as it will be a fair bit cheaper then changing over. If your keen on Hydraulic steering stick with Hydrive. Have a few mates who have had the other well known brands and had to replace after only a few years. Have always fitted Hydrive to my boats and never had a problem to date. Just make sure you get the right size to suit your motor. Budget $900 min

Tim,
Go Hydrive and spend the money on upgraded hoses and swaged fittings. Seastar kits come with nut and olive fittings and stiff hose. The nut and olive fittings are pretty much a one use item, if you need to bleed the system or remove anything at any point you need to get a new nut and olive for each connection or they don't seal properly. With the upgraded hose, its far more supple and has a smaller bend radius. The swaged fittings can be removed multiple times with no issue.

Seastar seal kits with tools for the most common rams are about $300 compared to $50-60 for the hydrive ones.

Chivers Marine can get either kit and make the hoses up if you measure the cable lengths. Or they can supply and fit with the hoses and fittings for around $1700.

Bryan

 Hi

Thanks for the info guys. 

I can't just change the cables - the  steering ram is seized and rooted. And helm is busted. 

I will have a look at hydrive - can you please give me a model number I should be looking at? 

Cheers 

+1 for Chivers. Purchased mine from there cheapest in Perth and they know which unit you will need

 Bought the Comkit 1 with Merc arms - I'll let you know how I go