QUESTION / Helm

Discussions about Cape Dory, Intrepid and Robinhood sailboats and how we use them. Got questions? Have answers? Provide them here.

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Kenny

QUESTION / Helm

Post by Kenny »

Can anyone tell me anything about a 1977 CD30 with a nautical wheel. The nautical wheel is connected to box with a cover, right in the cockpit. you sit behind it to steer the boat. You open the box and can see the, what looks like some sort of worm drive system. Could anyone tell me,is this type of steering system reliable. I have looked at about a dozen Cape Dory's and haven't seen this type of steering system.



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Bob B.

Re: QUESTION / Helm

Post by Bob B. »

This system is fairly reliable. You may want to pull up Edson's website and see some details on that particular type of system.
www.edsonintl.com

Bob B.



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Al Levesque

Re: QUESTION / Helm

Post by Al Levesque »

Kenny wrote: Can anyone tell me anything about a 1977 CD30 with a nautical wheel. The nautical wheel is connected to box with a cover, right in the cockpit. you sit behind it to steer the boat. You open the box and can see the, what looks like some sort of worm drive system....
I think it is the most reliable wheel system available. I prefer it to the cable and quadrant system that I currently have. I think race committees exempt the worm drive system from needing an emergency tiller for ocean racing. Much easier to inspect and maintain than the cable and quadrant system too.

However, if you prefer to stand gripping a stainless steel wheel, feeling like you are driving a destroyer at 50 knots through 70 knot winds, this wheel will not do it for you. But then, you obviously have good taste if you are looking at a CD30.

Good luck in your choice.



albertlevesque@cove.com
Joe Mac Phee

Re: QUESTION / Helm

Post by Joe Mac Phee »

Kenny,

The basic design for the Edson worm gear steerer goes all the way back to the Gloucester fishing schooners over a hundred years ago. This design has about the same reliability as an anvil. It is also about as complicated as an anvil.

Joe Mac Phee
S/V Iolanthe
CD-30/K
Bristol RI

I started out with nothing, I still have most of it.



jvmacpheeNOSPAM@aol.com
Olli Wendelin

Re: QUESTION / Helm

Post by Olli Wendelin »

Kenny,

You are looking at an Edson worm gear steering system. They are much more reliable than other wheel steering systems installed on CDs. I suspect that CD changed the installation in later years due to cost. They are still in production. I spoke with the Edson rep at the sailboat show in St Petersburg a while back. There are Edson worm gear steering systems that have been in continuous service for over a hundred years.

I have this system on my 1977 CD30 Ketch.

The gear is mounted to the hull with mild steel brackets produced by Cape Dory. These need to be checked for corrosion.

Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC



wendelin@spawar.navy.mil
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