Replace or Restore, Wheel or Tiller?

[jack2]

My wife and I have a 1970 Ohlson 38 with Edson wheel steering. The steering was installed in 1972. I have had the boat for two years and want to take it off shore. The emergency steering system is not at all adequate, and needs major retrofitting. In addition after speaking with the Edson rep. at Strictly Sail in Chicago it looks like we need to upgrade the steerer to a larger size to handle the stress of the vane steering. The question should we go back to a tiller at some undetermined cost (bearing in cockpit seat, fitting a tiller to the rudder shaft, a tiller) which should also address the problems with the emergency steering or should we replace the wheel system ($1000) and spend some undetermined amount of money building the emergency steering system?

[Faster]

Do you already have the vane? Perhaps a self steering system that uses its own rudder would be a better idea (Hydrovane, eg). That would remove the 'stress' of using your steering gear for that purpose, and may also deal with the emergency steering situation at the same time. They are expensive but compared to the total of these other projects it may balance out.

Going from wheel to tiller is certainly going to be less costly than going the other way.

FWIW if you do refit the existing steering we are very happy with the geared link-and-lever setup from Edson (as opposed to chain/wire/quadrant) - it's a pretty bullet proof setup.

CD-i® Geared Steering Systems : Edson Marine Store

[Lake Superior Sailor]

I love the tiller in my boat & would never change it, takes less room great positive feel! But; on your boat you have to know what you want & anything less might get you by?---Dale

[killarney_sailor]

Originally Posted by jack2

My wife and I have a 1970 Ohlson 38 with Edson wheel steering. The steering was installed in 1972. I have had the boat for two years and want to take it off shore. The emergency steering system is not at all adequate, and needs major retrofitting. In addition after speaking with the Edson rep. at Strictly Sail in Chicago it looks like we need to upgrade the steerer to a larger size to handle the stress of the vane steering. The question should we go back to a tiller at some undetermined cost (bearing in cockpit seat, fitting a tiller to the rudder shaft, a tiller) which should also address the problems with the emergency steering or should we replace the wheel system ($1000) and spend some undetermined amount of money building the emergency steering system?

What did the Edson guy mean when he said 'upgrade the steerer to a larger size to handle the stress of vane steering'? Seems like an odd statement. A Hydrovane or similar type does not use the primary system - you lock the wheel at an appropriate angle. We have a Monitor and I don't see that it puts extra stress on the system, although the wheel is constantly being adjusted, but only a little bit at a time.

The Hydrovane is its own rudder and can be used to steer the boat if there is a failure of the main syste. Monitor have an option that allows their system to act as an emergency steering system. Also, if you a below decks autopilot (not sure if it is in your plants), it can act as a back of steering system.

[jack2]

I am not sure why he thought that the monitor would stress the steering, but he said the older bronze steering shaft Edson's were not really up to the task.

[bljones]

The wheel steering has been on there for 40 years without failure, and yet a salesguy at a boat show is able to determine that it is too small, sight unseen.
The boat was designed as a tiller boat, so retrofiting an emergency tiller certainly isn't going to be difficult. Some pictures of the cockpit and current set up and details on the windvane set-up you are considering would help.

[Rockter]

Jack :

What is the deficiency of your current system? Does it steer OK? Has it ever failed?

Disconnect the rudder head flange from your worm-gear steering and take the steering unit out.

Check it for wear and play.

It is almost certain to be a stainless worm gear with probably two contra-cut worm gear followers on it. (there may just be one follower on it). You can srew them off, wash them in gasoline, and inspect for wear.

Properly lubricated, they last for ever, but they are very expensive indeed. An Edson system is like $4000+.

If there is plenty of life left on them, lubricate and re-assemble.

I don't know if your unit has the facility for an emergency tiller with worm gear steering. My 1977 Union Polaris 36 does not. My own unit is similar in principle to the Metoer system in this link...

http://pdf.nauticexpo.com/pdf/edson/...9-5927-_6.html

On your ship, if the emergency tiller can be deployed promptly, I simply would leave it as is. That really is enough redundancy. I do advise taping the necessary spanners on to the rudder post so that you do not need to go looking for them in an emergency. You may be short of time and looking for tools in a rudderless boat is going to make you sick at very best.

I plan to fit a Hydrovane independent rudder system in the spring to my ship. It is a self-contained steering system.

Then I can do no more.
.

[jack2]

The current emergency tiller is about a 18-24" shaft that clamps onto the rudder shaft facing backwards. To use it the lazerett hatch cover must be open. I tried to upload a photo but even though I made it small it would not upload. Do you have a place I could send them?
Thanks

[jack2]

Rockter I have a chain and cable steering system. the emergency tiller can be attached quickly but would be very hard to use for any length of time.

[killarney_sailor]

I don't see how there could be a problem with the rudder shaft and a Monitor since the Monitor only steers the wheel. If the boat steers ok (no particular play in the system) it should work fine with the Monitor since there are no additional loads put on the system.

Best thing to do with your emergency tiller is to try it (get away from anything you don't to hit). 18-24" does not seem like much mechanical advantage to me. You might want something longer, which should be easily done. If you have to have the lazarette open you would want to make some sort of cover to keep spray and rain out since you could be using the system for a long time - several days possibly.

You can PM me the photos if you like.