My boat came with ITS but only one engine has a pump.

I would like there to be a pump on the second engine so that if power is lost on one motor, steering can still be operational.

I already have both pumps and they will feed off of one reservoir but I am unsure how to plumb the two together. For instance to I need a proportioning controller?

Any diagrams would be very helpful.

Nobody has added a second pump in this application? Any words of wisdom appreciated

Latham sells a special valve- so the steering is running always on the engine you start first

Thank you! I thought someone might know something

The ITS has the one-way check valves needed for twin pump installation included in the secondary connection block, the block that the pump and cooler lines connect to. If you only have one pump now, the installer probably didn't bolt on the secondary block for the second engine. It comes with every ITS, so the builder/installer would/should have one. You will still need a common reservoir kit which Latham or another reputable steering manufacturer can help you with.
The pump valve block that Latham and others sell just has check valves in the ports that the pump pressure lines connect to, just like the ITS block(s) have. Basically you are teeing the pump lines together but you need the check valves to keep oil from flowing back through a pump that isn't running. Then the return line is teed back to go through both engine coolers and to the reservoirs. Then the reservoirs have to be teed back together at the caps to a common reservoir which should be higher than the engine reservoirs.

I am switching to the High end pumps from CP Performance that do not have there own reservoirs. You desribe my Fountain's system. Any changes for no reservoirs on the pumps?

some line some fluid ,a couple of rags and away you go

You could try running from the coolers to the reservoir and then connect the reservoir to each pump, but the length and size of the hose between the reservoir and the pump is critical. It needs to be "very" free flowing to keep the pump from cavitating. That's why the kits usually leave the reservoirs (such as on the Merc pumps with separate reservoirs) in the system because they are close to the pump. Give your steering manufacturer a call. They may have recomendations.

If I understand you correctly it would look like this but with 1 reservoir for each pump?

This is the pump. The pressure fitting is a size 10, the return is a size 6. hope that is sufficient.