I'm have some concerns with my steering as well as my hydraulics.
My boat is a 43' Ocean Alexander w/twin Lehman 120's (1983 Aft Flat Deck)
A bit about the boat:
1. I have 2 steering locations "upper flybridge & main salon.
2. Behind the upper flybridge steering helm in a storage space is the hydraulic fluid resoviour.
3. All the hydraulic lines lead to the Master Stateroom against the aft bulk head where the rudders penetrate the hull.
"NOTE" - I am currently at home and do not know the brand name of my steering system.
Ok here goes:
* When I turn the wheel (at either location) the boat does not begin to turn nor does the turning of the helm "feel" as though anything is happening (play in the wheel I think) until after turning the wheel about 3/4 of a full revolution. At that point the boat begins to respond.
* Hard over to port and starbord is almost 6 full revolutions.
* When I hit the "dodge left" or "dodge right" on my auto pilot the boat responds "immediately".
About 4 weeks ago, at the upper flybridge location, I discovered some "red" hrdraulic fluid on the deck in the storage compartment behind the steering helm.
I cleaned off the lines in the area and then opened the resoviour and poured in 1/2 quart of fluid to fill the resoviour. I placed a cloth below the resoviour and went home. I did not bleed the lines, actually do not know where to begin to do that process.
We had not been back to the boat until this last Thursday and I immediately checked to see if any more fluid had leaked and sure enough there was evidence of some "minor" leakage. I cleaned up the area and put a fresh diaper below the resoviour. We ended up working on the boat Thursday and Friday then went out in the San Juans Saturday and Sunday. When we came back the diaper was spotless.
The steering still has some "play" and the auto pilot works just fine, but I feel as though I am on the brink of some "real problems".
I am looking for some input, ideas, suggestions, comments and recommendations from the boating community.
My thanks in advance.
oledutch
My boat is a 43' Ocean Alexander w/twin Lehman 120's (1983 Aft Flat Deck)
A bit about the boat:
1. I have 2 steering locations "upper flybridge & main salon.
2. Behind the upper flybridge steering helm in a storage space is the hydraulic fluid resoviour.
3. All the hydraulic lines lead to the Master Stateroom against the aft bulk head where the rudders penetrate the hull.
"NOTE" - I am currently at home and do not know the brand name of my steering system.
Ok here goes:
* When I turn the wheel (at either location) the boat does not begin to turn nor does the turning of the helm "feel" as though anything is happening (play in the wheel I think) until after turning the wheel about 3/4 of a full revolution. At that point the boat begins to respond.
* Hard over to port and starbord is almost 6 full revolutions.
* When I hit the "dodge left" or "dodge right" on my auto pilot the boat responds "immediately".
About 4 weeks ago, at the upper flybridge location, I discovered some "red" hrdraulic fluid on the deck in the storage compartment behind the steering helm.
I cleaned off the lines in the area and then opened the resoviour and poured in 1/2 quart of fluid to fill the resoviour. I placed a cloth below the resoviour and went home. I did not bleed the lines, actually do not know where to begin to do that process.
We had not been back to the boat until this last Thursday and I immediately checked to see if any more fluid had leaked and sure enough there was evidence of some "minor" leakage. I cleaned up the area and put a fresh diaper below the resoviour. We ended up working on the boat Thursday and Friday then went out in the San Juans Saturday and Sunday. When we came back the diaper was spotless.
The steering still has some "play" and the auto pilot works just fine, but I feel as though I am on the brink of some "real problems".
I am looking for some input, ideas, suggestions, comments and recommendations from the boating community.
My thanks in advance.
oledutch