8 turns lock to lock - help me reduce that

[sailingunity]

My boat has hydraulic steering with a fairly large rudder. Lock to lock it takes me 8 turns! This is rather bothersome when trying to navigate in small spaces, or do something like wiggle the boat off of a sandbar. I've taken the pedestal and pump out in preparation to remove the engine, and figured this might be a good time to rethink the system.

I hear normal for about is about 3 turns.

There are three ways I can think of to reduce the turns:

- Larger pump (more flow per turn)
- Larger sprocket on the pedestal or smaller sprocket on the pump
- Smaller ram at the rudder (I imagine this is somehow engineered for the loads).

Any one of these would likely increase the steering effort, but I would classify it as light under most conditions at the moment. The worst is probably when I've been pushed up on a sandbar sideways, and trying to turn the rudder against the water flow in a 2-3 knot current (difficult, but not impossible). A larger wheel might be needed, the one I have today is a little on the smaller side at 28"

[Chotu]

Certainly the best way to do this if your system has sprockets is to change the sprocket. That’s cheap. Otherwise you are stuck buying a new helm pump. That is not cheap.

Changing the Rams will not be the best option because yes, they are selected at a certain size so that they can exert the right force on your rudder and stand up to the pressure there.

[wholybee]

I sailed a boat once, a boat some friends had just bought and needed help with, that had hydraulic steering and about 8-10 turns. It was a nightmare to dock! Spinning the thing as fast as you can, only to lose count and not center the rudder when it needs to be. It was only a 33 footer, neither hydraulics or that many turns was necessary.

On that boat I think the wheel was direct to the pump. It wouldn't have been easy to change it to a faster wheel.

[SVTatia]

Just a thought: you don't need a lot to turn, just a bit of rudder angle is enough, no?
The only time you need a lot of rudder is when reversing and using the rudder to counter prop walk.

[Searles]

Simply change the chain drive ratio to suit ⚓️⛵️

[Snore]

Originally Posted by sailingunity

My boat has hydraulic steering with a fairly large rudder. Lock to lock it takes me 8 turns! This is rather bothersome when trying to navigate in small spaces, or do something like wiggle the boat off of a sandbar. I've taken the pedestal and pump out in preparation to remove the engine, and figured this might be a good time to rethink the system.

I hear normal for about is about 3 turns.

There are three ways I can think of to reduce the turns:

- Larger pump (more flow per turn)
- Larger sprocket on the pedestal or smaller sprocket on the pump
- Smaller ram at the rudder (I imagine this is somehow engineered for the loads).

Any one of these would likely increase the steering effort, but I would classify it as light under most conditions at the moment. The worst is probably when I've been pushed up on a sandbar sideways, and trying to turn the rudder against the water flow in a 2-3 knot current (difficult, but not impossible). A larger wheel might be needed, the one I have today is a little on the smaller side at 28"

Could you share the make and model of the boat? Is it a nimble twin engine boat, or a full keel design that does not like to tuen? Does it have thrusters?

Knowing this will allow some better feedback.

Hard to believe a manufacturer would hoble a boat like that.

[sailingunity]

Originally Posted by Snore

Could you share the make and model of the boat? Is it a nimble twin engine boat, or a full keel design that does not like to tuen? Does it have thrusters?

Knowing this will allow some better feedback.

Hard to believe a manufacturer would hoble a boat like that.

This is my boat: Olympic Adventure 47

Prop walk is strong in reverse, the only way I've been able to overcome it is to give it bursts of reverse then switch to neutral, otherwise the prop walk overpowers the rudder unless you have a good deal of speed.

[sailingunity]

Originally Posted by SVTatia

Just a thought: you don't need a lot to turn, just a bit of rudder angle is enough, no?
The only time you need a lot of rudder is when reversing and using the rudder to counter prop walk.

I'd mostly like it for marina maneuverability, when you're in a marina with a 53 foot long boat, and the wind is blowing you around, getting the rudder from full starboard to full port as quickly is possible would be desired.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by sailingunity

I'd mostly like it for marina maneuverability, when you're in a marina with a 53 foot long boat, and the wind is blowing you around, getting the rudder from full starboard to full port as quickly is possible would be desired.

Understood, I also have a full keel and small space manuvering is tough. Nice boat, and with that bite aft it sure looks a Brewer design.
Good luck, I hope you find a solution.

[Chotu]

Only as a joke….

How about a suicide knob? It would make for a quick work moving that rudder.

Seriously, your only option is what I posted in the beginning. You have to change the gearing ratio on those sprockets if you have those involved in your system.

Otherwise it gets pretty difficult. And very expensive.

The only other slight possibility is to share with us the hydraulic helm pump model as well. Some of them are adjustable displacement. Like mine.

[chrisr]

with hydraulic steering your only option is to change the helm pump to one of greater capacity

cheers,

[sailingunity]

Looking at the pump, it doesn't appear to have much room for a smaller sprocket.

The wheel sprocket does though, however there's the strange bronze rod that disappears down into the pedestal that might interfere with it.

[sailingunity]

This is the ram, basically just tells you what oil to use, no specs!

Might need new paint.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by sailingunity

This is the ram, basically just tells you what oil to use, no specs!

Might need new paint.

Hilarious, the label explains that Schiedam is near Rotterdam

[sailingunity]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Hilarious, the label explains that Schiedam is near Rotterdam

Yep funny they would put that on there, the pump has the same thing. My guess Vetus was a smaller company back in 1973?