Edson steering brake question

[GBeck]

Hello, New to me a Catalina 30 TR. 1979
Not new to sailing but first boat with a wheel.
I'm a senior and interested in single handed sailing on a lake.
Currently the lock on the Edson is very hard to lock. It's a knob.
Is there a way to fix this. Make it easier to turn and more effective.
Do others with this boat get vibration in the wheel when under power and a pretty severe tendency to turn left (port)
It doesn't do this under sail.
I have an Atomic 4 engine. I already rebuilt the fuel pump but have noticed that the engine temp is always 200 degrees and if I speed up it will easily go to 220. This is on a lake where the surface temp can easily reach 80-85 degrees. I see water exiting the exhaust so I know it's pumping. Is this normal?
Still learning about the head and other systems.
Thanks,
Gary
Lake Lanier GA.

 

[Calif. Ted]

You can rebuild the brake, but it won't ease the steering,. In general, I've never found a brake worth rebuilding, it's a leather lining on a clamp.
Brake Maintenance Kit 316-689)
If you don't have a T-shaped cockpit I'd guess your boat came with a tiller and you have a wheel conversion. I've helmed several Catalinas with conversions, and the steering effort was excessive on them.

 

[shemandr]

On an older Atomic the water passages in the engine block may be partially occluded and water could get thru but cooling compromised.
I'm not an engine guy but I think a product called Barnacle Buster (Not the cheaper store brand) will help.

TRAC Barnacle Buster Concentrate - Marine Growth Remover | West Marine

Remove marine growth efficiently with TRAC Barnacle Buster Concentrate. This powerful formula cleans heat exchangers, hulls, and more, restoring performance and protecting your vessel from damage.

www.westmarine.com

I've never owned a Catalina but my H356 would sometimes veer to one side under power but not sail. I assume it had something to due with the prop rotation but never learned why it occurred sometimes and not others. There was nothing wrong with the steering.

 

[GBeck]

You can rebuild the brake, but it won't ease the steering,. In general, I've never found a brake worth rebuilding, it's a leather lining on a clamp.
Brake Maintenance Kit 316-689)
If you don't have a T-shaped cockpit I'd guess your boat came with a tiller and you have a wheel conversion. I've helmed several Catalinas with conversions, and the steering effort was excessive on them.

Thanks, I thought it might be a leather strap. It's possible that it's so smooth that it doesn't grip the shaft like it should. Also the round knob makes it very hard to get tight. I'm going to take a look and see if there is anything I can do before I order the repair kit. I restore cars as a hobby and pretty good with mechanical things. Yes, it has the tiller post at the rear of the cockpit. I like tiller boats the best but this is a cruiser not the racers I've had before. Nice to find this forum.

 

[dmax]

2-blade props are known for causing pull - there's a pulse when the blades line up with the rudder. 3-blades smooths it out. Wheel vibration is likely from the engine/drive-train.