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Edson wheel stearing upgrade upgrade

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berrymanks
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/06/2004 : 00:56:01

Last spring, I installed the upgrade for the wheel steering from the push-pull system to the pull-pull cable system. I was happy with the upgrade (except for the cost). However, last Fall, I went sailing with a friend who was young, very strong, and no sailing experience. The wind came up (!) and after reefing, we finally headed for a cove. I took over and noticed a lot of play in the stearing.

Cause: He didn't know how far to turn the wheel from stop to stop and I didn't notice he was muscling it past the stop. This resulted in bending the new bracket mounted on the transom. By pulling hard on the wheel, the force pulled on the bracket where the cable housing attached. The bracket was bent in towards the tiller. This resulted in loosening the cable.

For safety, and for just plane good steering, this design seems to have a flaw. Although it was “abused,” I think the bracket should have taken it.

Solution: For now I cut off the end of a broom handle (did you see the movie “The Right Stuff?”) and duct taped it into position between the two ends of the bracket so that if one side receives extra force, the stress is transferred to the other side. It seems to work and unless someone out there has a better solution, I will make it more permanent with a piece of aluminum tubing.

Any other suggestions, (other than keeping gorillas of the wheel)?

Ken Berryman, Catalina 250, #184 “WaterPainter”

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2004 : 07:40:10

Ken,

My concern is that your friend didn't feel the transition from rudder torque to the rudder stops. That transistion shouldn't be subtle, it should be very obvious, but I know isn't if using the 2nd generation beaching rudder in its stock form.

Hence, I'm guessing thats the rudder your using and that it has not been modified with a better hold down system and that the rudder is positioning with aft rake and thereby adding a lot of torque to your steering system. If so... that needs to be fixed and the mods are fairly simple and staightforward. They are outlined on my web site. Look for "Beaching Rudder Head Mods and Balancing the 2nd Generation Beaching Rudder".

http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/mods.html

Those mods will eliminate the torque problem and provide for easy sensing of the transition between rudder movement and when the stops are reached.

Your fix for the problem of the bending brackets sounds reasonable and if the torque issue is dealt with...then I think your dragon will be slain.

If I guessed wrong and your using the 3rd generation rudder...or even the 2nd blade... then the pull pull system may have too much drag and needs greased.

Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 02/06/2004 19:12:48

ssteakley
Captain

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USA
467 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2004 : 22:07:24

Ken,
did you upgrade with the Edson 2 cable system?
Steve

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berrymanks
Deckhand

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USA
6 Posts

Response Posted - 02/07/2004 : 03:46:00

Thank you Arlyn for your comments. They were helpful. I also saved your “Mods” website as a favorite since I found it useful. First, to answer Steve’s question, the modification to the steering was done last year and was the pull-pull two cable system modification from Edson. I am also using the 2nd (?) generation long rudder with the breaching head. This head had been modified by the previous owner so that the rudder is raked forward as shown in Arlyn’s “Breaching Rudder Head Mods.” It also has the same system with the shock cord to hold the rudder in the forward rake. I have never had a problem with the rudder rake slipping aft. I also have found the system to be fairly responsive (although I “grew up” on tillers). I may need more grease in the cable housings but it was well greased last year. How often do people re-grease? Anyway, the problem on the day the bracket was bent was a combination of excessive wind, and a helmsmen who was very strong, excited, and inexperienced. I will be adding tape markers on the wheel rim to indicate when the rudder is at a 45 degree angle on either tack.

Ken Berryman

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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.