Complete steering loss in St Augustine inlet

[Pascal]

If you have zero pressure left and the ram is empty you should be able to center the rudders manually with a big wrench. Some boats have an emergency tiller for that purpose.

I still have the original 1970 copper steering pipes thru out the boat. Probably will last longer than the new stuff!

[JD5652]

One of the great things about this site. I learned three things today..

1. The reverse trick
2. Remember to have my 24" and 36" handy
3. Inspect my steering hydraulic lines

Thanks!

[Sadey]

What is the 24” and 36”, box wrench?
I saw a YouTube post where they had a steering issue. The boat had a metal tube that went between the two rudders to help center them. That I get. I don’t understand how to use a wrench to center the rudders? The reverse thing, yeah that’s in the toolbox now. Thanks for the tip!

[JD5652]

What is the 24” and 36”, box wrench?
I saw a YouTube post where they had a steering issue. The boat had a metal tube that went between the two rudders to help center them. That I get. I don’t understand how to use a wrench to center the rudders? The reverse thing, yeah that’s in the toolbox now. Thanks for the tip!

Sorry... meant to put in the 24" and 36" "pipe" wrench. I have two of each on the boat. I also keep set of large open/box wrenches on board as well between 1" and 2-1/8".

[rsmith]

I had a line blew 74nm offshore. Hatteras ran the steering lines around the sides of the hull before the cockpit liner and cap went on. When we got the boat the PO had a 10’ pvc tube in the ER with every side tube in it. But the pinhole was outboard of the exhaust and I could barely reach it. I found a compression coupling in with my misc box of fittings and cut the line and put that in. Didn’t have enough ATF to fill the system so I used 10/30 oil I had for the generators. Worked fine bled the system and no harder to turn the wheel. I ran all new lines under the back deck and abandoned the ones in the hull. I never did flush the system out and the engine oil is probably still in there 30 years later.

[ageless]

I do have pipe wrenches onboard and centering the rudders was a conversation, sea conditions wouldn't allow.

Thanks to everyone for the response. I certainly intend to utilize the bleed box and will update progress on the fix

[ageless]

1/2” lines ran. 3/8” once my back allows. Still have to secure everything. I didn’t realize my helper ran the 3/8” through the same ER bulkhead passage as a 1/2”, that has to be redone, uggggg. The thought of one of these flares/fittings leaking when I fill sickens me. Lol

[SKYCHENEY]

Nice work

[bostonhatteras]

before filling with oil, pressurize the system with only air and that will tell you if you have a leak.

[ageless]

before filling with oil, pressurize the system with only air and that will tell you if you have a leak.

GREAT IDEA!!! Thank you