Rudder post Steering failure

[Team118]

I've searched for this issue and haven't found much information.

I have a 1977 Catalina 30 with pedestal steering. I can't remember the brand of the pedestal but it is identical to the current Edson product.

The steering cable runs through the deck onto a radial wheel that essentially clamps to the rudder post with 5 bolts. The cables terminate on the radial wheel.

The whole radial wheel assembly then has a bolt that goes through the rudder post to lock the two together, so when the radial wheel turns, it turns the rudder post, which turns the boat!

Last week while out on the Lake, the bolt must have worked itself free and I lost steering. Naturally, there were 5-6' waves I was 2 miles out and the emergency tiller was in my basement getting sanded and refinished...

3 hours, sore arms and a sore back later I was at the dock.

The next day I rebolted the wheel to the rudder post, a few days later while pulling out of the dock, I lost steering again. This time the bolt had completly sheered off in the rudder post.

I was forced to completely disassemble the radial wheel and drill out the bolt. I put a new stainless steel 4 1/2" bolt in.

Here is the problem, it seems that this is destined to fail again. Isn't the constant action of the water against the rudder torquing against the pin and the radial wheel going to cause it to sheer? I would think the system should not allow any 'play' no matter how slight (and maybe thats the wrong term) that allows the force of the rudder to act in opposite of the rudder wheel...

Any thoughts or comments or am I worrying about nothing...

Thanks
Chris

 

[Bad Obsession]

If your boat had the same setup and it lasted 20 years, you just fixed the problem, won't it last another 20 years? Are you going to keep your boat another 20 years?

Carry a spare part aboard for that. I haven't heard of this before but it sounds like it could happen. It could also be something in the tension of your rudder cables.

That being said, I remember that MKI had a different shape to the rudder thank MKII. Still, if you trim out your sails in the right way it should reduce your helm and thus release the pressure on the bolt.

 

[Team118]

I appreciate the response. I guess I would agree, the old system lasted since 1977 (I assume) so the new bolt should be fine.

I have adjusted the tension a bit, it was too tight after I reasembled it.

I'll post you in 20 years and let you know!

Thanks
Chris

 

[Captain Kirk24425]

rudder wobble

Hi Chris,
Sounds like a bummer trip. It sounds like your problem may be related to mine: rudder wobble. Ever since I bought the boat in 2006, the rudder has wobbled when motoring and the auto pilot wanders about 30 degrees back and forth. Is this a normal thing for Catalina 30s or do you think I should take some corrective action? Thanks,
Kirk

 

[JIM B]

Rudder Wobble

Kirk,
If your rudder only wobbles under power and not while sailing it is normal. Your prop is in front of and very close to the rudder, thus distrubing the water flowing across the rudder. If you have the same problem while sailing - that is a different story.

As for your auto helm. If you still have the manuel, look to see how to adjust the gain and speed. On my boat I often must change the auto helm adjustment for motoring vs sailing or flat water vs rough.

Hope this helps. Have fun.

 

[Team118]

I think Jim is right Kirk. I experience a bit of wobble when I back out of the dock and when I go from reverse to forward as I need an bit of extra power to overcome the residual reserve motion.

Once I get going, the prop wash evens out and the wobble goes away.

I have a Navico WP4000 auto pilot. I used it when I brought the boat home last year, we have to motor the whole way (about 5 hours) and it worked great. I tried it after while sailing and it seemed to trail off one way or another causing the boat to jibe or heave to.

I just set it up again last week, and tried messing around with it. It was doing the same thing. I installed external speakers in the cockpit over the winter and the fluxgate compass is situated about 3" from one of the speakers, so I'm sure that is affecting it.

I'm going to look at setting up the control high up on the pedestal and play around with it. From I what I hear ,the auto pilot should 'learn' the sea state and compensate...I'll believe it when I see it.

Thanks
Chris