Steering, rudder question

[Team118]

Hey guys;

I've posted this question once before a few years ago, but I thought I had it fixed.

I have a 1977 Catalina 30 with pedestal steering. The manufacturer has changed names (Cinkel is the original name...)

It is the standard cable driven steering, the cables run to a wheel quadrant that is attached to the rudder. Turns of the steering wheel turn the cables and turn the rudder.

When I bought the boat, the original rudder had a crack by the post so I bought and installed a new rudder (had a marina do it)

I've gone to the Edson website and the rudder is attached to the radial wheel by a through bolt. During the first summer, the bolt sheared off and I had to drill the broken bolt out of the rudder post. The post is hollow.

I replaced with a 1/4" bolt. Due to the length required, I couldn't find a correct bolt from West Marine or Jamestown. I did find one from Home Deport but it wasn't stainless, it was galvinized. Last summer, the galvanized bolt also sheared. I finally found a 1/4" fully threaded stainless steel bolt and used this.

Last week this bolt also sheared. Obviosly 1/4 probably isn't cutting it, but that was the size of the hole. (although the hole in the radial wheel is a bit oblong).

Would it be advisable to redrill the hole to 5/16 or even 3/8? I doubt I can find a suitable bolt that size, it needs to be at least 5 1/2" long with the last 1 1/2" threaded. I do know a guy who could make me a stainless steel pin. I'm thinking the pin would only need a cotter type stop on one end to keep it in place. It would float, but I don't think that would matter.

I'm not really sure what to do, I'm going to take the whole system a part and get better pictures. Below you can see the setup, the oblong whole on one side and the stop gap bolt I used to get home today...it actually was almost completely out! There was only about 1/4" in there, I can't believe I actually got home!

I hope I made sense here...

Thanks
Chris

Looking at the radial wheel, the oblong hole really bothers me...my feeling is this hole is allowing the radial wheel to float to much over the rudder post putting too much stress on the bolt.


It's not letting me upload pictures right now, so this post is pretty useless. I'll attach pics tomorrow

 

[Old Skool Neil]

Chris,

I installed my Edson pedestal system myself (used to do that when I worked at the sailboat plants in the 70's) so I'm familiar with what you're talking about. I have 2 thoughts:
1. Agree that the through bolt is too small. Mine's 3/8" stainless with a nylok nut.
2. I suspect the bolt is taking all the torque load. It would be preferable for the clamping collar of the radial drive to bear the torque around the circumference of the rudder post by clamping it down tight. In my case I had to shim the rudder post to get a tight fit with stainless shim stock. Ideally, the through bolt is only there for insurance.

FYI, McMaster-Carr has the bolt you need in stainless and they'll ship it to your door (they've got the shim stock too).
http://www.mcmaster.com/#cap-screws/=8ev5tn

It's been a while, based on your post I'm gonna get in there and have a look at mine, retighten everything as long as I'm there.

 

[Team118]

Thanks Neil....(lol, I assume that's your name!)

I was just thinking that the rudder post is too small for the clamping collar (I couldn't think of what to call it) and that the first thing I should do is wrap the post in some type of shim that would allow the collar to fit tightly against the post.

Then I could redrill the hole to 3/8 and put a new bolt through it. My mind keeps going to the white plastic material that dryer drums slide over, something flexible that could wrap around the post.

I'll check out McMasters, thanks so much!

I uploaded the photos, but I think your advice is spot on.

 

[Team118]

Just wanted to give you an update. I took the collar apart and redrilled the hole through the rudder post to make it 3/8". Man that was a chore! I went through 2 bits and half a can of WD40.

Believe me, there's nothing worse than a fat old mad slipping and sliding around in the pilot's berth on his stomach trying to push a drill through super tough metal with one hand and spraying WD40 with the other!
...nightmares is all I can say.

I wrapped the post with some SS flashing I had in my basement. I don't know why I saved it, but it was perfect.

I rebolted the collar around the post and it snugged up super tight!. I bought a 3/8 bolt from Home Deport but it's zinc, so I'll use that for now and order a SS bolt from McMasters.

Thanks so much for the push in the right direction. I'm thinking this will solve the problem for ever. I'm hoping it will also improve the boat's handling. Since there was always a little play, I think it made the boat wander a bit, even when the wheel lock was tightened down.

I have to reinstall the cables and fine tune everything tomorrow, but I'm excited to finally put this issue to bed.

Again, thanks!
Chris