[C320-list] A Steering Cable Question (my steering failed)

[K L]

Thanks Jeff. I found their instructions on cable tension to be a little 
vague but I will give them a try.

Ken


>From: "Jeffrey Hare" <catalina at thehares.com>
>Reply-To: catalina at thehares.com, C320-List <C320-List at catalina320.com>
>To: "'C320-List'" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
>Subject: Re: [C320-list] A Steering Cable Question (my steering failed)
>Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:06:48 -0400
>
>Edson Marine's Tech site has lots of info.
>
>http://www.edsonmarine.com/techsupport/techform.htm
>
>
>This guide (around page 10) talks about tensioning the cables.
>
>http://www.edsonmarine.com/pdf/Edson_Maint_Guide.pdf
>
>-JeffH
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: K L [mailto:sfca33 at hotmail.com]
>Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 7:46 PM
>To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>Subject: [C320-list] A Steering Cable Question (my steering failed)
>
>I have a question about the steering cables. (The cautionary story 
>follows.)
>
>I am in the process of re-attaching the steering cables and I am just not
>sure how tight they should be. Of course I want them tight, but how tight?
>Is it possible for them to be too tight? How do I know when to quit
>tightening? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
>
>The long story: I went sailing for the first time with my brother in law 
>who
>
>was in town on business. He said that he had some sailing experience. He
>seemed comfortable at the helm, sure he let the sails luff from time to 
>time
>
>but so do I. We were in front of the embarcadero enjoying the afternoon 
>city
>
>view. I felt comfortable enough to go below for a bottle of water. I felt
>the boat's weather helm as a gust of wind caught it then I heard a loud
>crack. I bounded up the companionway only to discover that we had no
>steering. My brother in law had managed to turn the wheel beyond its range
>of motion breaking the stop which is really only a small piece of wood. I
>didn't know it at the time but the chain in the pedestal jumped the track
>and jammed, it would not move. Of course I knew where the emergency tiller
>was located but I had never actually used it. I quickly discovered that the
>direction of the rudder was not obvious from looking at the top of the
>rudder post. I also found out that the Catalina owner's manual was of no
>help on this issue. Since the chain was jammed, the emergency tiller was
>useless. I went below and quickly worked to remove the cables as the tide
>gently moved us toward the shipping lanes which were obscured by thick fog.
>I was not nearly as calm as this message suggests. I learned several 
>lessons
>
>from this experience: 1.) Know where the emergency tiller is stored, 2.)
>Know how to judge the direction of the rudder from looking at the top of 
>the
>
>rudder post, 3.) Practice using the emergency tiller on a calm day so that
>you have a feel for how it works-this is really important especially if you
>want to get back to your slip with the tiller, it is not nearly as easy as
>one might think, and 4) Know how to disconnect the steering cables quickly
>in an emergency.
>
>Ken Danko
>Grace, #802
>San Francisco
>
>
>
>