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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 250 Specific Forum
 Edson Quadrant
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WK 727
1st Mate

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USA
72 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/17/2022 :  09:44:59  Show Profile
I was always annoyed with the factory steering provided on the 250. I removed the Edson arm and replaced it with the Edson bronze quadrant. The original steering had a turn of less than one revolution which just doesn't provide the sensitivity needed. Also the cables are really sloppy in tension because there isn't a quadrant. The results are a full two revolutions of the wheel and the tension on the rudder stays the same for the full rotation. The wheel steering now responds the way it should.


Installing the Edson quadrant is not a straight forward plug and play change. The factory arm is offset from the rudder and a centered hole was created and then the offset hole was filled. The thickness of the new quadrant was too thick for the factory plate and was machined to the proper thickness. Holes for the rudder mount had to be CNC machined for proper alignment. The rudder thickness had to be increased with layers of fiberglass to match the 1.75" bronze fork. A new aluminum bracket was fabricated to mount to the deck instead of the transom (CNC machined for vertical alignment and slots for fore and aft adjustment). The chain had to be replaced with a #50 chain that was about 6" longer and the cable housings were chopped 10" because of the need for longer exposed chain.













Regards, John
Westlawn Institute graduate
Yacht Design and Naval Architecture
04 Catalina 250 WK
Standard rig w/wheel steering
Yanmar 9hp diesel

Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2022 :  16:43:25  Show Profile
John,

Yes, the original Edson wheel steering system needs improvement.
The early version had a single cable “Push/Pull”.
The later version had two cables “Pull/Pull”.
I haven’t seen the Edson quadrant modification before.

This is a pretty technical solution.
Would you be interested in writing a more detailed document that can be posted in the tech tips section of the website?

Please contact me if you are interested.
Thanks, Russ Johnson
Commodore

Russ Johnson
2005 C250WB Hull 793
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Commodore
Russ Johnson

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USA
695 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2022 :  17:01:52  Show Profile
Hi John,

There was another solution that one of our members created.
Here’s a link to a previous post.
https://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=17690

Unfortunately, Arlyn Stewart is retired and no longer sells this steering conversion kits.

Russ Johnson, Commodore 2009-2024 (commodore at catalina-capri-25s.org)
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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5882 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2022 :  17:16:32  Show Profile
It sounds like your design might be sufficiently unique to justify a patent. It would seem unfair if Edson would come out with a "new, improved" version that mirrored your design.

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore
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