Steering cable misalignment

[Friday Girl]

I am semi-methodically moving through my old boat systems and find myself in the steering department. I noticed that the cable run from the sheaves to the quadrant are not even close to level. As a result I see the cable is beginning to fray where is is running on the lower lip of the groove in the quadrant.
I initially thought that using smaller sheaves would improve the alignment then read that the size of the pulley is dictated by the cable diameter. I don't really have anywhere to mount secondary sheaves to improve the alignment and am at a loss for how to address this issue.
Any ideas???

[Orion Jim]

Perhaps the quadrant can be adjusted to line up with the sheaves? You should be able to slide it up or down the rudder shaft as needed. If not you can contact Edson for advice. They have engineers on staff who are always helpful. You simply must have the correct sheaves for the application.

[Friday Girl]

Unfortunately I don't have room to lower the quadrant.

[Friday Girl]

Good suggestion to contact Edson.

[GordMay]

Edson Support ➥ https://edsonmarine.com/support/
Tel: 1 [508] 995-9711

[coopec43]

Rather than contacting Edson I think I would contact a Valiant Owners Forum. (You don't need a Marine Engineer qualification to sort out this problem)

Maybe

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vali...pNAQRw8xs&_rdr

OR

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...-a-142201.html


My first question would be
Has the steering been modified by a previous owner? (Maybe smaller sheaves have been installed than standard?)

Lining up each sheave to the quadrant is not rocket science but rather than try to visualize the directions of the steering cable in 3D you should use a piece of string (or thin rope) around the pulleys. Doing that will immediately highlight any misalignment

Is there any chance you can take a few photos?

The steering wheel is virtually on top of the rudder so any problem should be immediately evident..

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by Friday Girl

Unfortunately I don't have room to lower the quadrant.

Is your steering like any of these?

https://edsonmarine.com/content/EB381SteeringGuide.pdf

[Bowdrie]

If you can't lower the quadrant perhaps you can raise the pedestal on a spacer of teak or Starboard of some determinate thickness?

[Friday Girl]

Coopec43

Yes my steering set up is like the illistration with the direct connection to the quadrant from the bottom of the sheaves. The difference being that from the bottom of the sheaves is an upward angle to the quadrant which I estimate at 1.5 - 2 inches, over a run of maybe 30 inches. I will see if I can attach some other pulleys to the system to make the alignment better.

[jamhass]

Our V40#278 used Edson, no issues. But...
Any room beneath the sheave mount to add a spacer perhaps. I know there isn't much room there.

Here is a link to a Valiant group.
https://groups.io/g/Valiant-sailboats/messages

You could also call Fred at Valiant 903 523-4222
He is very helpful.

[rognvald]

Spacer is the answer but I wouldn't use teak but rather starboard which has a higher tensile strength and is impervious to water. Perhaps, even better would be pre-made fiberglass sheets.
Rognvald

[stormalong]

Since the sheeve assembly is bolted to the cockpit floor you would have to raise the cockpit floor, not the pedestal.

The only viable solution is to add two more sheeves under the cables to push the cables up into alignment.

Undoubtedly this has been wrong since the boat was built. There are a couple of other solutions but they are far to complex for me to type on my phone and not easy or simple to implement.

Texas Valiant never built the 37. Nordic, literally the sons of the Valiant builder built one or two. I have a Nordic 44 and there were some issues with quality control there. Once past the mistakes they are great boats.