Corrosion of Edson worm gear steering support bracket

[Dale Weston]

I've had my 1979 CD30 Cutter for 7 years. While fussing with my manual bilge pump, as I comfortably reclined my portly body in the port cockpit locker . . . I noticed that the upside down U shaped bracket that supports the aft end of the steering assembly is fairly corroded at the point that it is glassed to the hull.

Has anybody experienced similar problems? I've thought of:

a. disassembling, knocking out glassed in supports, and getting a machine shop to make a new one.

b. cleaning off the corrosion, making up a batch of resin and mat and cloth and slathering all around and making it pretty strong

c. ignoring it because the overall unit is stout and this brace isn't real important.

d. whatever the majority of advice givers say.

Thanks, Dale



majortest@earthlink.net

[Olli Wendelin]

Dale,

I have the same problem on my 1977 CD30.

The bracket was made by the boat manufacturer (Cape Dory) to match the Edson steering gear to the boat. It is made of mild steel, hence the corrosion problem. It is important. If it were disconnected the steering gear would rotate (or try to) with the rudder. You could probably get the rudder back to a neutral position, but then you would have to steer with your sails. Not a pleasant prospect in rough seas. Removal of the steering gear and attaching an emergency tiller would be needed.

There is also a mild steel bracket inside the steering box.

I would recommend you chip off any severe corrosion and then prime and paint the metal. Then you can see the extent of the damage. Anything you can chip off is providing no strength. If the loss in cross sectional area is not too bad, a repair is probably not needed.

My last surveyor suggested glassing a plywood stringer between the two legs and the hull.

To date I am still watching it for signs of further deterioration.

Let me know how you end up fixing yours.

Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC



wendelin@spawar.navy.mil

[Michael Stephano]

I had the same problem only mine had completly rusted away. I removed the bracket and took it to a local welding shop where they removed the hollow pipes on the bottom of the bracket and replaced them with solid round stock. Before reinstalling I cleaned and sealed the whole bracket with resin and reinstalled it after cleaning up the beds with a grinder. I straped it down as it was originally with 3 layers of fiberglass tape making sure to work all the bubbles out. The welding plus materials cost $15.00 and my time of about 3 hours and another 20 bucks for the materials for the fiberglass and grinder pads. I had originally planed on building a new bracket out of aluminium but the logic of the welder was that the rest of the frame was in good shape and only the hollow iron pipe had failed. I do not expect to repair this again in my lifetime. By the way my boat is a 30' ketch also 1977. You may want to inspect your stemhead fitting and chainplates and backing pads on the staunchions as they were also mild steel. I have replaced all but the stemhead(which I cleaned up and painted)with aluminium. The chain plates I ground away and laminated 3 layers unidirectional of fiberglass and used aluminium to back and tie it into the hull. It was a messy(dust)job but is stronger than new.



mundo@visi.net