On Feb 26, 2:28 pm, "rbstern" wrote:
Have a new boat equipped with a Volvo 5.0GXi with SX outdrive. Only
about five hours on it; still breaking it in. A few times, at idle
speed, the steering has pulsed/shuddered for a few seconds. It
happened when we initially launched, and a few times during docking
manuevers. Almost like the pump was cutting pressure on and off. The
motor sounded like it was running normally. Also, I've found that
this is the most "boosted" steering I've ever experienced on a boat.
The steering wheel spins with ridiculous ease. Too easy, IMHO.

The boat will be heading for 20 hour service in a month or so. I'll
have the dealer's service department look at it, but I wanted to see
if anyone had ideas about what it might be.

The fluid does bypass when not being called on to push in one
direction or another so I'd venture to guess it could just be tight.
All my boat ps experiences are that they turn pretty effortlessly.
Did you not have ps on your prior boat?