Association Forum - Rudder to Port with Steering Wheel

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

Rudder to Port with Steering Wheel

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Wasbon
Deckhand

Member Avatar

USA
13 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/19/2013 : 14:52:30

I recently purchased a 2007 Catalina 250. I had a 2006 Capri 22. The Capri was easy to maneuver using the 4hp motor and keeping the rudder locked via the tiller extension. Boy was I spoiled. With the 250 and the steering wheel bringing her back in the slip is quite challenging. I noticed that the rudder's angle is much sharper when turning to starboard vs port. Meaning the rudder does not move the same distance in both directions. I and a couple more experienced sailors have looked at the steering linkage and have no great ideas. Are all Catalina 250s with the steering wheel like this? has anyone dealt with trying to get a little more rudder angle to port?

2007 250 WK #933
Indianapolis, IN

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

2272 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2013 : 14:58:24

This is not right. You need to adjust the linkages to lengthen the cable on the port side and shorten it on the starboard side. This needs to be done down in the rear lazarette where the cable attaches to the steering rod. You might also need to check the chain inside the pedestal, since that may be part of the problem.

Before doing any of this, you should turn the wheel until the rudder is perfectly straing and count the number of turns to full port and then full starboard. If it's the Edson pull-pull system, it should be about 3/4 turn each direction, although your situation is almost certainly much greater in one direction than the other - but they should add up to about 1 1/2 turns from full port to full starboard. If it's less or more than that, you might have some damage somewhere else. If it's more like 3 turns full port to full starboard, then you have a pully modification that has 2:1 purchase, and hopefully others here could help you with that.

Edited by - TakeFive on 05/19/2013 15:06:57

Wasbon
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
13 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2013 : 15:05:23

Thanks TakeFive. I will investigate further. I saw you sail on the Delaware. Back in the early eighties I first learned to sail on a sunfish on the Delaware by carrying through Gov Printz park and sailing over to Jersey.

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 05/20/2013 : 19:17:34

If wheel control allows the rudder arm to bang the stops, what you describe is typical on the 250. The reason is the geometry of the movement of the offset rudder arm.

What you have discovered is that the 250 is a docking challenged design. It is vulnerable to windage because of freeboard and has a wide beam with flattish bottom. The 250 requires a large rudder to provide the needed control to overcome monster weather helm so locking it center as you discovered doesn't work.

I moved to it from a C-22, which had better control while docking and discovered on the first outing that help was needed.

That help came from linking the rudder and engine while docking. There have been several discussions of methods to do that with choices of hard and soft link ups.

Clearance issues of some outboards also comes into play. If engine turning is accomplished with a link up... docking is made easier.

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.