Ken, Before I get beat up too bad about the pros and cone of my arrangement I'll reenforce the fact that I had nothing to do with the design or implementation. Additionally I have had little or no trouble with the system and/or the function of the boat.
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, yes the rudder sleeve does appear to have been cut. I've eye balled the lowest part of this cut to be above the waterline. In fact the most prominent landmark is the stern most transom tip which the cut us also above. Yes, if transom gets submerged then water does have the ability to come in the boat between the sleeve and the rudder shaft. There is no stuffing box. Likewise water on the deck does have the ability to get down the sleeve and enter the boat. The passages between the post and sleeve are tight enough that I sleep soundly knowing that the boat will be floating tomorrow. What little water could get in would be easily removed by the bilge pump. I have also imagined that some rigidity was lost between the deck and the hull. However, I'm not sure how I would detect this. Whoever installed it this way must have also considered the structural nature because they cut a piece of 3/4" plywood to fit the triangle formed between the diagonal section of transom and the hull aft of the rudder tube. It was encapsulated and glassed in place. Yep, it might have weekend the boat. Yep, it might not be the best way to do it. Yep, I might not have done it that way either. Here's the great thing about this setup. It uses a volume of space which I imagine goes completely unused in most 37+s due to the lack of accessibility. In addition to being kept safe, the hydraulic drive is also kept dry and out of the way. And finally, mounting the bronze arm on the rudder shaft acts as a retainer so that in the event that the quadrant and the roller bolt broke or came loose the rudder wouldn't have a chance to fall out of the boat. The ONLY problem we've had is filling the drive unit. The hydraulic drive is a standard simrad HDP2000...(IIRC) and the "reservoir" is simply a void machined into part of the unit. The outer dimensions are roughly 4x5x1 inch so I imaging the inner dimensions are probably capable of holding about 4oz of fluid. Over time, a small leak at the shaft allows the fluid to leak out so periodic filling is required. Getting to the fill hole (which is simply a machine screw) is a challenge. Getting oil in the hole is a bigger challenge. I've had to fill it once in 3 years of ownership. The simrad unit is old but pretty reliable. It is also easily configured on the fly to steer the boat 3 different ways. To the wind, to the compass, and to the GPS. All of which I've used about equally. If I get a chance I'll send some more pics. Josh On Jul 7, 2015 1:50 PM, "Ken Heaton via CnC-List" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Hi Josh, > > The fibreglass tube my rudder shaft passes through is continuous from the > hull to the floor of the cockpit and so provides no place to mount an arm > below deck. I like this arrangement as it results in no opening into the > interior of the hull from the rudder tube below deck (except for a couple > of grease fittings). Is you rudder tube cut below deck to allow a space to > mount the arm? > > And so do you have a packing gland on the rudder shaft below deck now? > Just curious. > > Ken H. > > On 7 July 2015 at 13:35, Josh Muckley via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > wrote: > >> Sea Hawk came with a simrad package already installed. There is a shelf >> which appears to be 3/4" plywood encapsulated and glassed to the hull under >> the stbd propane locker. The hydraulic piston is mounted to the shelf and >> drives a bronze arm attached to the rudder shaft. The feedback positionner >> is mounted to an additional shelf on the port side of the rudder sleeve and >> the linkage attaches to the same bronze arm. Right now all I have are >> pictures of the bronze arm. The arm is a standard piece which can be >> bought on defender. >> >> https:// >> <https://drive.google.com/folder/d/0B8pEh5lnvP1yQWIyanRiTzBKRlk/edit> >> drive.google.com >> <https://drive.google.com/folder/d/0B8pEh5lnvP1yQWIyanRiTzBKRlk/edit> >> /folder/d/0B8pEh5lnvP1yQWIyanRiTzBKRlk/edit >> <https://drive.google.com/folder/d/0B8pEh5lnvP1yQWIyanRiTzBKRlk/edit> >> >> Josh Muckley >> S/V Sea Hash >> 1989 C&C 37+ >> Solomons, MD >> I just bought a 37 Plus and want to install a below deck autopilot. Has >> anyone done this? I am interested in the details of how (and where) to >> mount the ram. Pictures would be wonderful. >> >> Thanks, >> Gary >> S/V High Maintenance >> 1990 C&C 37 Plus >> East Greenwich, RI, USA >> ~~~~~~~_/)~~~~~~ >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Email address: >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the >> bottom of page at: >> http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Email address: >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the >> bottom of page at: >> http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > > Email address: > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the > bottom of page at: > http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com > > >
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