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Steering wheel blocking device

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Véronique View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Véronique Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 July 2012 at 16:23
The exact same problem happened to us this weekend. Quite scary!

We were going very smoothly approx. 7.5 Knot in a nice breeze and choppy waves. Just after tacking, we heard a weird noise under the pedestal. First, the wheel was blocked on one side, then went berzerk on the other side. We did a full 360º, totally uncontrolled.

When the situation somehow settled down, we managed to tack again in order to turn away from the shore (in those situations, the more water in front of you, the better...). The wheel went berzerk again, we heard a terrible cracking noise, and then everything went smoothly, as if nothing had ever happened. We prepared the emergency tiller (just in case...) and managed to make it back to the marina without any further problem.

After inspecting the hatch behind the pedestal, we discovered the loose blocking device MisterM was referring to (stopplate). It may have been broken for quite a while and may have been dislodged when we tacked, jamming a rod in the steering system. This would explain why the wheel was suddenly blocked.

We will look into a sturdier solution to make sure we don't go thru such an experience again. If anybody is interested, I will post pictures.

P.S. I have no recollection of ever letting go of the wheel when going backwards, and we are always very gentle when steering. The broken device is definitely not the result of an abuse on our part!
Veronique

Sir Titou 320, Switzerland
Caprice 445, Southern France
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Old Finn View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Old Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 July 2012 at 19:11
Hi Veronique,
I´m very interested, please send me your pic by pm.

axel
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MisterM View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MisterM Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 July 2012 at 21:43
Veronique, that is bad to hear. I had the same experience, including the blocked steering wheel and the noises as well, but in my case it was only in harbour, so less risky.
 
As a further update, I know learned from the Dutch technical guys working for Hanse that this issue IS known to the yard and now has been solved with a modification on newer versions, and that they did have some issues with the older models (build years until 2010 or 2011, I don't know). I am going to have a better device installed as well, for which I will post pictures as soon as this has been installed (but I'm afraid this will only be after the holiday...).
 
Meanwhile, with the device out of place, I have been warned not to sail, as the steering device can go blocked once the dead point is overstretched, and this cannot be repaired under sail or in water, so quite severe.
 
I do think this is a serious safety issue that Hanse should (re)act much better upon, as I don't think they want to bear the negative image of a copy of the Bavaria-failing-keel!
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MisterM View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MisterM Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 July 2012 at 08:42
Véronique, you may want to report this issue also at Jefa, since they produce this. They can be reached at sales@jefa.com and they respond quickly.
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Drumduff View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Drumduff Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 July 2012 at 17:58
I managed to take a look at these stoppers and what I have found is the two O rings have dropped off one of the stoppers. This may be the first stage towards failure but at least it looks like I have caught it before more damage has been done. The O rings need to be made of a better material than what they are now as they were found to be in very poor condition and have simply dropped off the stopper due to being totally eaten away from the salty environment.
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MisterM View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MisterM Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 August 2012 at 07:25
It seems that the issue was known for some time with Hanse, and they've created a solution, which consists of replacing the rubber stops with an integrated aluminum ring with stops welded upon it. See the picture below for how half this ring looks:
This ring has been cut in half by the technician, as for the instalment of the full ring, the whole pedestal should be removed. In my case, this would mean removing the teak layer (breaking it off, actually, since it's Sikaflex'ed onto the ground), then dismantling the whole pedestal. Now, the half ring has been installed, and that was possible since only the stopper at the front in my case was broken.
 
This is how it looks when installed:
 
Looks like a sturdy solution to me, happy that this could be solved.
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CharlesP View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CharlesP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 August 2012 at 17:40
I've just checked mine. They are through bolted just like the Jeffa photo. However, the two "O" rings have have broken. Only two years old and rotted through. Is that normal?

Charles
'MERIDIAN LADY'

320 Nr 536 2010

Medway
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Gordon Harrison View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gordon Harrison Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 September 2012 at 15:07
The time has come for me to do something to the steering stops which have come off . I think I might just through bolt them as this seems to be ok on various models fitted in this way. I wonder what the reason for fitting by the other method was?
I gather from reading the post from Mr M that the pedestal has to be removed, has anyone removed one yet or know exactly what is involved. I am thinking maybe I can just disconnect rod at joint and undo the 4 ? bolts under the pedestal.  
Gordon
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MisterM View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MisterM Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 September 2012 at 16:41
Gordon,
 
The guy that did the job on my boat told me that the pedestal also has 4 bolts at the cockpit floor. I have teak in the cockpit, and in my case these bolts are covered by the teak (which is not the right way, he told me). So it is 4 bolts under the pedestal, and 4 at top (or it may be 4 the same, through bolted as well, I don't know). If you don't have teak, or your bolts have been left easier accessible by wooden stops, then you should have no problem removing the pedestal. This is all I know.
 
Machiel.
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CharlesP View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CharlesP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 September 2012 at 10:47
I don't think I will replace the broken O rings. I will wrap some rubber around the stop fixed to itself with superglue.

Charles
'MERIDIAN LADY'

320 Nr 536 2010

Medway
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