Southerly100 Heavy Steering

[Dutch01527]

Just completed the sea trial on a Southerly 100 I am buying. All good except that I found the steering very heavy. Not enough to stop the deal but I am looking for ideas.

1) Is this normal? I am a big bloke but it was really heavy. Not sure my wife could steer for any period of time.
2) The boat is fitted with a old, heavy duty, chain driven Raymarine wheel pilot behind the internal steering. I have had belt driven wheel pilots before that needed to be disengaged when not being used. Does anyone know if a chain driven version can be disengaged? At the moment turning the wheel turns the autopilot chain and I presume the autopilot motor.
3) Could it be that the cables and pivots are sticking and need to be lubricated or replaced?
4) Rudder bearings maybe?

Any other ideas. The current owner has got used to it but it does not feel right to me.

Thanks

 

[penfold]

Should have a magnetic clutch that disengages completely; if the chain has got wet or been bereft of lubrication it may be stiff with corrosion.

 

[colhel]

I had a similar experience on sea trial and when surveyed the surveyor pinned it down to the rudder bearings being tight due to being made of nylon rather than delrin / acetal. You might be able to eliminate the bearings if you can reach the rudders and see if you can wiggle them by hand

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

I've sailed and motored one and whilst it was a long time ago I'm sure I'd remember heavy steering. With the rudder it has it's never going to have the greatest feedback, but reversing was memorable. I was young and less experienced, but it's the only boat I've ever failed to completely master! (I'd like to have round two and come out with a clean record!).

 

[Dutch01527]

Should have a magnetic clutch that disengages completely; if the chain has got wet or been bereft of lubrication it may be stiff with corrosion.

Thanks.. Is the clutch at the wheel end of the chain or on the motor? I will look next time I am down.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

I have a Southerly with the same or similar system.
On mine the twin wheels drive chains, which in turn drive a geared "Quadrant". It's a bit like part of a differential on the rear axis of a car, which is attached to the rudder(s).
The auto pilot motor, a type 2 rotary drive, in my case a Lewmar Mamba, which uses a chain to drive the wheel(s), which then operates the rudder in the same way as hand steering.
Auto pilot motor is driven by the electonics and has 4 connections, 2 for the power and 2 for the clutch. If the cultcch isn't disconnecting, the steering will be heavy.
I'd start by looking at the voltges on the control wires for the clutch, with the autopilot switched on , enabling the auto pilot should toddle the voltage on the clutch.
I found the system to be robust and trouble free, the only thing I've had to do is adjust the the chain tension every now and then.
And, that reminds me, if the chain is too tight, that also makes the steering feel stiff.
These are easy things to check, and I'do these before looking at the rudder bearings or th clutch on the rotary drive.
PS, in case it isn't obvious the clutch is in the motor, the drive/control comes from the auto pilot head.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

chain and gear drive


Motor drive, the clutch is in the centre, I think, these photos were taken in 2016, and old memories tend to fade!

 

[Tranona]

Thanks.. Is the clutch at the wheel end of the chain or on the motor? I will look next time I am down.

This does not sound like a Raymarine motor, more likely to be a Whitlock or Lewmar (same thing depending on age) and should nave a clutch in the motor.

Back to basics, you need to determine whether it is the rudder that is stiff or the stiffness is in the linkage.

 

[pandos]

If there are any pulleys in the system check that they are lubricated and running freely. When I looked at my steering i found one sheave was seized but the cable was sliding over it due to being greased. The steering was heavy but still moving. You need two people to check this....

When I put the system back I had the cables too tight and just a tiny adjustment made things just right...

Might be an adjuster in the chain tension which would help you narrow the possible cause.

There is a motor on the for sale section that might interest you....

 

[fredrussell]

Also, check for orcas nibbling on rudder, can make steering heavy.

 

[Dutch01527]

Thanks for all the helpful advice. Never had this type of set up before and now understand much better the layout and where to start investications.