I have the Edson steering pedestal and wondering if anyone has had this same problem.
I was sailing in a fairly strong breeze and heard a crack, lost all steering and at first thought the rudder had snapped. Dropped sails and the anchor while I figured out the issue.
What had actually happened is that one of the rear pulleys (in the fuel locker /seat compartment) had been completely pulled through the fiberglass, IE; there are only two carriage bolts that hold them in place and they ripped right through the side of the seat/ fuel locker.
I fabricated 3/16 thick 2.5in X 4in stainless steel plates to displace the forces over a larger area...and if you have the Edison steering pedestal I recommend you do the same. I was installing the plates and pulleys today but the steering cable has jumped off the pulley at the bottom of the pedestal and is wedged pretty firmly between the roller and the bracket. I gave plenty of slack in the cable but cannot get this to release from being wedged.
Part of the problem is that it is very difficult to access this area (under of the pedestal via the thin void through where the cables run from the fuel locker) and primarily need to be done by feel. I was trying to do this today on the mooring in quite rough conditions, not ideal.
I am wondering if it would be easier to completely disassemble the pedestal? Any thoughts on how to release this wedged cable?
I was sailing in a fairly strong breeze and heard a crack, lost all steering and at first thought the rudder had snapped. Dropped sails and the anchor while I figured out the issue.
What had actually happened is that one of the rear pulleys (in the fuel locker /seat compartment) had been completely pulled through the fiberglass, IE; there are only two carriage bolts that hold them in place and they ripped right through the side of the seat/ fuel locker.
I fabricated 3/16 thick 2.5in X 4in stainless steel plates to displace the forces over a larger area...and if you have the Edison steering pedestal I recommend you do the same. I was installing the plates and pulleys today but the steering cable has jumped off the pulley at the bottom of the pedestal and is wedged pretty firmly between the roller and the bracket. I gave plenty of slack in the cable but cannot get this to release from being wedged.
Part of the problem is that it is very difficult to access this area (under of the pedestal via the thin void through where the cables run from the fuel locker) and primarily need to be done by feel. I was trying to do this today on the mooring in quite rough conditions, not ideal.
I am wondering if it would be easier to completely disassemble the pedestal? Any thoughts on how to release this wedged cable?
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