Hello...I'm a new owner, closed the deal last Thursday. I noticed this on the Trial Run, as well as the ride over to the haulout, but the steering wheel of our 2006 C36 Mk II is very squeaky. It also feels tight, like it's partially locked. However, I can't find a locking mechanism any where on the pedestal. Any suggestions? Can I lube it? Where, and with what lubricant? Thanks for the help...Rob
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Rob Miani
San Francisco Bay
2006 C36 Mk II
S/V Si Caro
Hull #: 2265
The lock mechanism is a hand-wheel on the right hand side of the pedestal on older boats, or in some cases may be the knob at the center of the wheel on newer boats. Typically when partially tightened they do squeak or groan.
Jason V
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Congratulations on your new boat. I am a MK I owner, so this information may not be relevant to you. Most of the pedestals I am familiar with on Catalinas are made by Edson, and have a "brake," which is used to limit movement of the wheel. The brake is controlled by a gnurled knob on the starboard side or aft side of the pedestal. The brake is activated or released by turning the knob. You may have the brake engaged somehow.
Another possibility is that an autopilot mechanism is somehow engaged.
In the worst case, you can remove the compass and look down into the binnacle and see what may be going on when you turn the wheel.
If that fails, you could go below decks and look at the steering cables as they come down the pedestal and are routed to the quadrant on the rudder. Perhaps a sheave is not working properly, or perhaps the cable is too tight.
Whatever you do, however, don't start lubricating. I learned the hard way what can happen if lubricant ( in my case, grease) gets on the brake shoes--no brake action.
I did a piece, which is in the maintenance section of the articles, on my adventures in this area.
Hopefully you will get some better advice from the MKII owners and a simple answer will resolve your issue.
--Nelson Lee
Nelson Lee, "Stella," 2002 C36, hull 2069, Universal M35BC, berthed Sausalito, CA
Hello...Thanks for the quick replies. I have been asking a lot of people about this and forgot to mention that I have looked through the Operating Manual only to find the discussion about Steering talks about be familiar with the Emergency Tiller. I can't see a locking mechanism anywhere, unless it is part of the knob of the wheel? I'll keep looking. Thanks...Rob
Rob Miani
San Francisco Bay
2006 C36 Mk II
S/V Si Caro
Hull #: 2265
rdmiani, it seems like you haven't released the steering brake...on the stbd side of the pedestal, just below the throttle lever. Turn counterclockwise to release.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Thanks Larry...I'll give it another look. I find it interesting the Operating Manual has no reference to the steering brake, at least that I couldn't find it. I'll take a look again and let you know...Rob
Rob Miani
San Francisco Bay
2006 C36 Mk II
S/V Si Caro
Hull #: 2265
My owners manual included an Edson insert with an exploded diagram and parts list. That would show the wheel brake. Might want to check and see if there's one in your manual.
Also another thought; does the boat have an autopilot with a wheel drive? If so, my older, black plastic Autohelm wheel drive used to squeak quite a bit when it was unlocked and I turned the wheel.
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
My wheel autopilot squeaks a lot, too. I resort to applying liquid silicone carefully to the rubbing surfaces so as to not get it on the internal belt.
I have plans to add a below decks AP in the next year or so.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/
Well...I got it! Simple fix, I almost hate saying it, but it's worth noting since all of the suggestions didn't include this. It was bugging me, so I went down to the boat during lunch and looked again. Nothing at all on the steering pedestal, nothing except a throttle lever and a transmission lever. Just because it's attached to the wheel, I rotated the center knob on the wheel, the one you would loosen to take of the wheel. I rotated the knob maybe 90 degrees to the left, then turned the wheel - No noise, and it turned easily, just as you would expect it to.
So, the locking knob on the steering wheel appears to also be the wheel brake or wheel lock. Does this familiar to anyone? The pedestal has an Edson warning label to disengage the wheel lock, but nowhere could I find where the locking mechanism is located. I got lucky...
I wish I had time for a trial run, but alas, back to the office. Thank you everyone for your input, it actually helped me by eliminating things. I'll look for an Edson diagram, or maybe I could find one on the web or on this site. For "deising", maybe your wheel is like mine...Rob
Rob Miani
San Francisco Bay
2006 C36 Mk II
S/V Si Caro
Hull #: 2265
This would be the part where I said in the first reply "or in some cases may be the knob at the center of the wheel on newer boats"....
Jason V
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Thanks Jason...You did have it. Funny how it's not documented, but thanks for the reply, it worked! Rob
Rob Miani
San Francisco Bay
2006 C36 Mk II
S/V Si Caro
Hull #: 2265
Rob,
Glad you got it resolved, and no my wheel is not like yours. My squeak is definitely from the wheel autopilot.
Duane Ising - Past Commodore (2011-2012)
s/v Diva Di
1999 Catalina 36 Hull #1777
Std rig; wing keel, M35B, Delta (45#)
Punta Gorda, FL
http://www.sailblogs.com/member/diva-di/