Association Forum - 250 WB Steerage

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

250 WB Steerage

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

WindDancer
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
34 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/04/2006 : 23:14:24

I have been sailing my new boat for alittle over 6 months now and like the boat very much; however, I am unhappy with slop in the wheel steering system and the heavy weather helm in a moderate breeze. For the last two weeks I have been sailing other boats on San Franciso Bay and found myself thinking that my boat would be very difficult to handle in these conditions. I have read many of the other posting on this forum about this issue. So my question is what is the best way to tune a new 250wb?

Sould I install an open wire system or the other system that Arlyn was developing?

Sould I get rid of my 3rd generation rudder and go with a longer 2nd generation beaching rudder?

I have watched other boats while sailing mine and have observed that they are not struggling to maintain a heading or rounding up on a puff. Other boats of approx size that I have sail do not struggle with this issue.

If I go with Arlyn's open wire mods and keep the 3rd generation rudder will this solve most of my dissappointments.

What do you think

Thanks,
Bruce
Clearlake Ca

Bruce and Suzette
Five O' Clock Somewhere
2006 C250WB #861
Clearlake Ca

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2006 : 07:12:15

Bruce,

The bad news is that San Francisco Bay is an agressive venue and beyond the capabilities of the 3rd generation short. The good news is that the helm you desire is possible and you have the outline... different rudder and steering conversion to change the steering ratio and clear the play.

As to the best course for a rudder, several choices exist and I think it depends on whether your venue has any skinny water. If no, the 3rd long will do the job and a call to Kent at Catalina to bend his ear really good about the 3rd short being inadequate for your venue. Express your unhapiness and that it will take a 3rd long to make it right and that you want either to trade or get the 3rd long at cost to correct Catalina's shortcoming. If they won't treat you right then I'd blow Catalina off and go with another option.

My first would be to make the Bill Bosworth mod to the 3rd short and add a wing to the rudder. It will allow launch and retrieve with the rudder shipped and will increase the control of the rudder. Or, I'd search for a Catalina 2nd rudder or failing that search go with an IDA rudder. I've a slight bit of hesitancy about the IDA rudder but not from anything known about them but rather from the unknown. The reports so far are encouraging but it remains to be confirmed (at least for me) that they have proven themselves in agressive conditions.

On the other hand, Bill Bosworth (a very experienced sailor) has reported that the wing mod increases the control of the 3rd short to near the capability of the Catalina 2nd, which is capable of agressive conditions.

Edited by - on

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
859 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2006 : 18:02:30

Bruce,
I have a 250WB and sail the SF Bay.
I agree with you because I find myself working a lot harder than other boats nearby.

The first thing I noticed was the slop in the wheel steering.
It was easy to fix by correcting the steering cables.
Here's an old post with pictures --> [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12522"]Edson System Adjustment[/url]

I'm also considering replacing my 3rd generation short rudder with one of Arlyn's suggestions.

Lastly, there has been a lot of talk about adding bow weight to help weather helm for the winged-keel boats.
I tried it on my water-ballast and I was surprised how well it worked.
I used flexible water tank (32 gal) in the v-berth.

I'm still working on solutions, but these are some quick fixes that worked for me.
Russ (#793)

Edited by - on

JohnMD
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2006 : 18:09:45

So I'll ask the question of anyone that uses an Ida rudder: If I spend 619 bucks for an Ida rudder, will I think it was money well spent??? .

Edited by - on

raulpou
Navigator

Members Avatar

144 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2006 : 20:29:12

great question on the IDA. If someone can vouch for it then I will spend the money. IF not, I would be rather upset that I spent that kind of money.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

Members Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2006 : 20:44:14

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I used flexible water tank (32 gal) in the v-berth<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Russ,
which tank did you install.

(Particularly intested as it would have double duty for us.)

Paul

Edited by - on

Robert
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
75 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2006 : 11:24:51

Bruce;
I would suggest that you remove the slop by making the adjustments to your steerage as suggested. I have a WB with two batteries mounted forward of the water tank and a beaching rudder. I have used it on the Bay and I have never had a problem, not even around Treasure and Angel Islands in a following sea.
Robert

Edited by - on

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
859 Posts

Response Posted - 07/06/2006 : 12:37:24

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Russ,
which tank did you install.
Paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Paul,
I'll post a separate topic next week (with pictures).
Russ

Edited by - on

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
859 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 01:23:58

Paul,
Here's my post --> [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13121"]Extra Water Tank for more Bow Weight[/url]

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

Members Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 20:10:48

Russ, thanks, really nice presentation of your install. I really like the way you plumbed it in, that allows you to keep the tank full while exhausting the #1 tank. Great job.

Looks like that mod will be on the honeydo list this coming weekend (after installing new house front door, modified hatchboard, A/C condensate drain & bilgepump, storage bins, and anything else I can fit in after mowing-d-lawn

(Oh, and going to the store and buying a 2nd anchor & rode.)
We're off on a 9 day trip in two weeks... gotta get busy.

paul

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2006 : 20:17:24

Paul, if you run out of things to do... I have a few projects that...

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.