Blaster Steering Options.

EvanB85

Team Poseur
Location
Tacoma, WA, USA
I'm not a true Blaster guy, but I'm helping my mechanically declined buddy out here. Are there any steering systems other than UMI ? $416 is mighty pricey, and that's minus bars.
 

jetskier79

I'm goin' for two
Location
San Diego, CA
there are the cheesy sort of spring loaded ones, and then there is one made by "actusteer?". I don't know, I Just stick with stock steering....it does the job.
 

jetskier79

I'm goin' for two
Location
San Diego, CA
Waveblaster069 has the spring setup on one of his boats. The "spring" portion of it has been basically eliminated by jamming a sh*t ton of washers on the neck to eliminate the play. It works, but it's an ugly work around. Other than that, it's been working just fine.

Does your buddy have a real need for replacing the stock setup? or is this a case of spending money just to spend money?
 

EvanB85

Team Poseur
Location
Tacoma, WA, USA
Dunno if he really needs it or not. He just mentioned it. I've told him numerous times he need to yank that ridiculous yellow plastic cover, but he claims the whole steering would need to be replaced. Not the case? Can you just bolt on new bars? Honestly, I've never worked on a Blaster before.
 

EvanB85

Team Poseur
Location
Tacoma, WA, USA
OK, I knew this was the easiest solution to begin with. Whatever. In regard to bars, UMI lists 26 deg rise with 2.5 deg pullback; and 28.75 deg rise with 2 deg pullback. Suggestions? In the SJ world, we like less pullback. Same story here? Do you guys know what you're running?
 

jetskier79

I'm goin' for two
Location
San Diego, CA
I THINK I'm running these

http://www.motoworldracing.com/Tag-Metals-Mini-T2-Bars.html

tag-T2BarsMini.jpg


I prefer wider and much higher. Really weird to get used to at first....100X better when you get used to it.
 

WaveDemon

Not Dead - Notable Member
Location
Hell, Florida
hey jerry, do you do any bar hops, heel clickers, seran wraps or any other tricks over the bars? I think I may start working on some soon with my conversion ski.
 

jetskier79

I'm goin' for two
Location
San Diego, CA
Been considering it, but haven't convinced my legs that it's ok to go over the bars. My legs are too short for heel clickers. haha. Only thing I'm doing right now that involves bars are cliff hangers.
 

jetskier79

I'm goin' for two
Location
San Diego, CA
Here are a few video captures of those bars on my ski. You can see, they are up signifigantly higher than stock or UMI bars and much wider. Overall, they allow much better leverage on the ski.
 

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skysurfer2010

SUR 24
Location
Philly
i have the umi steering assembly, but yamaha also made a beefed up steering system thats stronger than stock. i've never seen them in person though. i heard they weren't badly priced. not sure if you can get them anymore, but you might be able to find them somewhere online.
 
i have the umi steering assembly, but yamaha also made a beefed up steering system thats stronger than stock. i've never seen them in person though. i heard they weren't badly priced. not sure if you can get them anymore, but you might be able to find them somewhere online.

The steering system you're referring to is the spring system mentioned earlier.
 
I really like the UMI Steering System on a blaster. It just feels far more solid and precise. Absolutely no play like the stock setup. I hear if you can take care of the stock setup it can be just as solid feeling as a UMI.

All of the stock setups I have ridden definitely haven't felt nearly as good as a UMI setup.

In the end the stock setup looks like a$$ and the UMI looks bada$$. :biggrin:

If you're like Jerry and you're just gonna beat on a blaster in the surf then the stock setup is fine. If you're like me who occasionaly rides in the surf and just loves to have a really nice blaster cuz there aren't many nice ones still around then the UMI is great.

I wouldn't buy a new one though. Too damn expensive. The first UMI system I had was given to me. It was in pretty rough shape, but after a rebuild and polishing it was good as new:biggrin:. Luckily the hull I just bought came with UMI so I've never had to fork out that kind of cash.

I would try and buy a used one like Mile9c1's, but if you have to have a new one Jazzmotorsports.com has the best prices on new ones. I wanna say he asks like 375 for them.

When it comes time to rebuild them which should be done once a year if you ride in salt make sure you use stainless steel bearings.
 

Mile9c1

X-H2O.com
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
The stock steering feels like $*** compared to the UMI, there is no comparison. You can keep the OEM one tight if you just keep tightening the straps around the plastic bushings, but they never feel as smooth as a UMI. i'm sure some people don't care, but I could never go back to stock.
 
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