Sailing Blue Pearlvideo
Ep 52 | All work and a little play!
23 July 2023 · 19 min · 2K views · Santa Rosalia
What this video covers
The crew of Blue Pearl identifies significant rudder slop while anchored in Santa Rosalia, Mexico, causing the autopilot to trigger failure alarms during operation.7:11 Inspection of the steering quadrant, located beneath the master berth, reveals that the brass quadrant clamp is misshapen and failing to grip the rudder post securely.7:44 The previous owner’s installation used excessively long bolts that prevented the use of standard sockets for proper tensioning, and the 3/8-inch keyway shows signs of wear and mushrooming.8:50 To resolve the issue, the owner removes the quadrant, files the mating surfaces flat to ensure a tight clamp, and shortens the mounting bolts to allow for proper torque with an impact wrench.12:11 After reassembling the steering system and re-centering the helm, the owner eliminates the play in the wheel and restores autopilot functionality.17:57 The repair confirms that improper clamping surface contact, rather than just key wear, can cause significant steering instability.
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