Sail Vessel Khalifavideo
#51 We redid the entire power steering system on the Khalifa!
May 16, 2026 · 27 min · 2K views
Crew pours red hydraulic fluid into Khalifa’s steering system
What this video covers
The owner of a 38-foot sailboat replaces the vessel's entire hydraulic steering system, including the hydraulic pump and autopilot drive unit, while docked in the United States.12:58 The project involves installing a new hydraulic pump and mounting it to a custom-fabricated fiberglass support bracket, as the original mounting surface was made of hollow Nidaclor material that could not support the weight of the new components.10:15 The owner retains the original hydraulic lines running from the helm to the stern, citing the difficulty of routing new hoses through the hull, but replaces all other hoses and connectors.4:22 After re-sealing the steering actuator, the crew bleeds the hydraulic system by manually cycling the helm while opening bleed screws at the actuator to remove trapped air.19:35 Following a tense sea trial that required recalibrating the autopilot in a narrow channel, the system has functioned reliably during subsequent passages to Curaçao.24:21 The owner performed the preventative maintenance to address minor oil weeping from the actuator seals and to utilize spare parts acquired before departing Brazil.24:44
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