[C320-list] steering tight

[Pat Ireland]

Jack

We checked the autopilot, but could not pull the wheel, so it's on the
"better check for sure, before you haul" list.
Bruce

Sent your info to diver - if I was fast enough.  He was looking this
afternoon.

I inspected the rudder shaft tube reinforcement glass from inside and did
not find any cracking or deformation.  If we find the rudder is bent, this
area will need a closer look.

Chris

Thanks for explaining the configuration of the shaft tube and how your shaft
deformed.  I had that part all wrong.  A localized kink that expanded the
cross section of the tube is a logical failure mode.

If you find it hard to believe, you can understand my denial mode.  I was
leaning over attaching fenders  and didn't feel a bump.  So I just can't
believe we hit something that hard.  Cherie is a fin keel, so getting to the
rudder with a heavy hit is just that much harder to conceptualize.

The boat was hauled in November and cleaned in February.  We are not due for
bottom paint for another year.  So it's all pain.  The reward is getting to
go sailing when this is all fixed.

Thank you everyone for your input and suggestions.

Pat


On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 1:56 PM, Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote:

> Ok...I  have to say that I find it hard to believe you could hit anything
> at
> 2-3 knots that would bend the rudder without stopping the boat dead, it is
> a
> pretty substantial hunk of stainless steel tubing...but stuff happens.
>
> I would take the cable off the quadrant first just to make absolutely
> certain it is not the steering gear binding somewhere you cant see. The
> rudder post is metal against plastic (FRP) rudder tube and is essentially
> self lubricating..absent getting dirt in there, it is a not maintenance
> item
> and you really can't flush it effectively without dropping it.
>
> If it is bent, then it is more likely that you hit a glancing blow that
> deflected the rudder laterally. If that is the case, there is no way for a
> diver to spot it, you will need a quick haul...That is the way mine was
> bent
> and the rudder blade never made contact with the hull the tubing of the
> post
> barely bent right where it went into the rudder tube and kinked just enough
> to bind in the rudder tube... if you haven't been hauled lately a pressure
> wash may be in order to help ease the sting of the cost.
>
> Note that the rudders on the later  models (after they shortened the wing
> keel) are a couple of inched longer than the keel, so it is technically
> possible to hit something with the rudder that the keel misses.
>
> On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 3:43 PM, Pat Ireland <cherie320 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Chris
> >
> > We heard a thump, while motoring at 2-3 knots.    The prop and rudder
> were
> > inspected the following week when our diver cleaned the bottom.  He found
> > no
> > damage, but since then the helm has been tight.
> >
> > Pat
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 10:42 AM, Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > It takes a lot of force to bend the rather substantial rudder post on
> > > C-320...have had a hard grounding recently or have you been towed
> > backwards
> > > (that is what caused my problem)?
> > >
> > > On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 1:12 PM, Pat Ireland <cherie320 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Chris
> > > >
> > > > Well, that may be the problem, the symptoms sound similar.
> > > >
> > > > Pat
> > > > On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 5:06 AM, Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > We also had a bent rudder post...4" out of true at the
> bottom...tight
> > > > > throughout the range and no way to tell without a haulout
> > > > >
> > > > > On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 2:39 AM, Sean Kaldor <spkaldor at yahoo.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Hi Pat,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Is Cherie's steering tight throughout the entire range of rudder
> > > swing?
> > > > > If
> > > > > > so, also consider the lubrication of the rudder post in its tube.
> > >  One
> > > > > > idea would be to disconnect the cable from the helm to isolate
> the
> > > > > rudder...
> > > > > > that will help determine if the tightness is in the rudder, or in
> > the
> > > > > helm
> > > > > > controls.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If her steering is tight only after a certain degree of turn, it
> > > could
> > > > be
> > > > > > (but is hopefully not) the rudder post. I was looking at a boat
> > > > recently.
> > > > > > Seller said the steering was fine, but recently became a bit
> > 'tight'.
> > > > It
> > > > > > turned fine from about 20 degrees starboard to 20 degrees port,
> > then
> > > > > became
> > > > > > very tight after that. Topside inspection and diver inspection
> > > revealed
> > > > > > nothing. Had to have it hauled to find out that the rudder post
> was
> > > > bent
> > > > > > very slightly. Hope that isn't the problem...
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Sean
> > > > > > C320 Liberté #499
> > > > > > San Francisco
> > > > > >
> > > > > > - - - - - - -
> > > > > >
> > > > > > All-
> > > > > > The steering on Cherie is very tight.  We are convinced that it
> was
> > > not
> > > > > > this
> > > > > > tight before and that something has changed.  We inspected the
> > > quadrant
> > > > > and
> > > > > > found no foreign material jamming it.  The turning pulleys are
> > free,
> > > > the
> > > > > > chain and sprocket are free, the autopilot is not dragging, and
> the
> > > > brake
> > > > > > is
> > > > > > free.  We had a diver check it out several weeks ago and will
> have
> > > him
> > > > > > check
> > > > > > it again and check specifically for fishing line or other debris.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Has anyone had a problem with the rudder shaft binding or with
> any
> > > > other
> > > > > > steering failure that appeared to be a rudder dragging?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Any experience or ideas would be appreciated.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Pat Ireland Cherie #801
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Chris Burti Farmville, NC
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Chris Burti Farmville, NC
> > >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Chris Burti Farmville, NC
>