Jaguar 36 steering issues

[Sa Sailor]

My Jaguar cat steering seems as though you are suffering weather helm.The rudders have no obstruction and move freely and there is no loss of hydraulic liquid.It is now the summer hoildays in South Africa so i
I need to fix this myself.I assume it is a hydraulic issue.Can anyone please tell me checks to carry out to diagnose problem?My guess is that liquid is leaking passed pump as steering is most affected on the extremities.Can it ber fixed without any special parts?Thanks

[belizesailor]

If there is no mechanical/hydraulic issue then its likely just an alignment issue. Check the rudder allignment.

If so, its an easy fix, you can depressurize the system and align the rudders.

What kind of tie bar system does it have? Some used a hydraulic tie bar, some used a big Teleflex cable.

[belizesailor]

You use the term "weather helm" is this happening only under sail or under power only too?

[Sailmonkey]

Is this “weather helm” present on all points of sail?
Is this also present under power?

Edit—-


Ahhhh, already asked....too slow I am!

[Sa Sailor]

I need to check under power.Thanks.

[Sa Sailor]

We had a short motor out of Harbour and under power the rudders worked perfectly and a dive under her confirmed rudders in line and freely turning.I wonder now the problem was when we had one and two reefs in and the Genoa was fully open and perhaps we sailing too close to the wind.Apologies to the more experienced skippers if my questions are a little basic.I really appreciate the advice.

[admiralslater]

Sa , that sail plan should induce lee helm not weather

[belizesailor]

Yah, sounds like you had your sail plan out of balance. Double reefed main and full jib is out of balance (generally you want to reduce both sails proportionally, but as posted above I would expect that to create lee helm not weather helm). Cats are more sensitive to sail plan balance than monos, especially the influence of the main. Go out for a sail, try to recreate the same situation where you experienced weather helm...then ease the traveller down a little and see if it goes away.

A couple of questions:

Gennoa vs Jib. Youve got a genoa on a Jaguar 36? Thats unusual on that boat and cats in general. Most cats have a relatively big main, a small jib (usually about working jib size, 100% or a bit less of fore triangle) and maybe a larger head sail, like a Code 0/screecher/asym, out on a bow sprit. Please describe your sail plan in more detail.

Also, just to confirm, "weather helm" means the boat tends to head up toward the wind direction...is that what your boat was doing?