Steering

[Sedna440]

Hi All
I have a lagoon 440, when we are underway either sailing or motoring the helm is heavy, has anyone else had/have this issue and is there a fix

Cheers
Mark

[Factor]

Have you tried asking Lagoon? (as in the Australian agent)

[Sedna440]

Not to the Australian agent

[2Wind]

Certainly the helm on my 440 is very heavy. I keep the autopilot in good service! Hand steering in a moderate or heavy seaway would be very tiring. The design contributes: large size, hinged from the leading edge, no offset, with a relatively short arm on the stock, and long cable run around two pulleys in orthogonal planes. There's no fix assuming your's is appropriately light and easy at dock or when slowly underway.


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[Sedna440]

Hi Second Wind
I'm going to try installing a larger cog with more teeth for the steering as far as the autopilot what brand and size is your autopilot as we will wander a bit under sail


Cheers
Mark

[2Wind]

Mine is a Raymarine ST 6001.
It's perfectly adequate in the lazy (level 3) setting where some wander is allowed at the benefit of less work/power. I've never felt the need to go to the "tighter" settngs.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Mark.

[Sedna440]

Might have to get our autopilot checked, anything over 20 knots we have to hand steer

[admiralslater]

if you are having issues with heavy steering, I believe that going up a size on the cog would be the wrong way to go. It may work in flat water,but IMO it would struggle oin rough weather due to higher torque. I would go down a size and let the motor run more easily.
This is a bit over the top but you might consider removing some material from the trailing edge of the rudders .
You might also consider an hydraulic steering pump. I don't know this boat at all so take the last 2 suggestions with a grain of salt

[Sedna440]

Hi

Thanks for your input

[Octopus]

Originally Posted by Sedna440

Hi All
I have a lagoon 440, when we are underway either sailing or motoring the helm is heavy, has anyone else had/have this issue and is there a fix

Cheers
Mark

Hi Mark

It sounds to me like one of your connecting rod linkages is seizing and liable to fail at any time. Our port rudder linkage failed during a gale in the middle of the Bay of Biscay, which was fun, and follow this link for one that failed on a 440 in mid-Atlantic:
Windancer IV.

Our port rudder linkage sheared completely, which meant we were left with no autopilot and only one rudder until I had completed a running repair by lashing it together.

I recommend you disconnect the linkages and replace them if there is any sign of corrosion (clean up any you replace and keep it as a spare).

I believe the linkage for the 440 and the 420 (and probably other Lagoons) are identical. The Lagoon part number for the 420 is:

#15 - ref 074439 - CONN.ROD AXLE DIA 20 LG406 AM

and it cost about £150 ($200/€299).

Chris

Octopus, Lagoon 420 Hybrid, Hull #52
Isle of Arran, Scotland

[Octopus]

Originally Posted by 2Wind

Certainly the helm on my 440 is very heavy. I keep the autopilot in good service!

Hi Second Wind

I recommend that you check out your rudder linkage too. As my steering was light when not under load too.

Chris