I have a cracked cask iron Emergency Tiller Head; so I bought a new one made out of Stainless Steel at Catalina Direct. There is no installation instructions and I can not find a discussion on the Forums about changing that thing.
Question: Can I replace the new Head while in the water or will the rudder drop? Do I have to take the boat out of the water and secure the rudder?
You should be able to replace while the boat is in the water. Your point about the rudder dropping should be considered. I'm going back to the Catalina 30 that I had. I believe if you get back to the shaft log at the aft end of the boat you will find a packing flange. I would make sure that the flange and packing are pretty secure around the rudder shaft, perhaps making it difficult to move the rudder. Might be a good idea to put a clamp on the rudder shaft as well to keep the rudder from dropping.Make sure you have the rudder pulled up as far as it will go. Do this by perhaps prying the cap up with someone below to apply a clamp.
Again if I recall correctly the cap which you are replacing should be held by the cross bolt. May not come off easy as I suspect some corrosion would be evident. Once off just replace and insert bolt.
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
I second Gary's response. From the photo you provided - the tiller head mounting on the 36 Mk I looks of similar design to the 30. On our 30, I removed the single bolt on the tiller head and watched the rudder post slowly start it's descent, dropping through the quadrant and out of the boat. Fortunately, I forced a pin into the open bolt hole before it disappeared and wrestled the rudder post back into position. Lessoned learned; If you are working on the boat in the water, like Gary said, snug up on the rudder post packing flange to the point where it creates some serious friction and/ or apply a c-clamp to the rudder post above the packing gland.
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B
The rudder post cap can definitely be changed while the boat is in the water. (BTW, it's cast aluminum and not cast iron). Rather than messing around with the packing gland for the rudder post, I suggest taking a line from one stern cleat, under the rudder, up to the other stern cleat, and making it fast. The rudder will NOT fall out of the boat (the steering quadrant is also thru-bolted), but by taking the cap off, the rudder may drop an inch or so, and would be a pain to get back up. Gary's correct about the corrosion (most likely the reason your cap cracked). It might be a BEAR to get the old cap off. You might have to resort to a chisel? You should also have a ?delrin? washer under the rudder post cap. The weight of the rudder is supported on this washer in normal use. If you do not have one, you should get one. Hope this helps.
PS-It would be a good idea to create a "signature" for this BB, to help others help you, with some info about your boat.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
Many thanks for all the great advice. I will repair the tiller head this coming weekend and will add some more information once the work is completed.