Can We Over-Engineer this? B&G Rant !

[markpj23]

OK so I have a B&G autopilot system that I'm generally happy with. A few weeks ago the ram leaked out all its fluid so it was time to rebuild. Here's your basic Type 1 B&G ram:


Can't be all that complicated - a couple of seals and we should be good to go, right?

Start of rant........

B&G seal kit: $460.00!!

Outrageous - I'm going to find an alternative! Shopped around and delivered to a national hydraulics repair shop in Miami. They can rebuild anything, make whatever seals are non-standard, etc. Welll....... not so much. When they disassembled it and spec'd the seals, their price to make new was almost exactly the price from B&G.

What could possibly cost so much? Are the bits made from unobtanium or something??

So I bit the bullet and bought the seal kit. Here's what is in it - can you believe this??


It's just a simple hydraulic ram fer chrissake. How can you engineer a simple push-pull cylinder to require all this??

Next time I'll replace the ram with a simple reversible hydraulic pump and an off the shelf cylinder - likely for less than the cost of repairing this one.

UGH!

[GordMay]

All those seals - and still, it leaked ...
Sorry, I shouldn't make light of your pain.

[Bash]

outrageous indeed. please keep us in the loop in terms of your search for an alternative.

[bstreep]

I feel your pain. We have some B & G instruments on the boat. They are ancient, and replacements are just insane. For the cost of 2 lousy monochrome, 20/20 displays (they just display the speed and source - that's it!), I could replace the whole wind system.

[cdennyb]

did you check "harbor Freight" ? (sorry LoL) I have a 25 ton wood splitter ram that's only $370.00 replacement and it's 15 years old without a single drop of fluid leaking out in all that time. Hmmm, you'd think they'd come up with something a little better huh?

[markpj23]

Originally Posted by bstreep

I feel your pain. We have some B & G instruments on the boat. They are ancient, and replacements are just insane. For the cost of 2 lousy monochrome, 20/20 displays (they just display the speed and source - that's it!), I could replace the whole wind system.

Exactly! The only good news for me was that you can still buy replacement wind sensors from Defender. Previous boat had the ST-50 stuff and NO replacements for those wind sensors are available now.

Boat bucks add up quickly.....

[sarafina]

I don't even have to read the posts to answer this one.

YES!

; -}

[Jetexas]

If you haven't already put it back together, take all those seals, springs and ball bearings to an Ace Hardware. Most of them are available there for just a few cents each. You can probably put yourself together another kit for backup.

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by bstreep

I feel your pain. We have some B & G instruments on the boat. They are ancient, and replacements are just insane. For the cost of 2 lousy monochrome, 20/20 displays (they just display the speed and source - that's it!), I could replace the whole wind system.

The 20/20 displays will display any information in the B&G system eg depth speed wind angle VMG etc (at least with the H3000).
At anchor for example I switch one display over to battery voltage so I can see outside when the solar panels are regulating.
Yes its more expensive than Raymarine, but if you see the 2 side by side you can see where the money has gone in better build quality glass bonded displays etc

That is an expensive set of O rings though.
.

[s/v Jedi]

Buy parts for hydraulic steering and just add the pump from the AP manufacturer, or select industrial parts for that too. It's as simple as you describe it is (reversible polarity motor).

You will need a solenoid valve (or manual valve with morse-cable) to disable the hydraulics for hand steering.

cheers,
Nick.

[Highlander40]

It's a bit simple to say it's just a cylinder.
From the looks of it. You have a motor, a pump, control valves and a cylinder plus hoses etc. All packaged in a compact unit.

If you all would quit whining for a second. There is probably just one seal that is leaking. Take it apart, measure housing ID and shaft OD as well as the width of the seal. Then go to a bearing distributer or industrial supply house. Cost 10 or 20 bucks, maybe.

[Blue Stocking]

Boats and show horses--the 2 largest consumers of wealth, with the smallest returns

[barnakiel]

Go for an off the shelf ram. Vetus or something like this. Will buy the whole thing together with the handles for the price of those gaskets.

b.

[goboatingnow]

agh yes B&G, vastly overpriced for what you get these days. Junk it and start again

[Wmiii]

We just crossed from Key West to Ft Myers Beach Monday/Tuesday.
My B&G Pilot went out as we were encountering pitch black night, 25-30kt winds and rough confused seas. It was a real joy hand steering all night.

It is good to see that there is a fix available, even though it is not inexpensive.
What is the source for you repair kit?
I can't seem to find anything online.

Thanks,
Wm Mayberry
OPTIMYSTIQUE
IP 37-30

Bradenton, FL