Sandack has recently had a hydraulic failure. The keel was up and pinned whilst we dried out to change anodes etc. When it came time to raise the keel slightly to remove the pin, it wouldn't budge. The motor was running as normal (slightly higher pitched - Hmmm). It was dark but there was no obvious oil slick around us and a torch inspection through the keel box cover holes showed no wetting that might indicate hose or joint failure up there.
After a hideous, skating transit through the marina back to our berth with the keel still pinned up, we discovered and removed 2 litres of hydraulic oil from under the forecabin floor. It appears to have been pushed through the ram breather tube which runs down the tunnel of horror in the fore cabin beneath the mast step and terminates in a repurposed cycling water bottle. This had overflowed and filled the floor void.
Our assumption is that the piston seal in the ram has failed, allowing oil through the breather and we are making plans to have the boat hauled out and have the ram rebuilt. My question though is, does anyone know what the sensible working life of the hydraulic hoses is and has anyone had a failure or replaced them? Particularly the long one from the top of the keel box, down the tunnel of horror and under the floor to the pump.
Ewan
Sandack P325 #30