Hi All, I have an interesting experience to share with everyone. Those who have looked at that emergency tiller but have not used it, take heed. This weekend (9/16), my wife and I were sailing our 1999 380 off Sandy Hook (NJ) in about 23-24 Kts of wind. I was heavily reefed and was still taking quite a beating by extremely rough tides and capping seas at about 3 - 3 1/2 ft. Quite an experience, but one Im used to out there. Usually, Im fighting the wheel the whole way in, and that is obviously to be expected. Well this time, the steering cable snapped in the middle of a 22 Kt gust. My vessel went to weather as expected and I quickly took down my sails and threw the anchor. Sea Towed it all the way back because that dammed emergency tiller wont fit if your rudder is locked hard over. All in all, this was my first real emergency in weather, and my 380 handled things quite nicely (did what was expected). Two observations/questions: 1. Is popping the steering cable a common thing? I know I put a lot of stress on it because of the current in the Hudson River and offshore. If so, can I put a thicker gauge cable on the steering? Would this have any performance impact? 2. Having your rudder hard over in a situaion like this would be a fact since the boat will go to weather and it is swinging loose. Is there a better solution for being able to engage the emergency rudder shaft? The seats on the 380 are high, and the emergency tiller has a low right angle (hangs just above the floor). So catching the bar it is supposed to fit into is an impossibility until SeaTow starts pulling you forward. 180 bucks later. Anyone have anything for this? Nasty situation, but it sure is neat to have my first sailing story.........maybe not. Gerry
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Cable?
Gerry, Are you sure you broke a cable? My 380 (hull#3)has an Edson rack and pinion system and I thought all other 380's also had the rack and pinion system. My guess is that the tie rod from the torque tube to the rudder became unbolted as I have of this happening before and needs to be checked on a regular basis. Otherwise this is pretty much a bulletproof system. Paul Bednarzyk S/V Knot Again
Gerry, Are you sure you broke a cable? My 380 (hull#3)has an Edson rack and pinion system and I thought all other 380's also had the rack and pinion system. My guess is that the tie rod from the torque tube to the rudder became unbolted as I have of this happening before and needs to be checked on a regular basis. Otherwise this is pretty much a bulletproof system. Paul Bednarzyk S/V Knot Again
Felt Like a Cable
Hmmm. Thats some interesting insight. I was at the helm when the incident happened and it sure felt like a cable snapping. Although, given your post, it could also have been a rack slipping loose. The Persistence is at the yard now, so I will know more tomorrow. Gerry
Hmmm. Thats some interesting insight. I was at the helm when the incident happened and it sure felt like a cable snapping. Although, given your post, it could also have been a rack slipping loose. The Persistence is at the yard now, so I will know more tomorrow. Gerry
cables
if it is in fact a a"popped" cable it is most likely because it was out of adjustment and too loose. I wouldn't go oversize for fear that it would fall out of the pully slides.
if it is in fact a a"popped" cable it is most likely because it was out of adjustment and too loose. I wouldn't go oversize for fear that it would fall out of the pully slides.
Had a similar experience
I'm sure your 380 has rack and pinion steering as does my 340. This summer I spent several days sailing in moderate winds around 20+ knots when I experienced a steering system failure. There is a steering rod that connects the steering wheel mechanism to the rudder. This rod connects with a ball and socket joint at the steering wheel and rudder ends. On my boat the socket broke at the end connecting to the rudder. Edson supplied a replacement part.
I'm sure your 380 has rack and pinion steering as does my 340. This summer I spent several days sailing in moderate winds around 20+ knots when I experienced a steering system failure. There is a steering rod that connects the steering wheel mechanism to the rudder. This rod connects with a ball and socket joint at the steering wheel and rudder ends. On my boat the socket broke at the end connecting to the rudder. Edson supplied a replacement part.
Probably was rudder stopper, not cable
Not sure about the steering on 380, but if the cable broke, the rudder would not be hard over and you could use emergency tiller. Had similar experience in my 35. In 25knt wind, my inexperienced partner tried to turn into wind without adequate boat speed by just pushing the wheel harder. He sort of panic and pushed it really hard. Bang! Wheel spun like no cable. Tiller wouldn't work, jammed over. Then I sort of paniced.
As our anchor dragged us toward the shallows, I took off the cover of the quadrant. What happened is that there is a pin (like a big bolt) on the quadrant that butts against plates on either side of the housing to keep the rudder from turning too far. What had happened is that the pin had popped under the quadrant, locking the rudder. When I realized that, I put the motor full speed ahead, and the pressure on the rudder was enough to re-engage the steering and pop it back. Worked fine since then, thout if I was smart I'd reinforce the pin to keep it from happening again. I'm not smart and just tell people not to push extra hard on the wheel. Not sure why the wheel turned freely when it happened, but speculate that with the rudder that far over it just the steer gear chain just passes over the sprocket. Either that, or the chain was locked and when the wheel was turned it just came loose where it is bolted on the pedestal. Good luck
Not sure about the steering on 380, but if the cable broke, the rudder would not be hard over and you could use emergency tiller. Had similar experience in my 35. In 25knt wind, my inexperienced partner tried to turn into wind without adequate boat speed by just pushing the wheel harder. He sort of panic and pushed it really hard. Bang! Wheel spun like no cable. Tiller wouldn't work, jammed over. Then I sort of paniced.
As our anchor dragged us toward the shallows, I took off the cover of the quadrant. What happened is that there is a pin (like a big bolt) on the quadrant that butts against plates on either side of the housing to keep the rudder from turning too far. What had happened is that the pin had popped under the quadrant, locking the rudder. When I realized that, I put the motor full speed ahead, and the pressure on the rudder was enough to re-engage the steering and pop it back. Worked fine since then, thout if I was smart I'd reinforce the pin to keep it from happening again. I'm not smart and just tell people not to push extra hard on the wheel. Not sure why the wheel turned freely when it happened, but speculate that with the rudder that far over it just the steer gear chain just passes over the sprocket. Either that, or the chain was locked and when the wheel was turned it just came loose where it is bolted on the pedestal. Good luckClarification
What happened was the pin popped under the steel backing plate in the quandrant housing ... they are supposed to stop the rudder from turning to far and the pin popped under the plate.
What happened was the pin popped under the steel backing plate in the quandrant housing ... they are supposed to stop the rudder from turning to far and the pin popped under the plate.
Full throttle
We had a simalir scene on our 380. A ball joint had come loose from the end of the tie rod. I used quick burst full forward throttle to center the rudder and then we could reattach the ball joint.Its now one my monthly inspection list to pull the floor up and look and lube.
We had a simalir scene on our 380. A ball joint had come loose from the end of the tie rod. I used quick burst full forward throttle to center the rudder and then we could reattach the ball joint.Its now one my monthly inspection list to pull the floor up and look and lube.
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