[C320-list] Fwd: Wheel Steering Safety Notice

Fri Jul 24 06:57:57 PDT 2015

A couple of comments:

Catalina Direct is not the same as Catalina Yachts.  They (the last time I 
knew for sure) are an independent seller of parts that fit Catalinas.  So 
this notice is not coming from Catalina Yachts.

The Catalina 320 organization is a pretty large forum.  No one has 
mentioned, to my recall, such a problem.  Likewise Mainsheet Magazine 
features technical articles on fixing issues with this line of boats (all 
sizes), and there have been no articles that I have seen regarding this item 
or issue.

Our Catalinas are not planes in the air, or even cars on the interstate at 
70 mph in traffic.  Loss of steering, while really inconvenient, hardly 
qualifies for catastrophe.  In a little red bag on my boat, there is an 
emergency tiller for just such an event.

True, Catalina Direct's little overpriced bracket might be an improvement 
over the original.  If you are concerned, inspect your bracket to see what 
state it is in, then decide whether it needs replacement.  There are lots of 
Catalinas out there, and if this was a problem, the community would know 
about it.  Remember, Catalina Direct is in the business of selling 
replacement parts....now if you would only buy the part....

Dennis Harris  C320 #694

-----Original Message----- 
From: millers1 at aol.com
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2015 9:26 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fwd: Wheel Steering Safety Notice

Not sure of all the details, but what I have just seen in the Catalina 
e-mail warrants the following
questions:
--- an error of this nature in material design should be a free back-fit  by 
the Mfg. to protect
reputation and ?
--- If the plate is the problem, has it been redesigned to minimize the 
impact on the customers during
replacement.  That is, can you unbolt the present sheaves and use them over 
(cut cost), has the plate been redesign to minimize
back-fit installation problems, etc.
--- So far I get the feeling Catalina is saying here is the stock part, Have 
fun...
Art   #680

-----Original Message-----
From: Allan S Field <allan.field at verizon.net>
To: C320-List <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Fri, Jul 24, 2015 9:01 am
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Fwd: Wheel Steering Safety Notice

I got this also.  So Catalina/Edson didn't know about dissimilar metals back
then?!?!?!  Replacement part is $359 plus shipping.  Note their warning: "
Failure of this part would be disastrous, as it would compromise control of 
your
boat."  Disastrous is a pretty strong term.  If it was a car, we'd be 
protected
by a product recall...  In my case, it will be parts plus install as since 
my
knee replacement, I know that I would not be able to do this work myself.

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

-----Original
Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com]
On Behalf Of tharrison at innovations-plus.com
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2015 4:11
AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Fwd: Wheel Steering
Safety Notice

FYI folks

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded
message:

> From: Catalina Direct <cd3 at catalinadirect.com>
> Date: July 23,
2015 at 11:25:42 PM EDT
> To: Ted <tharrison at innovations-plus.com>
> Subject:
Wheel Steering Safety Notice
> Reply-To: Catalina Direct
<cd3 at catalinadirect.com>
>
>
> If your boat was built with a stock mild
steel bracket, please consider making the upgrade to one of our stronger, 
safer
aluminum replacements.
> Is this email not displaying correctly?
> View it in
your browser.
>
> Cross Wire Idler
>
>
> The thin mild steel plate can
corrode to the point of failure.
>
> Form vs. Function
> Many of the parts
we carry are impressive in both form and function. They help your boat 
operate
smoothly and look great at the same time. However, we also carry parts that 
are
hidden from view but which are absolutely essential to the functioning of 
your
boat.
>
>
> Though seldom seen, the cross wire idler is vital to the
steering of
> your boat
>
> A Hidden Workhorse
> The adjustable cross
wire idler is one of the latter. It is mounted underneath the steering 
pedestal
which means it is seldom thought of and almost never seen. However, this 
part is
vital to your steering assembly. It leads your steering cable from its 
vertical
run within the pedestal to a horizontal run under the cockpit, then aft to 
the
radial drive wheel on the rudder shaft (see drawing below). Failure of this 
part
would be disastrous, as it would compromise control of your boat.
>
> The
factory supplied assembly had a mounting frame fabricated from mild steel. 
This
steel assembly was attached to the aluminum pedestal with aluminum mounting
bolts. This combination of dissimilar metals led to serious corrosion of all 
of
the components, making them weaker and more prone to failure.
>
>
> The
cross wire idler (highlighted in blue) is mounted beneath the
> pedestal
>

> Robust Replacement
> Depending upon which Catalina model you own, we have
several different retrofit parts available that fix this problem. They 
replace
the mild steel plate with a machined aluminum frame that is compatible with 
the
other aluminum components of the system. This eliminates galvanic corrosion
keeping your steering assembly strong and reliable even in the most violent 
of
seas.
>
> We highly recommend this upgrade to protect you against the sudden
loss of steering. The most important time to have reliable steering is in 
times
of high stress. Unfortunately it is during these times that the corroded 
plate
on your original assembly is most likely to fail. The old mild steel design 
was
used on the Catalina 27, Catalina 270, Catalina 310, Catalina 320, Catalina 
34,
Catalina 36, and Catalina 42.
>
> Depending upon your model choose one of
the three different cross wire idler assemblies we offer. For the Catalina 
27
(when equipped with an inboard engine), Catalina 270, 310, 320, 34 and 36,
choose #Z3102. If you own a Catalina 28 or 30, explore additional detailed
information found here. For Catalina 42 owners, choose #T2007.
>
> If your
boat was built with a stock mild steel bracket, please consider making the
upgrade to one of our stronger, safer aluminum replacements.
>
> To make
this peace-of-mind upgrade today, call our staff at 1-800-959-7245, or visit 
our
website at www.catalinadirect.com.
>
>
>
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>
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> Sacramento, Ca 95827
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