gromit83
New Member
Just trying to think out loud with other boaters.
My 26 ft daycruisers KAD32 is about to be junked, but the DP-E drive is still good. Plans at the moment is to insert a reman FNM HPEP250 engine. The problem which arises is the power steering. The boat is currently using teleflex cable with Penta GM style power steering.
We are talking 2025 and trying to retrofit the old GM style power steering pump with the in-line oil cooler isn't a prospect I think is very attractive. The problem is the power steering RAM.
1st option is to retrofit to only hydraulic steering. This option isn't not too costly. My only thought about is the steering is not powerful enough during normal operation (ie 22 knots) to be viable. (Hydrodrive.eu has some nice kits)
2nd option is a power steering setup ala Dometic EPS which I think is too costly for a 20 year old boat even if you can find used pump units.
3rd option is electric powersteering with the Dometic Optimus, but thats even more costly than the 2nd option.(Dometic have the XPA upgrade kit, but it's only for outboards and still requires the Teleflex.)
4rd option is getting an electric servopump from an old Volvo and converting it to run the original Volvo Penta cylinder. IE eliminating the need for an inline oil cooler.
5th option is combining option 1 and 4. Bit more costly, but not by much, but it's still a totally hydraulic system.
My 26 ft daycruisers KAD32 is about to be junked, but the DP-E drive is still good. Plans at the moment is to insert a reman FNM HPEP250 engine. The problem which arises is the power steering. The boat is currently using teleflex cable with Penta GM style power steering.
We are talking 2025 and trying to retrofit the old GM style power steering pump with the in-line oil cooler isn't a prospect I think is very attractive. The problem is the power steering RAM.
1st option is to retrofit to only hydraulic steering. This option isn't not too costly. My only thought about is the steering is not powerful enough during normal operation (ie 22 knots) to be viable. (Hydrodrive.eu has some nice kits)
2nd option is a power steering setup ala Dometic EPS which I think is too costly for a 20 year old boat even if you can find used pump units.
3rd option is electric powersteering with the Dometic Optimus, but thats even more costly than the 2nd option.(Dometic have the XPA upgrade kit, but it's only for outboards and still requires the Teleflex.)
4rd option is getting an electric servopump from an old Volvo and converting it to run the original Volvo Penta cylinder. IE eliminating the need for an inline oil cooler.
5th option is combining option 1 and 4. Bit more costly, but not by much, but it's still a totally hydraulic system.
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