Hydraulic steering system for a watercraft

A hydraulic steering system for a watercraft having first and second outdrives, the hydraulic steering system comprising:

• a first hydraulic steering actuator for steering the first outdrive;
• a second hydraulic steering actuator for steering the second outdrive;
• at least one hydraulic pump selectively supplying hydraulic pressure to at least one of the first and second hydraulic steering actuators;
• a steering controller operatively connected to the at least one hydraulic pump for controlling the at least one hydraulic pump;
• a hydraulic helm selectively supplying hydraulic pressure to the first and second hydraulic steering actuators;
• an auxiliary steering input device connected to the steering controller for sending steering signals to the steering controller;
• and
• at least one mode selection valve having a first mode position for steering the watercraft in a first steering mode and a second mode position for steering the watercraft in a second steering mode,
• in the first steering mode, the at least one mode selection valve is in the first mode position for hydraulically connecting the hydraulic helm to the first and second hydraulic steering actuators, the hydraulic helm is a steering input of the watercraft, and hydraulic pressure is supplied to the first and second hydraulic steering actuators by the hydraulic helm,
• in the second steering mode, the at least one mode selection valve is in the second mode position for hydraulically disconnecting the hydraulic helm from the first and second hydraulic steering actuators, the auxiliary steering input device is the steering input of the watercraft, and hydraulic pressure is supplied to at least one of the first and second hydraulic steering actuators by the at least one hydraulic pump.

A method for steering a watercraft having first and second hydraulically steered outdrives, the method comprising:

• selecting one of a first steering mode and a second steering mode;
• in response to selecting the first steering mode:
• hydraulically connecting first and second hydraulic steering actuators of the first and second outdrives to a hydraulic helm;
• and
• steering the first and second outdrives with the hydraulic helm by supplying hydraulic pressure to the first and second hydraulic steering actuators from the hydraulic helm;
• in response to selecting the second steering mode:
• hydraulically disconnecting first and second hydraulic steering actuators from the hydraulic helm;
• and
• steering the first and second outdrives with an auxiliary steering input device by supplying hydraulic pressure to the first and second hydraulic steering actuators from a hydraulic pump.