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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
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 Open Wire Conversion Kits for Wheel Steered 250s
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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/28/2006 :  06:26:16  Show Profile  Visit Arlyn Stewart's Homepage
The purpose of a wheel is to provide a superior helm to that of a tiller, but unfortunately the system on the 250 hasn't lived up to that goal. The reason is the flexible cables, which while providing a generic small boat system, don't meet the needs of the 250.

Sailboats with wheels generally use a quadrant to deal with arc compensation and leverage matching to the rudder needs. Arc compensation simply means that the cables stay the same tension during the full travel of the steering system so that portions of the travel don't suffer play or binding. More importantly, arc compensation becomes a necessity when increasing steering leverage ratios. The two cable pull/pull flexible cable design does not incorporate arc compensation and thus suffers some play in the steering system and can't support an increased steering ratio without incurring excessive amounts of steering play.

A transom hung rudder doesn't lend itself to use of a quadrant but fortunately a simple slotted arm method does work well and the open wire conversion is designed around it.

A conversion <ul><li>solves the failure points of the flexible cable systems</li><li>transforms the helm ratio to one that matches the needs of the 250</li><li>eliminates helm play</li><li>eliminates virtually all drag associated with flex cables</li></ul>
[url="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/steeringkit.html"]Conversion Kit Information[/url]

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224

N/E Texas and Great Lakes
Arlyn's Sailing Site

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