[C320-list] Steering Friction

[Jack Brennan]

Hi Dennis:

I live in western Florida -- shorts and t-shirt country -- so the dodger only goes on for longer trips in January and February.

It does have slots for the lines.

If your rudder balances well, I suspect you will solve your problem with the path you're pursuing.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone



-------- Original message --------
From: Dennis Cookson <dennis at cooksons.net>
Date: 10/20/23 12:57 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: Jack Brennan <jackbrennan333 at outlook.com>
Cc: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Steering Friction

Thanks for the suggestion Jack, but I was careful to ensure that the rudder and helm were centred when I fitted the new chain & cable, and with tension adjustments since. My boat maintains a straight path with little or no effort at the helm under light winds or on the motor. I believe that the rudder does tend to centre itself in flat conditions, as yours does.

It’s only when we’re heeled over that I encounter the resistance I mentioned in my original post. The boat is out of the water now for the winter season and I’ll be looking at ways to deploy the traveler more easily. My lines already enter the cockpit through holes in the dodger but there is currently no way of releasing the cam cleats at each end of the traveler without leaving the cockpit.  As your boat is of similar vintage I guess you must have either relocated these cleats or perhaps have slots cut into the dodger to enable their release? If the former I’d be interested to know how the cleats have been fixed to the cabin top.

Regards,
Dennis Cookson
Catalina, 0577



On 20 Oct 2023, at 02:52, Jack Brennan <jackbrennan333 at outlook.com> wrote:

Dennis:

Rereading your original message, I'm just wondering: Could you have installed the chain and cable so that the rudder is not straight back when the king spoke is pointing straight up?

Even being a couple of teeth off on the gear might cause the problems you described.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1988 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.



Sent via the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone



-------- Original message --------
From: Dennis Cookson via C320-list <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
Date: 10/16/23 2:41 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Cc: Dennis Cookson <dennis at cooksons.net>
Subject: [C320-list] Steering Friction

I replaced the helm wheel chain and cable on our 1999 boat a year or two ago, and have tinkered with the cable tension since to optimise control and sensitivity without over-tightening as per the Edson guide, but I’m not completely satisfied with it. In light winds the helm wheel rotates fairly smoothly, though with a slight load, but in stronger winds when the boat is heeling I find that the wheel is much stiffer in one direction than the other and requires more effort than the wheel auto helm can reliably provide.  Is this normal? I guess that there is friction in the rudder post and sleeve - should it be lubricated, and if so, how?  Or could the bearings for the helm wheel shaft need replacement?

How does your boat handle with 15 knots of wind and above?  Any comments/advice much appreciated.

Dennis Cookson
Catalina 0577