Evaluations of Steering Conversion

We spent only one weekend on the boat between the conversion and our 2003 summer cruise.  The third generation rudder was mounted during that test.

I was gratified that what I expected was a reality.  The helm had finally been tamed into the kind of handling that I'd hoped many years to achieve.  There was no steering play or drag.  The change in ratio seemed ideal.  Movement of the wheel seemed now to be suited to the size of the wheel to provide precise movement and control of the helm.  The helm required little effort... our four year old granddaughter took the wheel and easily steered. 

Testing during the Great Lakes summer cruise continued.  My brother in law who had cruised several times with me on board R&R was surprised by the helm change.  He commented that it was now better than that of the Catalina 30 that we had cruised on several times. My wife who experienced her first cruise last year and had struggled with the helm, commented on how good it was compared to last year.

The best helm was obtained after removing the new third generation rudder and reshipping the second.  The second is a high aspect ratio rudder.  It's deep foot offers a lot of control but not being a balanced design, it's great lift capabilities had caused a heavy helm in rougher conditions. Some of that had been eliminated by partially balancing by raking the bottom forward, but when combined with the drag of the steering cable, helm effort could be excessive.  After the steering conversion, the lack of steering cable drag combined with the greater leverage of a more favorable steering ratio was exactly what the rudder needed. There is now a good balance between effort and feel. 

The new 3rd generation rudder while providing a light helm, lacked control in rougher conditions.  It rendered the auto pilot useless in conditions that worked fine with the 2nd.  In fact, it felt too light.  Very often I would hear the rudder in some degree of stall, dragging through the water making noise, but not having felt it on the helm.

The helm is now what's been desired for more than six years.

Comment from someone who bought the conversion kit. 

Hey Arlyn,

Just walked in from a 3 day sailing trip in Kenai Fiords.

The steering is well beyond my expectations. Awesome.

Comment from someone who built the design.

Today was my first test run and it exceeded my expectations!  Steering is now easy and seems well balanced.  In winds up to about 10 knots, I can let go of the wheel and with no wheel brake, the boat will stay on course.  Above 10 knots, I start getting a weather helm,  but unlike the old system, the boat is very easy to steer.  I was totally amazed that I could steer while motoring in reverse, something that the old system would not do very well.  The difference is so dramatic that I would encourage anyone with the old cable system to switch.