S&S Defiance 30 steering pedestal

[oztayls]

Hi everyone, we have purchased a S&S Defiance 30 and the steering wheel is quite stiff. Below deck all is looking OK so I'm thinking the chain or whatever mechanism is in the pedestal needs attention. I need some advice please as, coming from a dinghy background, I've not dealt with such things before.

The compass is not working and needs to be replaced as well. Now, to get inside the pedestal, there are no screws visible, so the only obvious way to my thinking is to pry off the black plastic compass surround and hopefully find some screws or bolts under there? The compass surround is old and will likely crack in the process, but that's OK as the compass is at end of life. Also, there is a stainless steel and brass stub on the side of the pedestal (see pic). Is that the wheel brake do you think? I tried to turn the stub with some vise grips, but it was solid, so I'm not sure if it's meant to turn or not. In other pictures, I see a lever or a knob there, so maybe mine is just missing? Perhaps the stiffness is caused by the brake clutch, but I'm really just guessing until I can access the pedestal.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[coopec43]

My Whitlock steering had seized up and I found the "plastic" bearing had apparently expanded over time and left no clearance between the steering shaft and the bearing.


Have you read the online threads?


Stiff Steering | Sailboat Owners Forums

https://forums.sailboatowners.com › ... › Mid-Size Boats

1 May 2003 — We have a 1988 Catalina 30 MKII(Edson pedestal, wheel steering) on which the steering is quite stiff. I've serviced the steering pedestal, ...

STIFF Steering - The Battle Continues!! - Sailboat Owners ...

13 Oct 2008

Steering very stiff | Sailboat Owners Forums

3 May 2017

Stiff Steering Wheel | Sailboat Owners Forums

11 June 2020

More results from forums.sailboatowners.com

[Rumrace]

There I a boggie wheel to keep tension on the chain. They break and the chain moves too freely. A little pressure on the rudder and you will loose control. Easy fix line everything up first. Top centre moving is good indicator this tension wheel is failing

[pjShap]

See if the compass mount has a couple of small screws on the side. Mine are Allen-head. I would not expect to pry it loose- it is almost certainly fastened. You probably want to check the chain and cable, sheaves, and the rudder shaft and bearings.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, oztayls.

[stormalong]

That is not an Edson pedestal. Do you know the make? Do you know the compass make?

First step is to get an exploded view of the pedestal and figure out how it comes apart. There are screws holding it together. Question is where are they?

[oztayls]

Originally Posted by stormalong

That is not an Edson pedestal. Do you know the make? Do you know the compass make?

First step is to get an exploded view of the pedestal and figure out how it comes apart. There are screws holding it together. Question is where are they?

There is no brand on the pedestal or the compass. My mate is a mechanic and we looked everywhere for screws. The only screws we can find are the tiny NS EW compass adjustment screws. It's a mystery alright. I've seen pics of this same pedestal on other Savage-built Defiance 30s, so maybe a past owner will know.

[oztayls]

Originally Posted by Rumrace

There I a boggie wheel to keep tension on the chain. They break and the chain moves too freely. A little pressure on the rudder and you will loose control. Easy fix line everything up first. Top centre moving is good indicator this tension wheel is failing

Thank you, I'll look for that when I get access one way or another!

[oztayls]

Originally Posted by coopec43

My Whitlock steering had seized up and I found the "plastic" bearing had apparently expanded over time and left no clearance between the steering shaft and the bearing.


Have you read the online threads?


Stiff Steering | Sailboat Owners Forums

https://forums.sailboatowners.com › ... › Mid-Size Boats

1 May 2003 — We have a 1988 Catalina 30 MKII(Edson pedestal, wheel steering) on which the steering is quite stiff. I've serviced the steering pedestal, ...

STIFF Steering - The Battle Continues!! - Sailboat Owners ...

13 Oct 2008

Steering very stiff | Sailboat Owners Forums

3 May 2017

Stiff Steering Wheel | Sailboat Owners Forums

11 June 2020

More results from forums.sailboatowners.com

Thank you, good to know. I'll check them out...

[stormalong]

Originally Posted by oztayls

There is no brand on the pedestal or the compass. My mate is a mechanic and we looked everywhere for screws. The only screws we can find are the tiny NS EW compass adjustment screws. It's a mystery alright. I've seen pics of this same pedestal on other Savage-built Defiance 30s, so maybe a past owner will know.

The plastic rim around the compass might pop off. There has to be a way to replace the light bulb.

As a last resort I would hacksaw through the wood spacer. There have to be some bolts there holding it together. Bolts would be the least expensive things to replace. Cut around the perimeter so that you don't cut into part of the mechanism.

But don't do that until all possible info sources have been exhausted.

PS. Depending on how well it was assembled the stainless bolts holding it together might be corroded into the aluminum parts. Hopefully it was assembled with anti seize grease.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by oztayls

Thank you, good to know. I'll check them out...

In any case I think it's a chain to wire arrangement, like a classic Edson.
The top looks a bit different, but it's still traditional.
Should be some screws first on the compass.

Under it larger screws/bolts.
Under it bearings, gear, chain and wire.

I suggest you remove the wire at the quadrant and see if the rudder post is tight, or turns P to S easily.

It could be the Pedestal bearings, not as likely, worth checking out though.
Look for access under the Pedestal and you'll get a better idea what to do.
Boatyarddog

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by oztayls

There is no brand on the pedestal or the compass. My mate is a mechanic and we looked everywhere for screws. The only screws we can find are the tiny NS EW compass adjustment screws. It's a mystery alright. I've seen pics of this same pedestal on other Savage-built Defiance 30s, so maybe a past owner will know.

Please post pictures of your Pedestal, up close.
There are visible screws on the side of the black compass ring.
Boatyarddog

[GordMay]

Could it be a "Merriman - Yacht Specialties" pedestal? ["YS" on original wheel nut]
Yacht Specialties/Merriman binnacle steering manual
1. ➥ https://www.marlow-hunter.com/wp-con...Pedestal-1.pdf

2. ➥ https://sbo.sailboatowners.com/downl...n_18329874.pdf

Pedestal Disassembly, with Photos
➥ https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads...-photos.14133/

[stormalong]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Could it be a "Merriman - Yacht Specialties" pedestal? ["YS" on original wheel nut]
Yacht Specialties/Merriman binnacle steering manual
1. ➥ https://www.marlow-hunter.com/wp-con...Pedestal-1.pdf

2. ➥ https://sbo.sailboatowners.com/downl...n_18329874.pdf

Pedestal Disassembly, with Photos
➥ https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads...-photos.14133/

The shape of the section at the top of the post is different. There are a lot of copycat steering systems. Some made in Taiwan for the local builders.

[Searles]

The compass maybe a twist lock onto the binnacle , the binnacle fastened to the wood spacer ,tight steering ,the brake is no1 on the list .⛵️⚓️