Wheel Steering Cable Tightness

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Don Magdall

I have a '76 Cat 30 that has been converted to wheel steering ( cables). I was in the quarter berth the other day checking things out and noticed that the cables seem to be kind of loose. I have never known them to slip but cable span from the steering pedestal pullies back to the large sheeve on the rudder post are loose enough that you can easily move them at least an inch with no effort at all. How tight sbould these cables be and is there a way to adjust the tighness?
 
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Mike Turner

Steering Maintenance

Edson recommends that the cables be just tight enough so that you cannot move the rudder by hand without the cables/wheel moving (move the rudder by hand at the large pulley/quadrant mounted to the rudder post). It's hard to tell if your's need tightening; the inch deflection could be OK so long as the rudder cannot move independent of the cables/wheel. You can tighten in two ways. First, look at the pulley/ quadrant from above (probably accessible from the aft lazaret hatch in the cockpit) and see the two eyebolts that the cables attach to. Then go below and locate the other end of these eyebolts (the "take up eyes") on the underside of the pulley/quadrant. Tighten the nuts as needed to take up slack in the cables. Alternately if really slack you can go back topsides and adjust the clips holding the cables to the eyebolts to take up slack (it probably won't need this). Good luck! Mike Turner S/V Amity
 
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Rod Worrell

Another Precaution

Don, while you're at it, and most likely you already have this component, but confirm that the conversion installation was complete by including the "Rudder Stop". It is basically two items. There should be a steel pin about 3/4 inch dia. x 2 inches long with a rubber hose around it that is bolted to either the top or bottom side of the large pulley (quadrant) on the rudder shaft. Secondly, this pin should stop against a very sturdy block of wood or other strong device mounted to the boat as the rudder turns in an arc of about 70 degrees. The stop block should be at each end of the arc. I found out last year that our used Catalina never had this component on its first sail and lost our cable steering! We have the stop now, though. If you don't have it, you've been luckl and Edson can supply their kit to you. Fair winds. Rod
 
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Mike Turner

An Addendum

Don - After you tighten and before you go out for a test sail, be sure you have, and know how to attach and use, your emergency tiller. I just came back from my first sail after the repair, and after about an hour in the water lost my steering while tacking in about 15 mph winds. Luckily I had worked out the emergency tiller at the dock a few days before so was able to quickly gain control and get back to the dock. Turns out the take up eyebolts had worked themselves loose and the cable jumped off the sheve at the rudder post. A little forethought can go a long way! Mike Turner S/V Amity
 
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