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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Third Generation Rudder

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tagraham
Deckhand

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2 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/22/2004 : 12:54:29

I have a 1999 wing keeel 250 and have had wheel steering and rudder problems since day one. Last month the rudder pin came out and the cable actually broke just after leaving the dock! The dealer is recommending the third generation rudder along with an Edson two cable system as opposed to the current one cable set-up. I have heard that others have expereinced similar problems. Any commnets from experience?

Thanks,

Tracy Graham
Hull #387

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2004 : 00:13:30

Hi Tracy,

You have some options. I have provided a kit to upgrade the steering linkage that is open wires instead of flexible cables. I believe it is far superior and will pass on the words of a recent buyer of the kit.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Just a bit of feedback on your steering system that I installed over the winter. Every time I sail the boat I appreciate it more!! It took me a couple of sails to get used to the light touch. It's like super power steering. Even in the stiff winds its easy to control. No more fighting the wheel in a gale. I haven't even had to tighten the cable since the second use. You got a great system there. I still think you should seek a patent and give Edson a run for their money. Catalina would be a better boat with your steering mechanism installed.

Thanks for a great modification.

Alan Therrien
"Moonpenny"
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

[url="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/steeringkit.html"]Kit Information[/url]

The open wire steering is superior to the Edson cables in my opinion. It has absolutely no drag, no play and provides a much better steering ratio than the Edson upgrade can...and its at half the price. I am not hawking a product... I've been providing kits only because they require some machining. If you would like to build the design yourself, the drawings and details are on my web site. It has been built by one other and a good many kits have been provided... everyone saying that the design far exceeded expectations.

About the rudder, the 2nd generation rudder in my opinion is superior to the 3rd except that it isn't balanced. It has more lift and less drag than the 3rd short. The one area that the 3rd long is probably better is slow speed performance because the 3rd has a much thicker foil and thick foils have greater lift at slower speeds.... again, they also have more drag.

The steering kit will not have a struggle with torque issues of the 2nd generation rudder as the design eliminates the flex cable drag as well as increases the steering ratio. If you go with the Edson upgrade and want to deal with the torque issue, then your dealer is right, the rudder should be replaced as well. The dollars and cents are 300 one way and 1000 the other and I think the 300 ends up with the better system....your choice.

I could care less about selling a kit... I'm simply passionate about the best handling that is possible on the C250.... hope this helps.

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Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2004 : 01:12:00

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">About the rudder, the 2nd generation rudder in my opinion is superior to the 3rd except that it isn't balanced. It has more lift and less drag than the 3rd short.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Comments from the water ballast crowd would suggest that Arlyn’s comments about the 2nd being better than the 3rd are true. But not for the wing keel. My 2000wk came with the 2nd gen rudder. In April of 2001 I put the 3rd gen rudder on the boat. The 3rd gen rudder for the wing keel is a better rudder than the 2nd. I also have the 2 cable pull pull Edison system. I have had no problems with it. If I ever do have problems I would consider Arlyn’s open cable system as a good option.

Here are some interesting readings on the C250 rudder topic

http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4590

http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5594

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tagraham
Deckhand

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2 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2004 : 13:29:12

Thanks for the great advice. This is an extremely helpful website with plenty of good information. I hope to be back out on the water soon.

Thanks again,

Tracy

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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.