CaptainThames
Well-Known Member
I am looking at replacing the teleflex steering on a 1980s twin outdrive fairline, with a hydraulic system. Grateful for advice from anyone who has done a similar job.
Hydraulic Steering
- Thread starter CaptainThames
- Start date
Channel Ribs
Well-Known Member
Hi, what is your boat?
CaptainThames
Well-Known Member
The boat is a 1980 Fairline Phantom 32 with twin AQD40 (130hp) diesels on 280 legs - any thoughts?
Ifraser
Well-Known Member
I've done this job on a twin outdrive Conway 26. I fitted a Sea Star system supplied by Hypro Marine in Lymington. Its a case of finding a good solid mounting point for the ram making sure that it won't foul anything when it is operating. My boat doesn't have power steering so not sure how that affects things but the job is fairly easy in principle. Hypro Marine supplied the correct length hydraulic hoses it was just a matter of feeding them through the boat. Let me know if you have any specific questions and I'll see whether I can assist. I am only an enthusiastic amateur and I'm sure you'll find some rather more professional advice on this forum...! Iain
JKay
Well-Known Member
please excuse Fred drift but a user called"outbreak"wants info
on Conway 26's He asked earlier in the month
cheers Joe
on Conway 26's He asked earlier in the month
cheers Joe
Ifraser
Well-Known Member
Hi Joe...I'm in contact with outbreak, I came across his post on another forum a few weeks back and pointed him here...but well spotted anyway...there's not many of us Conway owners around! cheers Iain
JKay
Well-Known Member
OK mate /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
cheers Joe
cheers Joe
CaptainThames
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the hypro marine tip. I'm sure that will get me started. I also have no power steering hence I feel the need for something which takes some of the effort out at higher speed. I live down their way so will see what they come up with - thanks.
JKay
Well-Known Member
Let us know how you get on please(same problem on the
plane)
cheers Joe
plane)
cheers Joe
tico
Well-Known Member
Did it on 26' Sunfury with twin 140 diesels.
Main thing is to ensure that the mounting for the ram is solid enough to take the loads and free to swing as the drives move.
You may need to make a new bar to connect the two outdrives.
Then its a case of feeding the hoses through and mounting the pump on the dashboard.
I used a Vetus pump and a ram from aquamarine.
Needed to cut a big hole in the dash to mount the pump and an adaptor to suit the steering wheel.
If you use nylon hose to connect everything, ensure you use the proper olives for the connections rather than standard ones (they wont take the pressure)
Ensure that the connection to the outdrive lever/tiller cant come unscrewed coz its a bugger if it comes apart on the water.
Follow the instructions to bleed the system.
Otherwise great, and very much better than the old teleflex system. Didnt need any power assistance to handle the power even flat out, fingertip control!
Would recommend it.
Main thing is to ensure that the mounting for the ram is solid enough to take the loads and free to swing as the drives move.
You may need to make a new bar to connect the two outdrives.
Then its a case of feeding the hoses through and mounting the pump on the dashboard.
I used a Vetus pump and a ram from aquamarine.
Needed to cut a big hole in the dash to mount the pump and an adaptor to suit the steering wheel.
If you use nylon hose to connect everything, ensure you use the proper olives for the connections rather than standard ones (they wont take the pressure)
Ensure that the connection to the outdrive lever/tiller cant come unscrewed coz its a bugger if it comes apart on the water.
Follow the instructions to bleed the system.
Otherwise great, and very much better than the old teleflex system. Didnt need any power assistance to handle the power even flat out, fingertip control!
Would recommend it.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Have got the std volvo hydraulic system on my P33 with 2 x 280 outdrives.The pump is located behind the steering wheel on the dash.My system has also got the inline pump for a autohelm and direction indicator.While not exactly light it is easy to use and the only problem requiring attn was the rebuilding of the steering ram.This cost arounf £60 for new seals etc at a non marine repair establishment.
All the tubing is copper except obviously a couple of flexy pipes at the ram end.
All the tubing is copper except obviously a couple of flexy pipes at the ram end.
ADLS
Well-Known Member
I had my boatyard install a Vetus system I'm running a 1930s 10m full deplacementsed to glance down and line up the two chain end shackles but now it's a case of winding full to port or starboard and counting back. Going to get one of those arrow thingy whatsits that someone wrote about elswhere on the forum.
Do make sure the system is bled through and check it a couple of time. I took a boat up the Thames once that had not been properly bled and it was an experiece not to be tried again. She was twin engined but both props spun the same way, so the engines were not much help with steering. Did manage to get into and berth at St Kaths without hitting anything and spent the afternoon sorting the steering out. It was much better without all the bubbles in it so we cracked a bottle of bubbly to celebrate.
Do make sure the system is bled through and check it a couple of time. I took a boat up the Thames once that had not been properly bled and it was an experiece not to be tried again. She was twin engined but both props spun the same way, so the engines were not much help with steering. Did manage to get into and berth at St Kaths without hitting anything and spent the afternoon sorting the steering out. It was much better without all the bubbles in it so we cracked a bottle of bubbly to celebrate.
Strathglass
Well-Known Member
Simple enough to do if you source all the parts from one supplier.
You basically have a pump which the steering wheel bolts to,
and a couple of hydraulic pipes from it to the ram. This ram must be VERY securely mounted.
The rod from the ram drives a lever which steers the boat.
I would contact someone like ASAP, they will sell a complete bundle of bits and they will advise you on the total package you require for your craft. Also they will be at the end of the phone if you have any problems.
It is bit more of a problem if you are fitting a dual station system.
I have added a second hydraulic steering/gearchange station to a 34ft twin engined steel cruiser and installed the hydraulic steering on a 42ft GRP yacht. In both cases I used Vetus bits.
On a correctly installed and comissioned single steering system the wheel should return to the same position each time for dead ahead.
Cheers
Iain
You basically have a pump which the steering wheel bolts to,
and a couple of hydraulic pipes from it to the ram. This ram must be VERY securely mounted.
The rod from the ram drives a lever which steers the boat.
I would contact someone like ASAP, they will sell a complete bundle of bits and they will advise you on the total package you require for your craft. Also they will be at the end of the phone if you have any problems.
It is bit more of a problem if you are fitting a dual station system.
I have added a second hydraulic steering/gearchange station to a 34ft twin engined steel cruiser and installed the hydraulic steering on a 42ft GRP yacht. In both cases I used Vetus bits.
On a correctly installed and comissioned single steering system the wheel should return to the same position each time for dead ahead.
Cheers
Iain
ADLS
Well-Known Member
Hi iainsimpson,
"On a correctly installed and comissioned single steering system the wheel should return to the same position each time for dead ahead."
I would be interested to find out how this can be done?
Just run the system layout by our company's hydraulics engineer and he says it can't be done. As the power comes from a rotary pump operated by turning the steering wheel and the action is by a push pull ram, the system will hold under low hull speed only moving to midships with high forward movement over the rudder.
If a system would return to midships why do Vetus sell a very expensive cam, sender and guage kit????
If theres a cheap way out please let me know, many thanks LD
"On a correctly installed and comissioned single steering system the wheel should return to the same position each time for dead ahead."
I would be interested to find out how this can be done?
Just run the system layout by our company's hydraulics engineer and he says it can't be done. As the power comes from a rotary pump operated by turning the steering wheel and the action is by a push pull ram, the system will hold under low hull speed only moving to midships with high forward movement over the rudder.
If a system would return to midships why do Vetus sell a very expensive cam, sender and guage kit????
If theres a cheap way out please let me know, many thanks LD
Strathglass
Well-Known Member
Morning LD
Perhaps I was not explicit enough in my comments. I was only refering to the steering wheel position relative to ram position on a single wheel system. Not to any self centering ability.
As your company's hydraulic engineer says achieving self centering is not simple or innexpensive.
I personally do not like the dead feel of simple hydraulic systems although it can often be the easiest compromise. This is even worse on a yacht compared with a cruiser.
For that very reason I fitted a tiller directly on the rudder shaft on my own yacht (33ft).
Like yourself, If you ever find a 'cheep way' of doing anything within a marine environment I would love to know.
Cheers
Iain
Perhaps I was not explicit enough in my comments. I was only refering to the steering wheel position relative to ram position on a single wheel system. Not to any self centering ability.
As your company's hydraulic engineer says achieving self centering is not simple or innexpensive.
I personally do not like the dead feel of simple hydraulic systems although it can often be the easiest compromise. This is even worse on a yacht compared with a cruiser.
For that very reason I fitted a tiller directly on the rudder shaft on my own yacht (33ft).
Like yourself, If you ever find a 'cheep way' of doing anything within a marine environment I would love to know.
Cheers
Iain
oldgit
Well-Known Member
My system has got the indicator unit and it is useful in confined spaces,locks and mooring up etc,but when going anywhere is never referrred to.
