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.

 

[jssailem]

I assume it had something to due with the prop rotation

Bingo.

In addition to the prop rotation causing the stern to turn, when it hits the rudder it moves across the rudder faster on one side than the other. It will cause the wheel to turn.

The direction is dependent on the prop direction of rotation.

 

[Boatyarddog]

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.

The A-4 is raw water cooled, the thermostat is usually a 145 degree, to keep salt water from precipitation out of the sea water and being deposited on block and any cooling passages.
If your temp is always 200 or so your flow in the block may be restricted, you may not see that in the flow mentioned to the exhaust flow as that is separate from the flow thru the engine block.
Remove the T Stat and check the temp while running without a thermostat. That would be a better indicator of true block temp.

 

[Boatyarddog]

The A-4 is raw water cooled, the thermostat is usually a 145 degree, to keep salt water from precipitation out of the sea water and being deposited on block and any cooling passages.
If your temp is always 200 or so your flow in the block may be restricted, you may not see that in the flow mentioned to the exhaust flow as that is separate from the flow thru the engine block.
Remove the T Stat and check the temp while running without a thermostat. That would be a better indicator of true block temp.

Second issue of the brake lock, those lose gripping power over time but you can get a friction band thru Edson Marine.
You'd have to pull off the binnical and then the sleeve.
The difficult part is usually the 4 long SS screws holding the binnical and steering shift parts in place, as the pedestal is Aluminum, and the screws SS always a problem so be careful there.

 

[GBeck]

The A-4 is raw water cooled, the thermostat is usually a 145 degree, to keep salt water from precipitation out of the sea water and being deposited on block and any cooling passages.
If your temp is always 200 or so your flow in the block may be restricted, you may not see that in the flow mentioned to the exhaust flow as that is separate from the flow thru the engine block.
Remove the T Stat and check the temp while running without a thermostat. That would be a better indicator of true block temp.

Good idea, I'll find the thermostat and try that. I have a few classic cars so very familiar with engines. A couple of my cars have two temperature rating thermostats usually for different climates. This has always been a freshwater boat and is sailed all year. Lake water here rarely freezes but it sure does get warm in the summer. Yuck! Might be able to leave the thermostat out year around. Of course I've also wondered how accurate the temp gauge is. I believe it's original. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Boatyarddog]

Good idea, I'll find the thermostat and try that. I have a few classic cars so very familiar with engines. A couple of my cars have two temperature rating thermostats usually for different climates. This has always been a freshwater boat and is sailed all year. Lake water here rarely freezes but it sure does get warm in the summer. Yuck! Might be able to leave the thermostat out year around. Of course I've also wondered how accurate the temp gauge is. I believe it's original. Thanks for the suggestion.

Okay, a fresh water boat. Definatly replace the guage if its questionable, probably electric one. Mechanical guage would be best. If the T-Stat is original replace it, also its okay to use a stat in the 165 degree range for that engine. Not any hotter.
Good luck.

 

[Boatyarddog]

The A-4 is raw water cooled, the thermostat is usually a 145 degree, to keep salt water from precipitation out of the sea water and being deposited on block and any cooling passages.
If your temp is always 200 or so your flow in the block may be restricted, you may not see that in the flow mentioned to the exhaust flow as that is separate from the flow thru the engine block.
Remove the T Stat and check the temp while running without a thermostat. That would be a better indicator of true block temp.

Usually with Edsons and stiff steering it can be the Pedestal but more likely the Rudder is binding at the shaft. Possiably the steering brake is not releasing and causing the stiffness. You have to eliminate these possiablies though.

 

[Boatyarddog]

Depending on the age of the Head a Pump rebuild kit is a great "upgrade".

 

[GBeck]

T-stat follow up.
I removed the t-stat.
I ran the engine and motored around for 30 minutes to make sure it was warm.
The temp dropped to 140-150 degrees.
This tells me the t-stat was sticking and probably not opening all the way.
When I got home I soaked in vinegar over night. Then tested in a pot of hot water.
I didn't open till 180 plus and didn't fully open till 195. Hence the 210-220 I was getting before.

I ordered a new t-stat from Moyer Marine. At least I though it was the correct one.
It's too small.
The t-stat I removed says Motorad on it. No part number.
I emailed Motorad and asked if they could help me find the part number.
They didn't offer this t-stat anymore and suggested an alternative.
This is for a Volvo stern drive I think.

Sierra Marine 18-3656

Has anyone used this t-stat.
It does match the one I removed using photos on eBay.
Thanks,
Gary

 

[Boatyarddog]

T-stats, all do the same thing, try it and see if if gives you the results you want.

 

[Boatyarddog]

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.

Just so your aware.. its in fresh water, so no Barnacle Buster.