Hydraulic Systems - How Do they Compare ?

[paje]

We are looking for a hydraulic system for a sailboat above 25 meters. How would you compare Bamar, Navtec or Reckmann?

[stillbuilding]

What hydraulic functions are you considering? Depends a lot on whether you are just wanting hydraulic backstay +/- boom or furlers, windlasses, winches, hatch lifters etc etc. I am sure Reckmann are excellent on all counts but talking telephone numbers there.

[goboatingnow]

To be honest having been involved in repairing a hydraulic furling main , jenny ,vang and backstage, I'd avoid hydraulics. There great when they work but their over complicated, very costly and complex. There is a requirement for special tools , specialised fittings and service procedures etc. We have reckmann and navtec gear and parts had to be flown round the world to be repaired.

Personally if it sizes right I'd go with electric furling and if I had to simplemanual pumped vang and backstay. Electrics are simpler to troubleshoot and easier and way cheap to install and repair

Dave

[Dockhead]

We have four electric winches -- they are great. Foolproof and reliable. The entire system (that is, each winch) is contained in one compact unit, so no chasing all over the boat in case you have some problem.

We have a hydraulic lifting transom. Already had problems with the hydraulics in the first year. Fixed it myself, but it was a messy and unpleasant job. The whole system is way too complex for the job, in my opinion.

Sailed on a big Swan with hydraulic everything. It all worked fine while I was on board, but it made me nervous. The windlass and bow thruster were powered off a hydraulic pump driven mechanically by the genset motor. How many things to go wrong there??!! If you can't start the genset, you are stuffed! Not to mention all the other possible faults.

Hydraulics = great in theory, much less great in practice.

I agree with the above advice -- have a robust 24v electrical system and use electric-driven systems wherever possible. A little less efficient but SO much simpler.

[paje]

Thanks for all. We are dealing with a new Bamar Hydraulic System for adjusting tension on Backstay, forestay, innerforestay and boomvang. It keeps loosing pressure. Our question is: Is this a Bamar specific problem or the other brands would probably have the same issues?

[stillbuilding]

There is bad hydraulic practice as there is poor electric practice. Read a few simple hydraulics texts and it becomes obvious that if you cut corners you get a sloppy job. I have been on several work boats which had impeccable hydraulics and the grunt to handle anything. Most yachts under 50' probably simply do not need that sort of power and electrics is fine. Bowthrusters and anchor winches are the two big consumers in boats over 50 -60'. Then if you are in for a penny you might as well have the rest so becomes an easier decision in >60'. Leaking connections and the like are reflection of the worker I reckon.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by stillbuilding

There is bad hydraulic practice as there is poor electric practice. Read a few simple hydraulics texts and it becomes obvious that if you cut corners you get a sloppy job. I have been on several work boats which had impeccable hydraulics and the grunt to handle anything. Most yachts under 50' probably simply do not need that sort of power and electrics is fine. Bowthrusters and anchor winches are the two big consumers in boats over 50 -60'. Then if you are in for a penny you might as well have the rest so becomes an easier decision in >60'. Leaking connections and the like are reflection of the worker I reckon.

But connectors are born to be leaky, sooner or later.

Our boat is 55' LOA and 24 tons displacement. We have a 10 horsepower 24v electric bow thruster which works just fine -- no need for hydraulic at all. The windlass is less satisfactory but if I upgrade it will be to a different electricals one.

The electric winches couldn't be better. And you don't have to start up any hydraulic pump to get any of this working -- just push the button.

I think that even much bigger boats will be perfectly happy with electric rather than hydraulic gear, as long as you've got 24 volts and enough power on board.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by paje

Thanks for all. We are dealing with a new Bamar Hydraulic System for adjusting tension on Backstay, forestay, innerforestay and boomvang. It keeps loosing pressure. Our question is: Is this a Bamar specific problem or the other brands would probably have the same issues?

If your loosing pressure on all of them then you may just have a selection valve problem. If it's a new system then other thing is to look for fitting leaks.

Hydraulic Fitting Leaks
.

[stillbuilding]

The electrics vs hydraulics argument tends to get a bit simplistic, Hydraulic power comes from a pump driven off propulsion motor, generator, 240V electric pump, 24VDC or 12 VDC electric motor. So electrics and hydraulics can both be "push button". You need some decent electric power to handle a windlass or thruster in a big yacht. - can be done of course but is something more than just running a small cable up to the bow.
All systems have their pros and cons - electrics have enough issues that have been dealt with ad nauseum in other posts. Hydraulics have issues.
If you really want heavy power for windlass, thruster then hydraulics is the go.
All the furling stuff can be done either way. Probably the economics is in favour of hydraulics once you get to 4 or 5 functions. Not much extra cost for each additional function. For smaller boat then keeping to 24V electrics is fine.