Edson pedistal warning

[Richard Shelby]

The attached photo shows the sheave mounting plate from below my Edson pedistal, or what's left of it. I was backing out of a slip when the sheaves just pulled away and I lost steering without warning. After cleaning out my pants, I found the emergency tiller and made it home. 30 years of exposure to the marine environment had done a job on what was ferrous metal. Check your pedistal ASAP!

 

[Ed Schenck]

Excellent advice Richard. We saw this once before. The combination of salt air and water penetration really does a number. I see mine a couple times a year when I oil the sheaves. I also oil the cables. Thirty-two years, mostly in fresh water, and still like new. Even so I have decided to bring the pedestal home this winter for a complete refurbishing. Wonder what kind of a coating on that plate would provide peace of mind for the next thirty years?

 

[Jim Legere]

Yep, removed mine for restoration just last winter. It was rusty but fortunately not to the point that Richard's was. Why a reputable company like Edson would have used galvanized steel plate for the base of the bronze sheaves is beyond me - should have been stainless steel! I cleaned mine up, applied 2 coats of Extend primer and then 4 coats of Tremclad enamel. Hopefully that will last another decade or two. BTW, replacement parts are available from Edson at $400+ (ouch!). The new ones appear to be available with aluminum or bronze bases.

Richard, how did you find steering with the emergency tiller - was it a bear?

 

[Richard Shelby]

Not too bad. Only had to go about 5 miles. However, steering in reverse was next to impossible, and she pulls hard to starboard with the engine. Generally not a fun ride.

 

[Blaise]

Motoring with the emergency tiller in HARD work. Having to do so for six hours running down the ICW, I settled on a method that worked pretty well. I took a piece of 1/4" line from the port winch, (secondary in my case) to the tiller. Then a piece of 1/2" line from the tiller to the starboard winch. Starting with the tiller offset a couple of inches to port (steering the boat to stbd) I then centered the tiller with the stbd winch. To turn the boat to port just tighten the 1/2" line with the stbd winch. To turn it to port, just ease it. The 1/4" line has enough stretch so you never have to touch it.

As far as the sheave plate goes, I first replaced Midnight Sun's in 1989 after only ten years. It looked much like the one in the photo, only hadn't failed yet. The next one 12 years later. The current one was replaced when I replaced the pedestal (the original was just worn out) in the mid nineties and is still doing fine.

 

[Richard Shelby]

Plasma cutter at the local machine shop made this from 1/8 stainless.
I put in the slit at top so I don't have to remove the control cables.
I can get you one for $100....

 

[Jim Legere]

Re: Edson pedestal warning

Richard, the bronze sheaves were originally attached to the plate with some swaged stainless sleeves (holes where the steering cables feed through) - how did you re-attach the sheaves to the new stainless plate?

 

[Richard Shelby]

There are holes in the back side of the base which had old steel screws. I replaced them with 5/16 hex head cap screws. I'll probably add another screw in the base. The holes in the plate are larger (so I can change the angle if needed). 2 Screws per sheave should hold it.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Nice work Richard. I plan to remove my pedestal and bring it home for refurbishing. If my plate looks at all suspect then I will be interested.

Probably needs a separate thread but how are you guys wired under the cockpit sole? Mine is a jumble of splices, 12v to autohelm, old GPS mount, and chartplotter. Same with grounds. All of that has to be disconnected without Richard's slot.