Adding power assist to a 228?

[luckydude]

I'm looking at adding an assist pump to my boat, I dunno why, but my steering isn't easy and I want to link the kicker and main engine.
I'm also looking at adding autopilot and I know that wants its own pump.

My questions are:

a) if you have hydraulic pump assist, do you still need another pump for autopilot?
b) adding hydraulic pump assist, do you leave or take out whatever pump the steering wheel is pushing on?
c) who has done this and what gremlins lurk in the process?

Thanks.

 

[ElyseM]

no real answer other than i have seen some of the products with a combined assist/ap pump. garmin comes to mind. good luck, ron

 

[HMBJack]

On my 330, which came with power assist steering:

A. No. Your AP pump stays "as is". The Power assist pump is additive (so it may operate when your AP is off).
B. No. You leave what's there. The Power assist pump is simply plumbed in addition to your existing sea star hydraulic system.
C. I didn't install mine but I have replaced my power assist pump (that's how I know the plumbing!)

Hope this helps...

 

[everwhom]

I think Seastar offers an add-on autopilot pump: http://www.seastarsolutions.com/products/hydraulic-new/power-steering-new/spa-autopilot/

But you'd have to make sure it's compatible with your AP. For example, I don't think it would work with a Garmin system without adding the rudder sensor.

 

[Halfhitch]

To add to HMBJacks answer to question B.... If you are looking at the SeaStar 1200 Series power steering pump, it senses the pressure/flow from the manual helm pump to determine what is being ask of it so the original helm pump remains, and the power unit is plumbed into the hyd circuit.

https://www.seatechmarineproducts.c...aulic-power-assist-steering-unit-12v-24v.html

 

[SkunkBoat]

You need an AP pump AND a Power Assist Pump if you want AP and power assist.
They both connect into your existing hydraulic hoses.

 

[wspitler]

There is no way you should need power assist with your single engine, even given the kicker. The autopilot pump is different and is a great thing to have, but is completely off line if autopilot is not being used. It could be you need a larger, maybe new, helm pump (it's manual) and/or steering cylinder ram. Or it could be your system isn't optimized, flow restrictions or the motor/ram assembly itself is stiff. I'd check those possible issues before installing a power assist pump. An autopilot is a must have for me though. I have twin 300s and no power assist and have no problems.

 

[SteveWA]

I have both a GW 282 and a GW 330 that I installed power steering and autopilot in a combo Seastar PA6010 pump. The unit performs both functions in one unit.

 

[luckydude]

I have both a GW 282 and a GW 330 that I installed power steering and autopilot in a combo Seastar PA6010 pump. The unit performs both functions in one unit.

That's what I'm looking for. Is it compat with all the different brands of autopilot or is there one it likes?

 

[trapper]

Agree with wspitler, there should be no need for power steering on a single outboard Seastar hydraulic steering unit. I have an F200 i4 and can easily turn the wheel with a coupe of fingers on the steering knob (wheel spinners). Lucky, be sure to check out your steering system before you add the assist.

 

[luckydude]

Agree with wspitler, there should be no need for power steering on a single outboard Seastar hydraulic steering unit. I have an F200 i4 and can easily turn the wheel with a coupe of fingers on the steering knob (wheel spinners). Lucky, be sure to check out your steering system before you add the assist.

I will look and see if I can figure anything out. I need to make sure there aren't kinked lines but if there were, wouldn't it be hard to steer all the time? It's easy under way.

I'm going to add autopilot so I think I'll do what Steve did and add a pump that does both.

 

[SteveWA]

Luckydude I agree if you are going to the effort of adding an autopilot and YOU want power steering do it. I love my power steering on both boats. But they have twins 250's and twin 300's. The seastar PA6010 requires one 12v power connection and a 12v control connection from you autopilot variable output. One PA6010 unit is connected to a Lowrance NAC-1 Autopilot and the other boat uses a Furuno Navpilot 300 autopilot. The PA6010 Type 1 specs are 4 to 8 amps output from the autopilot is the normal load on the autopilot driver. I'm an electrical engineer so this stuff is pretty easy.

 

[SteveWA]

I just saw you are using a Garmin system. In that case you have to use a Garmin pump with the feedback input to the ECU or have a rudder position sensor. They don't use don't use "phantom" or "virtual" rudder input like the other vendors. Sorry.

 

[luckydude]

I just saw you are using a Garmin system. In that case you have to use a Garmin pump with the feedback input to the ECU or have a rudder position sensor. They don't use don't use "phantom" or "virtual" rudder input like the other vendors. Sorry.

I'm Garmin for most of my stuff but haven't added the autopilot yet. So I have some freedom there.