How Boat Steering Works
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Rudders
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Easily the oldest, and arguably the simplest, way to steer a boat is with a rudder. A rudder is a small, firm, piece of material (often wood) shaped like a fin that is mounted to the bottom of the boat at the stern. The rudder pivots in a way that allows it to rotate from side to side. A steering mechanism, usually a steering wheel, attaches to the rudder by a system of cables or hydraulics. When the steering mechanism is turned, the cable or hydraulic system turns the rudder accordingly. This creates an imbalance of force, which causes the stern of the boat to turn and aim the boat in the new heading.
Cable System
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Boats with engines do not necessarily use a rudder to steer. An outboard motor is an engine assembly attached to the stern that provides the vessel with thrust and control. An outboard motor can be turned by hand or, as with the rudder system, can be controlled by a steering mechanism that uses a cable or hydraulic system. In a cable system, cables running through the boat turn the outboard motor from side to side with the turning of the steering wheel. Turning the motor causes the thrust from the engine to propel the boat in a new direction.
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Hydraulic System
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Hydraulic steering systems are very similar to cable systems. The difference is that a hydraulic system employs helm units, cylinders and pistons that control the movement of the motor. The helm unit consists of a hydraulic pump and a valve assembly. When the driver turns the steering wheel, the helm unit forces hydraulic fluid through the assembly, which extends or retracts a piston attached to the outboard motor. This causes the motor to rotate, steering the boat.
Inboard/Outboard System
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Not all engine designs are purely outboard. An outboard engine is one that is visible at the stern of the boat with the prop extending into the water. An inboard engine is an engine assembly mounted at the stern of the boat, usually out of sight, with the prop extending out of the bottom into the water. Pure inboard systems utilize a rudder to steer the boat since the engine and prop are fastened in a way that restricts them from moving. There's also a hybrid of inboard and outboard systems. In this system, as with an inboard, the engine is permanently mounted to the boat, but the prop is mounted in a way that allows it to rotate. In an inboard/outboard system, turning the steering wheel moves only the prop, most commonly with a hydraulic system.
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