Pedestal Steering for a 26

[HakunaMatata]

Do any of you have a 26 with pedestal steeering? I bought a 1986 in very good shape from a gentlemen in Arizona. It was quite a trip towing it back to Florida but worth it. It's my third and hopefully final sailboat.

I would like to put and Edison steering system in. Has anyone had this done or done this themselves? I cannot find a boat yard that wants to take on a job this small. I have found someone for the fiberglass work but not for the mechanical work. I'm willing to do the mechanics myself but the fiberglass I see as more an artform.

Any advice?
thanks, Wayne

 

[kdssail]

My 26 had a pedestal at one time and was converted back to tiller. The owner that reconverted put a large plastic plate( like a cutting board) on the floor to cover up the holes, I removed it and replaced it with a similar item but I found 7 holes altogether
so there was a lot to mount. On the transom the steering assy is the same as on the Oday272le. On a friends 272le I found that the rudder swing was a lot LESS then on my Oday 26 because the push pull arm has a limited travel. If you look at some picture I have submitted in the mods section you will find views of the backstay mod that was made to allow more cockpit room with the wheel. This mod I really like and it helps me even with a tiller. Oh yes.... you should make some type of a support under the floor to support the cockpit area since you will be making several holes in the floor. Good luck with this.