Thanks for the info Doug! And great talking to you tonight!

Bounced, I don't think Doug mentioned that he is running a labbed 28p Bravo. Maybe that might help your issues?

If it's not overcorrecting as I somehow suspect, it could be the prop style. Many other chine walking issues have been cured by prop changes/tweaking.

Doug, do you feel a 'ratchet' steering effect where the wheel backs off and locks into a spot after moving it?
What is your lock to lock turns?
Thanks,
Kent

Mudball,
I am not sure what you mean by "where the wheel backs off and locks into a spot after moving it?".. I had the WPM single ram but had the older valve inside and cable steering, but did not feel any racheting.. I believe you should not feel any ratching.. It should move smoothly back and forth, if it is all oil and no air. You may have some trapped air in one side???
I can see more turns one way than the other like BI said. Volume differences on each side of the piston in the ram. Do the tie points for the ram move freely? If one is too tight or not lubed. I think I have plastic or nylon bushings and was told "anti seaze" was the best..

The guys with the "more effort at idle", have you opened up the orifice inside the pump?? Of course it depends on how high your idle is.. If you put a gauge on the high pressure side, you can see a low reading ( I recall, which is not reliable, 900lbs and at 1500rpm.. see 1500psi) at idle and more at more rpm.. it is just a pump..

Just thinking out loud on a hot humid day here.. hope it helps..

Dick

The 'ratchet' effect feels like it's in the helm. This is a Char-Lynn helm unit.

I don't believe that air is trapped in the system, at least I don't think there is. I bled and bled each fitting on the cylinder while the wheel was being turned. It is hard as a rock while running.
The bushings are bronze riding on stainless shafts. They are nice and smooth. No binding..

Maybe more explanation of the 'ratchet' effect might help.
If you just get up on plane, say 30mph or so, and slowly turn the wheel to the right, then let off, it will move back to the left until it finds a 'groove' to lock into. You can't really feel the 'groove', but they are about every 1/2" of wheel movement. If you move the wheel just past a 'groove', it will move back to that 'groove'. Turning left is not nearly as noticable.

Is it possible that running power steering fluid (the generic type) is a bad thing?

I was hoping to perhaps learn something here before I bug Brian. He's really busy these days...
Thanks,
Kent