[C320-list] Fwd: Wheel Steering Safety Notice

[Mike Ott]

It appears after reading most of these threads that some owners feel Catalina has incorporated a design flaw into the C320 steering system.  I disagree.  In an earlier career, I built fiberglass production boats for almost 10 years, for a couple of reputable companies. During those years I saw a lot of quality and a lot of junk in the marketplace.  When boats are designed you use the best available materials, at the best budgeted cost to provide the best function. If you take pride in your workmanship you build the best you can for the bucks available. Since the pedestal steering system is designed to be waterproof corrosion from dissimilar metals probably was not a major concern. Apparently the design worked, my boat is almost 17 years old and I have not experienced any corrosion issues with steering.  So now Catalina is suggesting a replacement for the mild steel plate.  This is not a recall or flaw remedy, its an improvement.  That's how manufacturing works.  If you want  quality production, you continual try to improve it. 
Mike Ott'Amanda Lu'#508 


     On Tuesday, July 28, 2015 9:22 AM, Doug Treff <doug at treff.us> wrote:
   

  

I don't disagree with the points Larry made here - however, before
embarking on an offshore race, one would think it would be a good idea
to thoroughly inspect all the boat's vital systems for safety purposes -
including the steering system. Using Edson's inspection checklist, this
problem would have been caught and corrected before the race and the
boat would not have been forced to limp back to port in the first place.
I submit to you that the owner of that boat did not properly prepare it
for an ocean voyage if that steering inspection was not done prior to
departure. I'm sure they thoroughly inspected the rig, engine, and all
other vital systems. Steering is also a vital system and should be
treated as such. 

<rant> 

Some (not you, Larry - the rest of this is addressed at those people)
have made the point that the design was poor and Edson / Catalina should
bear some responsibility. That may be so - but the reality of the
situation is that we now have a known flaw and as long as you perform
regular inspections, and do everything you can to keep water out of the
pedestal, these idler plates should last a very long time. When your
boat is not in use, if you keep the pedestal covered with a Sunbrella
cover, very little rain water should be getting in there. If you have a
lot of water coming in through the pedestal, there's probably some other
problem that also needs to be corrected. On a C320, all you need is less
than an hour of your time, a screwdriver, and a flashlight to perform
this steering inspection. If someone isn't mechanically inclined enough
to be capable of this job, I question whether they should be a boat
owner at all. 

Next, to those others who think boats should be a turn-key hobby with no
maintenance or periodic inspections being done by the owner - and then
sue the manufacturer when a part fails... Speak up now so we can put all
your names in a database and never buy one of your used boats for sale.
Undoubtedly they will be neglected and will come with lots of deferred
maintenance. 

At a minimum, all vital systems should be inspected and properly
maintained on an annual basis or you will eventually be sorry - either
paying financially for a repair, or paying personally in the form of an
injury or loss. For your own safety, do these inspections or pay someone
to do them if you don't feel qualified. Boats live in a rough
environment. Things rub together and chafe. Water gets into places where
it doesn't belong. Corrosion and rot are common when water intrudes.
Learn how to recognize the signs and deal with problems early. This is
part of being a boat owner. Not every problem is a manufacturers defect
that warrants legal action. Some problems are owner-induced due to poor
or no maintenance. 

</rant> 

---
Doug Treff
Catalina 320 - 1996 - September Song - #350
http://savvysailor.blogspot.com/
doug at treff.us

On 2015-07-28 06:47, Larry Frank wrote: 

> I agree with the inspection approach but want to add the following
> information. I do know of a Catalina 36 that almost had their steering
> fail because of this problem. What was really problematic was that they
> were in an offshore race at night in 4-6 foot seas and 20 miles from an
> inlet. This is not a situation to depend on the emergency tiller as your
> backup. What happened is that they noticed the sudden development of
> groaning noises as they helmed the boat. Upon inspection they found the
> plate in question beginning to flex and buckle due to the loose of
> material due to corrosion. They were able to limp into port and had to
> have the plate replaced with a new one supplied from Edison. This was
> several years ago and I do not remember all of the details but I recall
> the new plate from Edison was a different material. At this time I was
> told by the owner that it was a dissimilar metals problem and I believe
> the explanation is that there were dissimilar metals and seawater present
> resulting in galvanic corrosion. I can see Edison saying it was a leakage
> problem because if you did not have any moisture present dissimilar metals
> would not corrode. Because our boats are always in a wet or moist
> environment the use of dissimilar metals in direct electrical contact
> should always be avoided.
> 
> Larry
> WindSwept
> C320 #246