Transform your boat’s steering with Dometic XPA

Owners of a wide variety of single-outboard-powered boats with mechanical steering can now enjoy a car-like driving experience thanks to Dometic’s new Xtreme Power Assist (XPA) technology.

Simple to install and surprisingly affordable, XPA elevates your boating enjoyment by taking your boat steering experience to a whole new level.

We caught up with Dometic’s US-based Product Manager, Dave Wolfe, to learn more about this innovatively engineered steering solution.

The Dometic XPA is essentially an electric power steering system that can be applied to an existing mechanical steering system on boats with a single outboard engine ranging from 90 to 200hp.

High steering effort is often required in pontoon and vee-bottomed boats while larger props on four-stroke outboards create higher torque loads, in turn requiring more effort to turn the wheel. Dometic’s XPA system, however, reduces these loads to smooth, fingertip control, delivering car-like steering effort that is consistent from port to starboard and effectively eliminates prop torque effort.

The XPA system is compatible with a wide range of popular single-engine boats within the 90 to 200hp power rating, including centre consoles, aluminium fishing boats, runabouts, RIBs, tinnies and pontoon boats. The XPA unit has been designed as a self-contained, plug-and-play system that easily mounts to all major outboard brands and integrates with the boat’s existing mechanical steering.

A typical mechanical steering system uses a helm unit with internal gears that drives a steering cable. Turning the steering wheel moves the cable in a linear motion to push and pull the outboard engine, allowing the boat to turn. This is a very reliable method to steer a boat. The helm is powered by the captain, so bigger horsepower engines and large props or large boats require more effort to steer.

Until the XPA, power steering options were limited to Dometic’s SeaStar Power Assist, which is added to a hydraulic system, or Dometic Optimus electric steering. These require a complete system.

In contrast, the XPA is simply added to the boat’s current mechanical system – there is no need to remove or replace the current helm and cable. And XPA integrates with any existing SeaStar rack or rotary cable steering system, so there is no need to install new steering to take advantage of this new technology.

During installation, the XPA is bolted to the outboard engine and the output end of the steering cable is connected to the XPA. The engine’s link arm is connected to the XPA. Wiring is limited to simple battery, ignition and warning-light connections. With the installation complete, the boat now requires only light steering effort thanks to its electric power steering.

And if the system should ever fail, say if for some reason the electric connection is lost, a fail-safe feature sees the boat automatically revert to its regular mechanical steering.

The XPA adds power steering to a mechanical system. It interfaces with all Dometic mechanical systems and is fully self-contained, meaning no other modules or electronics are needed. No CANBUS network or hydraulics systems are required.

The XPA will mount to any 90 to 200hp outboard engine and uses the existing mechanical steering. Unlike other systems, no unusual load is placed on the mechanical cables.

The key benefit is the lack of steering effort required, and that’s the case at all boat speeds. The XPA will transform a boat from traditional manual steering to modern power steering like the system in your car. It’s perfect for new boats with mechanical steering and the ideal upgrade for customers with older boats looking for improved steering. Owners can quickly upgrade to power steering by adding this unit and no other changes are required.

XPA installation is quite straightforward and can generally be completed in under an hour by a boat owner with hand tools and basic mechanical skills. The installation does not require bleeding of hydraulic systems or programming electrical components.

The unit is bolted to the front of the engine and the existing cable is then attached to the XPA – the link arm from the engine is reused. Basic electrical connections to the battery, key and status light are then installed you’re ready to go. Remember, the hydraulic system is still a manual steering system – the XPA provides power steering, so the effort is much lighter.

Click here to view the step-by-step installation process for the Dometic XPA system.

The Dometic XPA system typically costs around $2000 to $2500 (excluding installation costs, if applicable), giving owners of compatible boats a straightforward and cost-effective steering upgrade for far less than you might expect.

For more information, visit Dometic’s XPA page.