What type of steering does your duo-prop drive have?

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PCUK

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Following my previous thread on deciding what steering system to use which didn't get much response, I thought I'd try a different tack.

Is manual hydraulic steering OK for duo-prop drives and if so why do Volvo fit power steering and mechanical steering systems - or are they optional extras.

Hydraulic would be far easier as I wouldn't have to custom fit the steering pump to the engine and would also save a little power at the same time. Hydraulic auto-pilot systems are cheaper than the dedicated power steering actuators from Raymarine.

Any thoughts welcome.
 
PCUK said:
Following my previous thread on deciding what steering system to use which didn't get much response, I thought I'd try a different tack.

Is manual hydraulic steering OK for duo-prop drives and if so why do Volvo fit power steering and mechanical steering systems - or are they optional extras.

Hydraulic would be far easier as I wouldn't have to custom fit the steering pump to the engine and would also save a little power at the same time. Hydraulic auto-pilot systems are cheaper than the dedicated power steering actuators from Raymarine.

Any thoughts welcome.
Click to expand...

Not sure I am 100% sure what you are asking but my last boat (corniche 31 with twin 200hp on duoprops had power steering, ) I have seen the same units on ebay going for £50-£100, just bolt on and add a fan belt, add the hoses, how hard can it be ?


when I used to motor on one engine without power steering through harbours/dutch, french canals (to save engine hours) I found it very hard to steer. Arms would really ache , it took a lot of power to move the steering wheel, at speeds it would have been worse (assumption), I think you need power steering.
 
I believe it is mostly down to the boat size. Mechanical steering is fine for the loads encountered on smaller boats (say sub 18', but I'm not 100% on where the cut-off lies). Above that, the forces involved need power assistance for the mechanical steering (cable) connection, so you get PAS pumps. Above a certain size again, systems tend to be hydraulic, and as you go larger yet, the hydraulic systems need pumps to reduce the manual effort at the wheel.

It's not hard and fast, but I'd guess:
<18' = mechanical (cable) steering
18-30' = mechanical + PAS pump
30-50' = hydraulic
>50' = hydraulic + pump
 
Thanks so far. I have all the power steering gear with the leg and must now buy a steering system. Overall it would be easier and cheaper to go for manual hydraulic and scrap (via Ebay) the power steering gear.
From Wiggo's reply I think I am basically asking will manual hydraulic be OK. Not too heavy.
Boat is 26 ft planing with single engine.
Or back to the first question, what make and model of mechanical steering to use with the power steering?

In fact I've answered the question myself. I'll go with manual hydraulic - unless someone tells me why not!
 
When I installed diesels in my 26' (3.5Tonne) Sunfury, the setup would not allow space for powerassisted steering, so installed a pure manual hydraulic setup.

Vetus pump that the steering wheel fits to, nylon hoses to the cylinder and hydraulic cylinder from Aquafax onto the existing steering arm on the outdrive + a complicated link arm to join the 2 drives.

Worked perfectly and with no more effort than the original VP setup.
The only fiddly bits were making the connection between the steering wheel and the vetus pump (I wanted a momo wheel and made a small adaptor)
and making a strong mounting bracket to mount the hydraulic cylinder.

Absolute doddle... just make sure you use the correct olives for the nylon hose. Otherwise get a local hydraulic co to make up hoses with swaged fittings.

That was with 2x 140 hp going through 290SP outdrives so duoprops should be no problem.
 
it's sometimes easy to forget that what's actually installed in new boats is often more a function of installation (non-skilled!) than anything else.

combined engine/drive packages have been common for some time now, and have associated steering elements included.
 
no worries... was easier to do than I thought and worked far better than i planned. Just make sure that the mountings and linkages are beefy, the forces can get quite large. Think I used 3mm plate and 12mm bolts through one of the stringers (with a backing plate) to mount the cylinder. Likewise the clevis fitting to the steer arm.

seen to remember there is a section on the vetus site where you can calculate the bore of the cylinder. think mine was ~35mm.
note: it has to be a cylinder with the rod running right through the bore so that the volume/number of turns is the same both ways.
 
PCUK said:
Thanks so far. I have all the power steering gear with the leg and must now buy a steering system. Overall it would be easier and cheaper to go for manual hydraulic and scrap (via Ebay) the power steering gear.
From Wiggo's reply I think I am basically asking will manual hydraulic be OK. Not too heavy.
Boat is 26 ft planing with single engine.
Or back to the first question, what make and model of mechanical steering to use with the power steering?

In fact I've answered the question myself. I'll go with manual hydraulic - unless someone tells me why not!
Click to expand...

I had a rinker 26ft with a power steering fail, made steering hard work IMO.
 
PCUK said:
Newton Abbott boat jumble next Saturday, so eyes peeled for a pump and ram!
Click to expand...
I've only seen this now, did you buy the components in the meantime?
If not, here's my 2c: fit a FULL hidraulic system if you can (with the steering valve directly connected to the wheel, rather than keeping the cable to drive the steering valve inside the transom).
Actually I,'m not sure if it's possible to retrofit that to a VP DP outdrive, but the responsiveness and reliability of a full hydraulic steering is well worth the additional installation effort, if feasible.
You wouldn't want to hear of cable driven steerings anymore, after trying a full hydraulic system.
 
Thanks Mapism,
As you say, there's nothing like hydraulic. all my previous boats have been manual hydraulic. The only reason this question has arisen is that when I bought the drive, it came complete with all the power steering equipment and I thought, that sounds good! Now having had a chance to think about it I realise that I was only going with the power steering cos' it was there.
The leg is still on the workshop floor and I don't have any steering system at all other than the power steering pump and actuator.
Following the various helpful comments here I've decided to go back to basics and get a pump and ram to steer and a hydraulic pump for the autopilot. A System I am well versed in!
Thanks everyone.

ps
Volvo power steering pump and actuator for sale both in excellent condition!!!
 
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