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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Reinforcing the pull-pull steering system

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/29/2013 : 19:45:33

I did not think of this idea myself, I stole it from someone else who wrote about it here awhile ago (probably Arlyn). But I was thinking about it today because I re-installed the rudder on my boat, and after doing that I always re-install the 1x3 piece of wood that I use to reinforce the steering bracket down below. In heavy weather, this reinforcement can prevent the aluminum bracket from compressing, which could cause the chain to jump a link. It's not easy to reach behind the battery and holding tank. In fact, I should have put in the battery AFTER installing the wood piece, not before.

Anyway, do any of you with the OEM pull-pull steering use something like this?

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Rick S., Swarthmore, PA
PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor)
New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)

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britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2013 : 04:05:20

Good idea, think I will copy that too.

I do put some white grease on the rudder arm pin twice a year. It seized once and bent the adjustment eyebolt, which then failed as we were maneuvering into a visiting slip!

Paul

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2013 : 11:48:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 ...I do put some white grease on the rudder arm pin twice a year. It seized once and bent the adjustment eyebolt, which then failed as we were maneuvering into a visiting slip!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Thanks for the tip. I'll make sure to hit that next chance I get.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2013 : 16:40:49

I did the mod after the chain jumped a link last year in a relatively minor blow (~15 kt, as I recall).

This past weekend I singlehanded down to the Delaware Bay and found myself in pretty heavy following seas which were constantly pushing the stern to port. For over 2 hours I was constantly turning hard port, then hard starboard, to keep the boat from broaching.

I am absolutely sure that if I had not installed this piece of wood, the steering would have been jumping links like crazy, possibly to the point of losing control of the rudder. I am so glad that I put this thing in. Not a single link jumped the whole time.

Given the other recent topic, I am happy to say that no cracks appeared in the rudder either.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.