Edson Steering Failure Be Warned

[coopec43]

I converted 8 inch "V" belt pulleys to cable pulleys and made up SS pulley mounts. All pulleys have roller races.

[Scaramanga F25]

Lack of preventative maintenance. Not Edsons fault. 30 year old system.

[Searles]

Had a similar failure on a Catalina 42 running hard under kite ,wild broach ,kite down ,pressed auto pilot button ,back under control ,pilot drive on rudder stock ,way to go .⛵️👍

[thunderhoof]

I'm sorry, but I cannot accept that Edson, to save $3, used plain vs stainless steel in the turning block support plate. As an engineer I see that as the suits showing no regard for the users about an item that that directly affects safety.
I hope a significant class action suit arises from this issue.

[Olly75]

Originally Posted by thunderhoof

I'm sorry, but I cannot accept that Edson, to save $3, used plain vs stainless steel in the turning block support plate. As an engineer I see that as the suits showing no regard for the users about an item that that directly affects safety.
I hope a significant class action suit arises from this issue.

Really? Without wanting to tempt fate as Im heading out tomorrow and it's going to be a little boisterous, how can you sue a company for the failure of a part that's at least 20 years old and probably, for the majority of that time, had salt water dripping on it?

[CarlF]

Originally Posted by thunderhoof

I'm sorry, but I cannot accept that Edson, to save $3, used plain vs stainless steel in the turning block support plate. As an engineer I see that as the suits showing no regard for the users about an item that that directly affects safety.
I hope a significant class action suit arises from this issue.

LOL. Edson doesn't have any "suits". It's a tiny company known for great quality and astounding customer service. When you call - the president most likely picks up the phone.

As I remember, this plate was galvanized steel not mild steel. Same as anchors that go in the salt water every day. Perfectly good in a place where you don't need "shiny" - and not prone to crevice corrosion like stainless. But even if it was plain steel - what do you think ships are built of?

Since they did switch to aluminum at least 20 years ago this means the steering on this boat hadn't been serviced for over 20 years. Simply foolish.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Scaramanga F25

Lack of preventative maintenance. Not Edsons fault. 30 year old system.

I agree 100%. Why would you not check the steering mechanism at least once a year. I wonder if the OP checked oil before run up. Check the weather, make sure the VHF is working, Everyone has safety gear...the list goes on.

[stormalong]

I am surprised that Edson ever did that with magnetic steel so close to the binnacle compass. My 35 Y.O. boat has a cast bronze plate there. Have had it off a couple of times in the 30 years I have owned the boat and it looks like new.

But while we are on the subject of Edson the last time I overhauled the steering system, about 12 years ago, I discovered that the axle pins for those two sheaves were brass or bronze and were worn half way through. After a conversation with Edson I replaced them with SS clevis pins. Edson sent me a pair of bushings for the sheaves and I did replace them but they did not seem to be worn. Moral of the story - disassemble and check everything.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by thunderhoof

I'm sorry, but I cannot accept that Edson, to save $3, used plain vs stainless steel in the turning block support plate. As an engineer I see that as the suits showing no regard for the users about an item that that directly affects safety.
I hope a significant class action suit arises from this issue.

Oh dear, why am I not surprised that an American is advocating legal action but no mention of personal responsibility or routine inspection and maintenance??

[NevilleCat]

Interesting. I don't have the system, but it never would have occurred to me that they would ever have any steel parts especially that major part.
Something else to look out for, thanks

[NorthCoastJoe]

My Pearson 30 is 44 years old saltwater boat and my plate looks perfect. I do look at it every time I have my head there which is often, also no leaks.

Seems to me that you had a slow leak over a long time. I would pull the post and reseal it, not just replace the plate. You might find some other problems in the process.

I do not think the problem is Edson. The problem is a leaky deck.

[Opie91]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Oh dear, why am I not surprised that an American is advocating legal action but no mention of personal responsibility or routine inspection and maintenance??

Why you got to go there Uncle Bob? You could have made the same point without disparaging an entire country....

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Opie91

Why you got to go there Uncle Bob? You could have made the same point without disparaging an entire country....

And what, pray tell, leads you to the conclusion that I am disparaging an entire country?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

And what, pray tell, leads you to the conclusion that I am disparaging an entire country?

Haha!! People fear me!! As an American I’ll either shoot or sue! Therefore I will open a business In another country and run it as though I’m the soup Nazi!

[Opie91]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

And what, pray tell, leads you to the conclusion that I am disparaging an entire country?

If you don't know already I cannot help....