advice on emergenmcy steering position...

[Rockter]

My olde Union 36 from 1977 has a worm-gear steering system...

Image of WK Union 36 worm-gear steering - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

... you can just see it at the top of the picture.

The problem I have is that there is no facility, at all, for an emergency steering position. Though it is not apparent from the picture, the top of the rudder post terminates at the worm gear, and there is a big air gap (perhaps 2 feet) between there and the deck.

I have thought of fitting a hydraulic steering as back-up, but just where to place the manual pump (it must be manual) I cannot see how.

Perhaps I cal cut an aperture in the deck and somehow engage with a below-deck tiller with a big oar-like linkage?

Thanks.

Rockter.

[jrd22]

Rockter- mounting a hyd. ram so it could attach to the rudder post shouldn't be too big a job, if there is room. Is there a keyway in the rudderpost to lock the arm on, if not, that means dropping the rudder and some machine work. As far as the pump goes (something like a Teleflex isn't too large) could it be stored below with long hyd. hoses(maybe even quick connect ends?) so that you could pull it out into the cockpit when/if needed and temporarily mount it to something secure. Not sure if you can follow this or not, or if you have room, not familiar with your boat. Basically a ram mounted and ready to go and a steering pump with hoses you could pull out when needed. You would have to have a valve to open on the hyd. circuit for normal steering.

John

[Rockter]

Jrd..

Must I key it?
It is a monumental effort to drop the rudder post.
I had hoped it might be done with clamps, assuming they could be tightened enough without tearing up the rudder post.
I suspect the rudder post is solid section, but I am not sure. If so, I could grind a wee flat or two on it such that a security bolt would stop against it.
Can it be done by clamps, flats, and bolt tightening?
Maybe not.

[jrd22]

If it is solid you could probably drill and tap the clamp in two thick spots 90 degrees apart from each other and then dimple the post for some set bolts. Make sure to safety wire them with SS wire. Keyway would be best, but understand the rudder issue. Not sure about this approach if the post is hollow, would depend on wall thickness, is it keyed for the fitting at top?

John

[Rockter]

jrd...

Thanks, yes it is keyed at the top, so I suspect solid section.

Now, just where do I mount the steering pump????

[jrd22]

IIRC the teleflex pumps mount to a bulkhead with four bolts so maybe you could mount it to a piece of board that could attach to something in your cockpit? Maybe onto the stern rail like an outboard bracket? Not sure of your layout so can't really say what would work. It would be a bit of a project but I, like you, wouldn't be comfortable without emergency steering of some sort (Blue Moon has hyd. and cable and an emergency tiller- two helms). Good luck with it.

John

[Rockter]

Could I just mount the aux steering pump somewhere in the cockpit footwell or something, and perhaps fit a wee "speedboat" wheel to it when in an emergency? I guess I could have the pump mechanical interface looking up at the helmsman from the footwell.
In an emergency, I could run below and couple the hydraulic arm to the aux tiller below decks in the steering compartment.
With reasonable maintainence, and regular testing, I guess it would do.
I know the throw of the wheel, and of the rudder post, so I can guage the force needed at the aux tiller below decks.
It's likely to be costly, methinks.

[Rockter]

Jrd...

I liked the quick-connect idea. Perhaps I could just store the pump below and grab it quickly if things go wrong, placing it onto a deck mount frame somewhere convenient. I could run the lines below to the hydraulic ram and perhaps quick-connect half-way, or something. Do the quick-connects trap air? Would they need bled? I don't think we will have a lot of time if things go wrong.

We could practice a drill or two to improve our reaction times.

I can do some calculations to get a better idea of the forces (and reactions) needed. It is a good steering system I have, but it puzzles me how any worm gear system can have a simple aux steering position.

Anyway, thanks for the "grab the pump and and go" idea.

Rockter.

[Rockter]

Another point, I tried to identify the worm gear system I have. I went to the Edson catalogue. The closest I can see is the "Meteor". The cost, wait for it, $9000. Yeeeaaaarrrrgggghhhh!

From what limited ditail I the photo I posted, does anyone recognise the unit I have?

[Rockter]

Oh, the unit I have has twin worm gear followers (twin arm). You can only see one of them in the photo.