Inspect Your Steering Bracket

Carl Thunberg · Post by **Carl Thunberg** » Jul 13th, '09, 07:22

Our boats aren't getting any younger. With age, it becomes more and more important to inspect all your aging equipment. Saturday, our steering bracket under the cockpit sole suddenly failed while we were sailing in the Whaleback Regatta. We heard a "Pop" and then had no steering. We quickly lowered sail and deployed the emergency tiller and motored home. I spent the remainder of the day beneath the cockpit sole getting intimately acqainted with steering gear. Here's what I found when I got the bracket out. Hopefully this won't end our sailing season short . . .

Photo 1 showing bend in bracket due to rust - Don't mind my kids sidewalk chalk in the photo.
<a href="http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u78/ ... C04063.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u78/ ... C04063.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Photo 2 showing top view. Note the extent of the rust.
<a href="http://s165.photobucket.com/albums/u78/ ... C04062.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u78/ ... C04062.jpg" border="0" alt="Steering bracket failure"></a>

chase · Post by **chase** » Jul 13th, '09, 08:35

Carl,

Glad the circumstances were good and e-tiller was handy. I also hope you are back on the water soon.

Chase

Carl Thunberg · Post by **Carl Thunberg** » Jul 13th, '09, 08:48

It really was a good emergency drill to deploy the emergency tiller and actually use it. I was surprised how much work the emergency tiller took. Because of the need to avoid the wheel, the emergency tiller has very little mechanical advantage. I was tired by the time we got back to our mooring. My wife gets the credit for making the emergency tiller readily available. She's the one who found the mounting bracket on the interior of the transom. The P.O. had kept it under a pile of junk in a cockpit locker.

seadog6532 · Post by **seadog6532** » Jul 13th, '09, 08:59

Any metal fab shop should have you back up and sailing in no time. I would have a new one made in stainless.

Mark and Anna of Arianna CD30k #112

Ron M. · Post by **Ron M.** » Jul 14th, '09, 06:58

Carl,
You might find Edson has a replacement in cast aluminum, give them a call.
________
MFLB

Carl Thunberg · Post by **Carl Thunberg** » Jul 14th, '09, 08:20

I called Edson. This is not an Edson product. I called Robinhood and they suggested repairing what I have. I found a local welding shop. This guy is "retired" and does just enough business to pay his overhead and keep him busy. He's replacing the section of rusted tubular steel and welding in a new plate to receive the pedestal bolts. It'll be as good as new and I'm paying a fair price and supporting local business!

Ron M. · Post by **Ron M.** » Jul 14th, '09, 09:14

You know what they say............never ASSume.I'm sure your welder will do a good job. Prime and paint and it should be good for another 20 yrs.
Do you know what caused the failure ? electrolysis, water leaking thru the sole. Might be a good time to rebed all hardware that passes thru the cockpit floor. Good luck
________
MFLB

Judith · Post by **Judith** » Jul 14th, '09, 19:13

Carl Thunberg wrote:I called Edson. This is not an Edson product. I called Robinhood and they suggested repairing what I have. I found a local welding shop. This guy is "retired" and does just enough business to pay his overhead and keep him busy. He's replacing the section of rusted tubular steel and welding in a new plate to receive the pedestal bolts. It'll be as good as new and I'm paying a fair price and supporting local business!

Excellent, Carl! Glad to hear everything worked out so well.

Carl Thunberg · Post by **Carl Thunberg** » Jul 28th, '09, 07:25

Okay, I have all the parts I need, but re-assembling the pedestal with the throttle cable, transmission cable, wiring for the instruments, and the steering chain/cable is a little overwhelming for someone who's never done this before. I THINK this is the re-assembly sequence. Please, someone with experience, tell me if this is right. I'd hate to get to step 8 and then realize it should have been step 4, and then start over again. Here goes:
1. Mount the pedestal, through-bolting it to the steering bracket under the cockpit sole. Use whatever bedding compound you choose (In my case 3M 4000 with UV inhibitors).
2. Remove the chain sprocket so you can install the mounting bracket for the throttle & transmission cables.
3. Fish the throttle and transmission cables up from below. Connect them to the appropriate levers. Question: Does it matter which position the lever is in when you screw the cables to the split connector that then screws into the pedestal body?
4. Re-install the chain sprocket. Drop the steering cables down through the pedestal and center the chain on the sprocket so the center link is lined up with the top spoke of the wheel.
5. Connect the steering cables below in the obvious way. Tension.
6. Fish electrical wiring through the pedestal guard to re-connect whatever was there before.
7. Re-assemble compass, etc.
8. Crack open a cold one!

Seriously, any and all suggestions would be welcome. I'm really trying to salvage something of my sailing season here and the Maine Cruise is still possible if I can get all this done this weekend. Needless to say, I won't be going to the Rendezvous. I need to stay focused on my own boat right now.

Craig Curtis · Post by **Craig Curtis** » Jul 28th, '09, 10:19

The sequence is generally right, but if past noon, move step 8 to step 1 and reinsert again for step 9. Good luck.

Paul D. · Post by **Paul D.** » Jul 28th, '09, 19:44

Carl,

Though I cannot comment on whether the sequence is correct or not I would recommend epoxying the cockpit sole before you remount the pedestal. I have heard of some CD's not being bedded properly there and the sole getting saturated.

Scrape away 1/2 inch or so of the core of the sole around the hole and put in a peanut butter consistency mixture of epoxy and thickener - colloidal silica or something. If there are any thru bolt holes do the same there. Good insurance in case the bedding fails.

All the best and good luck, I bet you will be out and sailing with one finger on the wheel with the helm "like butter" in no time!

Paul

Carl Thunberg · Post by **Carl Thunberg** » Aug 3rd, '09, 08:34

We're back in business, and heading to Maine for the Maine Cruise! I've now logged more hours under my cockpit sole than I have behind the wheel this season. I can't imagine what this project would have cost if I had paid a yard to do it. As it is, I got out of this project for just over $300 including the welder, new throttle and transmission cables and new aluminum bolts from Edson, and I made my own steering cables and swaged them myself.

Seriously, go inspect the steering bracket under the cockpit sole holding your pulleys. This project would have been a lot more manageable on the hard when you can make a quick run to the hardware store than it was in the water.

The Cape Dory Board

Inspect Your Steering Bracket

Inspect Your Steering Bracket

bracket shot

Good Emergency Drill

Update

Re: Update

Question RE: Re-Assembly Sequence

Sweet Success!