lagoon 50 steering issies under sail

[pardo0802]

Hi Guys.

Have a lagoon 50 and as soon as the main goes up the wheel does not work. only way to steer the boat is on the engines till ypu are pointing in the right direction then use the auto pilot. Can turn the engines off amd it sails fine on the auto pilot, but the wheel doesnt work. anyone had similiar issues?

[danstanford]

Yikes!!!
Is it visible that it is twisting under sail in other areas?

[tkeithlu]

Double YIKES!

It sounds like the hulls are twisting to the point that the steering binds. This needs immediate examination. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Can you haul it, and if you cannot see the problem, hire a surveyor?

It's just possible, but not likely, that something is caught in the steering. If you are not afraid that it might sink on you, could I suggest gentle motoring to a calm place and then inspect the steering linkage with the sails up and down?

[pardo0802]

thanks for the reply. weird thing is the boat is fine under motor and fine with just a jib or code zero up. Its only when the main goes up

[sv Grateful]

Next time you're at anchor jump in the water and have someone turn the wheel and look to see if both riders turn. If one (probably stbd) is not turning, because the grub screw has stripped out of the tiller attachment, or the crossbar linkage is disconnected, you will only have one rudder which may not, by itself, give you enough helm authority to overcome the weather-vaning from a mis-trimmed main.

I once lost the connection to one rudder on my FP Lavezzi and only figured it out when I couldn't hold a course with the spinnaker up.

[chris95040]

Originally Posted by pardo0802

Hi Guys.



Have a lagoon 50 and as soon as the main goes up the wheel does not work. only way to steer the boat is on the engines till ypu are pointing in the right direction then use the auto pilot. Can turn the engines off amd it sails fine on the auto pilot, but the wheel doesnt work. anyone had similiar issues?

What do you mean ‘doesn’t work’?

Does it lock up so you can’t rotate it? Does it rotate but it doesn’t move the rudders?

You are aware the boat needs to be moving through the water for the rudders to do anything, I presume?

[TrentePieds]

Indeed! Pay attention to 95040's post (#6). We obviously cannot help you - which we will be glad to do - if we cannot tell what you mean.

Do restate your problem taking care to express yourself with precision and clarity.

With the Jib or code zero, is the boat sailing "away from the wind" and steering properly on that point of sail?

You say "when the main goes up" it doesn't steer properly. Is that because you are trying to bring the boat onto a close-hauled course, i.e. you are turning the boat so the wind comes in from forward?

Do you have any experience in mono-hulls?

How much experience to you have in catamarans?

As I said: We'll be glad to help, but you have to tell us just exactly what it is YOU are doing, and how the boat responds to that.

Cheers

TrentePieds

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by pardo0802

Hi Guys.

Have a lagoon 50 and as soon as the main goes up the wheel does not work. only way to steer the boat is on the engines till ypu are pointing in the right direction then use the auto pilot. Can turn the engines off amd it sails fine on the auto pilot, but the wheel doesnt work. anyone had similiar issues?

As a SWAG. Look at your steering. Is it hydraulic? A bad pump at the helm may be the problem. Maybe more of a WAG? More info. on your steering system would be helpful.

[singlespeed]

More important, is this a hydraulic or cable steering boat? Much different potential issues.

[thunderhoof]

Could it be that you turn the engine off when the main is up thereby stopping a hydraulic steering pump?

[Oceanride007]

Parley Revival had the brackets that hold the turning block lift and lose cable tension and chain skipped over teeth. Auto pilot is on another tiller arm I think. You need to crawl down a space that is tight and dirty, may be of assistance if you got someone else turn the wheel for you. or just lift the top off the helm, (is it a compass) and have a look to see if you can see chain skipping.

[Moontide]

Many (most?) have weather helm with just the main up, especially if the main is overtrimmed. This is even worse if it is light wind or you have very little boat speed. Try easing the main out and sail off the wind some and see if it is better.