Navik problem

[webcraft]

The turret is loose on my Navik, so I removed it for a closer look.

The manual shows a "turret tube" which I presume centralises the turret in the support tube but is free to rotate.

My turret has not got this tube, and appears to rely only on the shallow moulded plastic ring to centralise the turret on the support and keep it in place. Because of this I was able to remove it without first taking off the square bracket opposite the pointer. This is not good, as it means the entire turret is relying on the jointed connector at the top to hold it in place.

I have sailed thousands of miles with this Navik, so do not understand how/why/what has happened now. . There is no sign that there ever was a "turret tube" and it cannot have fallen off/down because the jointed connector would have stopped it falling out of the bottom.

Does anyone understand what might have happened? Does anyone have a detailed picture of the underside of their turret with the "turret tube" still in place so I can see how/where it is fitted/connected to the turret?

And - can I get a new "turret tube" made to the right size and glue it in?

If more photos or info is required, let me know.

 

[Sea Change]

From memory (I sold my Navik several years ago) there should be a thin walled fibreglass tube, is that what's missing on yours?

I also was surprised that there wasn't very much holding the turret on, so I had a line running across, from the welded bracket near the top of the stainless tube. It has to be fairly loose to allow full rotation of the turret, bit it stopped me worrying about the turret flying off completely.

 

[webcraft]

From memory (I sold my Navik several years ago) there should be a thin walled fibreglass tube, is that what's missing on yours?

I also was surprised that there wasn't very much holding the turret on, so I had a line running across, from the welded bracket near the top of the stainless tube. It has to be fairly loose to allow full rotation of the turret, bit it stopped me worrying about the turret flying off completely.

The thin walled fibreglass tube is not there, which is why I was able to remove the turret without removing the square bracket opposite the pointer. (Normally you have to remove that to lift the turret off the support tube)

Looking and feeling closely it seems the "turret tube" as it is called in the manual has broken off, and presumably split laterally as well so it it was able to fall out of the bottom of the support tube. Have attached a pic that shows the jaggy edges left where I think the fibreglass tube parted company with the plastic.

Do you think there is any reason it was such a thin walled tube? Thinking of trying to find a suitable replacement and gluing it in place, maybe nylon or something. Am in Lerwick atm, so not a lot of choices of places but could ask Malakof.

Otherwise the Navik is buggered, and I am not very happy about a two way trip across the N. Sea without it.

 

[webcraft]

Here we go, this is what it should look like. A lightweight tube glued into the socket on the turret base, with a centralising ring on the bottom of it.

I think part or all of the thin fibreglass tube may be at the bottom of the stainless tube support, but it is very difficult to see - may have to blow the dinghy up!

 

[Sea Change]

Interesting that the square bracket holds your turret on... on mine, it didn't, and I could just lift it off. Hence the extra securing line.
We did a fair few miles with that Navik, including a gnarly attempt to cross Donegal Bay with gusts in the high 30s.

I hope you can get it sorted... I was looking forward to Norway pics!

 

[webcraft]

Interesting that the square bracket holds your turret on... on mine, it didn't, and I could just lift it off. Hence the extra securing line.
We did a fair few miles with that Navik, including a gnarly attempt to cross Donegal Bay with gusts in the high 30s.

I hope you can get it sorted... I was looking forward to Norway pics!

Do you think the centralizing tube needs to be so thin? Certainly if it was too thick it would restrict full movement of the fibreglass rod from side to side, but I don't reckon an extra mm would make a significant difference.

Finding/making a tube should be relatively simple if the old one isn't there/cant be fished out (going to need to inflate the dinghy to check that out I think) but not sure what to use for the centralising ring on the bottom. Thought of trying to use a couple of big O rings, but would need to make grooves.

Any ideas?

 

[Sea Change]

I don't think mine had the centralising ring, just the green tube.

 

[webcraft]

I don't think mine had the centralising ring, just the green tube.

That would make it pretty wobbly.

 

[Sea Change]

That would make it pretty wobbly.

Just as a stop gap (literally!) a few wraps of insulating tape would probably be good enough. As I say, mine didn't have that ring at all.
The part isn't in constant motion, after all.

 

[webcraft]

Just as a stop gap (literally!) a few wraps of insulating tape would probably be good enough. As I say, mine didn't have that ring at all.
The part isn't in constant motion, after all.

LOOSE TURRET UPDATE
-------------------------------------
I found the green fibreglass tube and the centralising ring at the bottom of the support shaft. I was able to retrieve the tube but not the ring, so I used some electrical tape to create a stabilising ring 4mm bigger in diameter at the bottom of the tube and glued the top back into the turret.

Problem hopefully solved, but watch this space!

- W