I am in the process of restoring a 1983 Catalina hull #103. It came with a hydraulic back stay adjuster and it looks like a Navtec. I am sure it needs to be rebuilt as there appears to be no fluid in it and the previous owner schmucked some silicone on the shaft, so I assume it is safe to say it leaked out through there..
I am in South Florida, does anyone know who can go through the unit locally and what is the best process to remove the unit safely?
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Peder Sahlin
Pompano Beach, FL
1983 - C36 Standard Rig / Wing Keel
Hull #103
Peder. I do not know of anyone to fix it. But you can take the back stay off and the mast will still stand. But to be safe I would replace it with your main halyard until you get it repaired.
Randy Sherwood
Mutualfun 1990 # 1057
T/R W/K M35a
Home. Charlotte, Mi.
Boat. St Augustine,Fl.
Kind of what I was figuring on, the last sailboat I had had a deck mounted mast and I am unsure how sturdy these keel mounted masts are. This boat is new to me but is a very nice boat overall. I was figuring on taking down the head sail and using the main halyard as support.
It is an older Navtec hydraulic back stay adjuster (confirmed) and except that it apparently leaked the hydraulic fluid out of the top seal it appears (externally) in good condition. I have heard that any hydraulic repair facility can repair these units as they are fairly simple ram units. Anyone have any thoughts on that logic?
Peder Sahlin
Pompano Beach, FL
1983 - C36 Standard Rig / Wing Keel
Hull #103
Hey,
Im in the same situation as your with my '87 Mk1. I have a Navtec backstay adjuster, which doesnt seem to pump anymore. Its more of a square box on the end.
Look up Navtec and download the manual. It tells you how to bleed the air out. If that doesnt work it tells you haw to refill it, and what kind of oil to use. From my quick read you need to remove the thing to fill. I had hoped you could just fill until it leaks out of the upper hole like doing the lower unit gears of an outboard. The manual also shows a newer looking round design, but probably the some procedure on our dinosaurs.
Keep me informed of your progress and I will talk to you.
Good luck!
Gary Matthesen
"Holiday"
1987 #50646
Oyster Bay Long Island NY
Peter,
Gary already mentioned using the main halyard to steady the mast while the backstay is disconnected. It's not necessary to take off the genoa to do so. You could just ease the genoa halyard and work with a tight main halyard as a backstay. You will have to take the backstay adjuster off to do anything with it, but I'm guessing that as soon as you put more fluid in, it will leak out, and make a mess of things. Most likely the upper seal (o-ring) has been killed by UV rays.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
I was able to get out on the boat and remove the Navtec (older square end type) I had to loosen the lower forward shrouds 8 turns each, along with cranking on the main halyard to the stern pulpit. Also had to support my radar mount as this puts twisting weight on the aft cable. Had enough slack then to easily remove the cotter pins and large clevis pins.
On my pump there are screws all over. On the side with two screws, the one sticking out looked like a likely candidate to a reservoir for the oil. Sort of what you expect to see doing an outboard lower unit. To add oil, I used a large 60cc syringe like you might get for epoxy work, or filling your feeding tube. (sorry but true). It took quite a bit of oil, but pumped up, then you release as per Navtec directions.
Good news, it works. Bad news it shows the leaky O ring at the top as Tom suggested.
Anyone have ideas of DIY O ring work?
Gary Matthesen
"Holiday"
1987 #50646
Oyster Bay Long Island NY
I replaced 2 leaking O rings in my Sailtech "Integral Hydraulic Adjuster" a couple months ago. Sailtech sent me the $100 kit which comprised about a dozen O rings, only 2 of which I needed.
A friend lent me a comealong, which not only secured the backstay during the work, but made it much easier to reinstall the adjuster (taking up the tension on the backstay).
Mine does not have an exposed to UV seal. It's meant more to "set and forget", with mechanical locking grip at the top, which allows you to release the pump pressure after setting desired backstay tension.
Basically it's a ridiculously fancy & expensive $3000.00 turnbuckle!
It does have a seep hole at the top cylinder which will leak if overfilled (as I did).
FYI, Home Depot keeps it's hydraulic fluid over by the lawnmower parts.
Paul & Ann -
"Freestyle" -
1985 C36 #454 -
North Puget Sound, WA
I had the Navtec backstay adjuster on my San Juan 34 rebuilt at a Northsails sail loft last year. They were a dealer for Navtec.
Tim Askew
S/V Allure
1990 Catalina 36 Hull # 1079
Std Rig, Wing Keel, M25XP
3 Blade Auto Prop
Elizabeth City, NC