Hunter 40.5 Steering Quadrant Cover Removal

[Whittens]

Seems easy, but don't want to break anything. Trying to remove the cover over the steering quadrant for inspection and cleaning. Have removed the screws, seems like it will just slide aftward from under the steering console, but it won't move. Is there another hidden screw or attachment inside? Don't want to force it, have learned my lesson.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

It will slide aft after removing the screws….. unless a PO tried to seal it with whatever he thought was “good stuff”.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Often the cover is wedged in place by dirt and debris in the cracks. Pull hard straight back. Wiggle up and down a bit. Once the forward section is out from the pedestal about a foot or so, tip either the port or starboard edge up and it will remove easily.

Be sure to check the tension on the steering cables, and apply a chain/cable lube to protect from corrosion. TSC and others have a chain lube that I use. LPS #3 is also very good

 

[baycloud]

Seems easy, but don't want to break anything. Trying to remove the cover over the steering quadrant for inspection and cleaning. Have removed the screws, seems like it will just slide aftward from under the steering console, but it won't move. Is there another hidden screw or attachment inside? Don't want to force it, have learned my lesson.

Hey there, did you end up getting this off?

Also for the other owners, do you have any sealant or think that sealant here is useful? Because the cockpit drains into the steering quadrant area anyway...

 

[Rich Stidger]

The only sealant needed here is to seal the wire bundle that routes inside from the quadrant area.

 

[baycloud]

The only sealant needed here is to seal the wire bundle that routes inside from the quadrant area.

Makes sense given the above. I think it was a typical misguided hopeful attempt to prevent water leaking into the aft cabin by the PO rather than doing the real diagnostic work and finding the actual leak.

 

[JamesG161]

do you have any sealant or think that sealant here is useful?

This is the best sealant that I use.

Jim...

 

[baycloud]

Interesting product @JamesG161 - sounds like it would work well in a pinch.

However for this specific Hunter (Legend 40.5) and location (above the steering quadrant), given that the cockpit drains into this specific area anyway, arguably it would be good to *not* seal the board over the steering quadrant, since it would make inspection of the quadrant more difficult. I did though put butyl tape on mine from the binnacle to the drain however, hoping that would reduce corrosion around the steering cables.

cheers

 

[JamesG161]

Sealing the wires per Rich above.

Jim...

 

[baycloud]

ahh yeh but...I keep adding and routing more and more cables through that area and I'm going through a dry california summer so...maybe this winter

 

[Rich Stidger]

ahh yeh but...I keep adding and routing more and more cables through that area and I'm going through a dry california summer so...maybe this winter

I added a second battery charger next to the OEM charger near the rudder post, and a leak from the quadrant area wet the charger and caused a failure that required replacement. It was then that I discovered that sealing the wire bundle was critical.

Sealants that I like are two that are made by Sudbury. One is a normally thick sealant and I use that for coating cotter pins so that I can't get cut by their tips. The sealant sets quickly and can be cleanly pulled off with needle-nosed pliers.
The other one is a LIQUID and it has the consistency of water. It will run into the smallest cracks and seal very well. I use this for creeping into wire bundles to seal between the wires. The only issue with that is that it is also easy for it to run out before it sets, so I often need to create a dam to block the out-flow.

 

[baycloud]

I added a second battery charger next to the OEM charger near the rudder post, and a leak from the quadrant area wet the charger and caused a failure that required replacement. It was then that I discovered that sealing the wire bundle was critical.

Sealants that I like are two that are made by Sudbury. One is a normally thick sealant and I use that for coating cotter pins so that I can't get cut by their tips. The sealant sets quickly and can be cleanly pulled off with needle-nosed pliers.
The other one is a LIQUID and it has the consistency of water. It will run into the smallest cracks and seal very well. I use this for creeping into wire bundles to seal between the wires. The only issue with that is that it is also easy for it to run out before it sets, so I often need to create a dam to block the out-flow.
View attachment 218017View attachment 218018

And just to be clear - it was the wire bundle under the binnacle that was leaking? Not other items like the quadrant itself, or some other screws etc? I have a charger in that exact area - behind the rudder post below the quadrant.

For the wires I actually used butyl tape for the wire previously, as long as there's no cable movement I think it would work well.

 

[Rich Stidger]

And just to be clear - it was the wire bundle under the binnacle that was leaking?

It was the bundle. After I sealed the bundle, there was no more water.
I did disturb the bundle from the factory build to add additional wires at some point prior to the leak, so my resealing job was inadequate.

 

[fero]

I had the same experience as Rich, it wasn’t easy to find the source of the tiny leak into the aft cabin, only after heavy rains while boat on hard without bimini. Had to use buckets of water with the cover removed. The PO added some wires to the bundle going inside through stbd vertical wall of the quadrant well with sealing which aged over the time. Don’t think the sealing of the cover is a good idea.

 

[Whittens]

Thanks to all of you who have contributed so far. I've tried removing the quadrant cover but it won't budge and I ran out of time when at the boat. Still trying to clean, will probably try the "floss" method to drag a strong nylon filament through the cracks to clear any debris.

 

[baycloud]

Also try just lifting the aft part of the cover just an inch to break it free