A hydraulic passerelle, tender crane and swim platform are among the most heavily used mechanical systems on a yacht; salt water, sun and frequent operation wear out seals and valves quickly. From our workshop in Turgutreis, Aslan Yacht maintains, diagnoses and repairs hydraulic systems for motor yachts and sailing yachts across the Bodrum peninsula, primarily Besenzoni and Idromar. Our approach is simple: measure pressure and flow first to find where the system is losing power, then decide on parts.
What we do
Our hydraulic service scope covers:
- Passerelle maintenance and diagnostics: pump, valve block, cylinder and limit switch checks on Besenzoni and equivalent electro-hydraulic passerelles.
- Tender crane and windlass hydraulics: maintenance of hydraulic motors, brake mechanisms and control valves.
- Swim platforms: seal testing of lift/lower cylinders, synchronisation checks and valve adjustment.
- Hydraulic power units (HPU): motor, pump cartridge and pressure-reducing valve maintenance on Idromar and similar power groups.
- Cylinder overhaul: piston seal, wiper and o-ring replacement, chrome rod inspection, and coordination with an outside shop for honing when needed.
- System renewal: replacing old, leaking hoses and fittings with marine-grade hydraulic hose and couplings.
On every job we pay particular attention to fluid cleanliness, the most common cause of valve and pump wear; when the system is opened we work in a closed-loop manner to keep out dust and moisture.
Typical faults we solve
- The passerelle or platform moves slowly or stalls under load (low pressure, worn pump cartridge).
- Leaks or oil stains around the cylinder rod, or oil pooling on deck.
- No response when pressing the control button (electrical-to-hydraulic interface, solenoid valve fault).
- Unusual noise or vibration during movement (aeration, loose mounting).
- Relief valve setting drifting, causing the system to run too slowly or too abruptly.
- Hydraulic hoses hardened and cracked by salt water and UV exposure.
Common causes of passerelle faults and preventive steps are covered in hydraulic passerelle maintenance, and platform/crane issues in hydraulic swim platform and tender crane.
Our process on board
- Initial check: we ask the captain or owner when the fault appeared and under what conditions it repeats.
- Pressure and flow measurement: we measure pump output, the valve block and the cylinder with a gauge and flow meter.
- Visual and seal inspection: hoses, fittings, cylinder rods and seal surfaces are examined.
- Report and recommendation: findings, required parts and options are clarified before work starts.
- Repair and test: after parts are replaced, the system is run under load several times to confirm pressure and movement speed.
Equipment and brands we work with
We work regularly with Besenzoni passerelles and cranes, Idromar hydraulic power units, and the hydraulic or electrically assisted parts of Tecnoinox galley and deck equipment. For spare parts, our priority is always the manufacturer's genuine part; where unavailable, an equivalent part matched on pressure and flow is used. For installation and maintenance we follow Besenzoni's official technical documentation.
Safety and maintenance principles
Hydraulic systems carry a real injury risk at high pressure, so a few rules stay fixed on every job:
- Pressure is relieved before working on the system, and hoses are never disconnected under pressure.
- Cylinder and pump seals are matched to the manufacturer's specified hardness and material grade; a mismatched seal wears out prematurely.
- Relief and pressure-reducing valves are set to the manufacturer's values, never raised arbitrarily.
- Oil level and colour are checked regularly; foaming or darkening is an early warning sign.
- The electrical supply to electro-hydraulic pumps is protected per the fuse and cable-sizing rules covered on our Yacht Electrical page.
Which yachts this suits
Passerelles and swim platforms are now standard on motor yachts as well as mid-to-large sailing yachts and catamarans. Motor yachts usually run higher-flow hydraulic power units on 230/400 V AC, while sailing yachts favour more compact 12/24 V DC systems. The maintenance logic is the same either way: clean oil, correctly set pressure and sound seals.
Genuine parts and spares
Part compatibility is critical in hydraulic systems; the wrong oil viscosity or a mismatched o-ring quickly leads to a new fault. That's why our priority for pump cartridges, valve coils and cylinder seals is always the manufacturer's genuine part. When lead times are long or a fault is urgent, we can also use quality equivalent parts with documented pressure and flow ratings, always sharing and confirming that option with the owner first. Keeping seal kits and hose fittings in stock lets us resolve many faults on board the same day.
Service area
We serve Turgutreis D-Marin, Yalıkavak Palmarina, Milta Bodrum Marina, Gümüşlük and the boatyards on the peninsula from our Turgutreis workshop. For jobs like cylinder overhaul, the part can be taken to the workshop without taking the yacht's other hydraulic functions out of service. Protecting the hydraulic system during winter lay-up greatly reduces the risk of a sudden fault when the season starts. For watermaker pump systems, which work on a similar electro-mechanical logic though not hydraulic, see our Watermaker page. To report a fault or arrange an inspection, reach us through our contact page.
