Steering - Lock to lock - and replacing Hydraulic steering.

[oxman]

So what is acceptable for the number of turns lock to lock?

The old girl I bought has hydraulic steering of a venerable vintage and takes 20 full revolutions lock to lock!!

I am planning to rip out the hydraulics and go back to a cable steering for 2 good reasons -
1) keep it simple - I figure I can fix a cable problem in far off places but would be hard pushed to sort out a burst hydraulic pipe.
2) I intend to fix a windvane type steering and so hyraulics are out!

Your comments on the suitability and design of a cable steering system would be appreciated.

 

[wotayottie]

I wrote a reply but it seemed to disappear into space.

Anyway, I too had an old Prout and I too changed the gearing of the steering but in my case I did so by installing a higher volume pump from Vetus. And when I did it, it was from 3 turns to one and a half lock to lock. TBH, my guess is that your pump or ram is faulty - surely no one would install a system with 20 turns to it, so more likely the hydraulic fluid is leaking past the seals. Can you continue to wind the wheel when you get to full lock? Can you manually turn the rudders without turning the wheel?

The hydraulic system is much more reliable than cable. There are pressure limiting valves to avoid any risk of burst pipes, and I would be more confident of finding hydraulic pipe somewhere than I would the correct length of marine steering cable.

I was always told that wind steering did not work with cats because of the speed of acceleration. Never tried myself because the hydraulic set up worked so well with an electrical pilot and used very little leccy cos the Prout was so stable directionally.

 

[willie4646]

I would check the oil is at the correct level and free of air. Maybe a thicker viscosity of oil may do the trick.
Willie

 

[Sy-Revolution]

My boat had a retro fitted Vetus hydraulic system installed when I bought her, with 6 turns lock to lock and that was too much. I downsized the cylinder from a MT150 to MT72 and got it down to 2.5. I then decided against wheel steering (the pedestal installation was pretty flimsy and because I have an auto pilot in the same system I had to fit a non return valve so no feedback) and reverted her back to tiller. Cost alot of wasted time and money, but happy now......

 

[PCUK]

Dont change it fix it! There is a fault that can be rectified easily, once you find it.

 

[boatmike]

As a fellow Prout owner I agree. 20 turns lock to lock means you have a problem. Either the pump is shot or oil is by-passing somewhere. When I built my boat I chose to fit cable steering rather than hydraulics to achieve feel and feedback but it's not easy with twin rudders and requires a significant redesign to avoid quadrant angle causing slack cables at extreme lock. A specialised job and not cheap. Mine (Whitlock) cost me significantly more than a hydraulic system. The result is superb but unless you are prepared for extensive mods and loadsamoney mend it. It's broke!
Edit: The ideal for a Prout 35 would be about 5 turns lock to lock.

 

[oxman]

OK thanks for all the comments guys - I see the light - fix it rather than replace it !

I am now thinking of putting a bypass valve inline across the ram so that I can use a pulley system for the windvane from the back of the rudders - I guess I need to think of a way to quickly disengage this if required!