OVERVIEW - Sailboat Chain & Wire Steering System [Maintenance & Replacement Schedule]

Sailboat Chain & Wire Steering Systems do not last forever. You turn the wheel, the boat turns, and life is good. What connects the wheel to the rudder is out of sight and out of mind.
In this video, we go over the 4 major components or assemblies that make up your sailboat chain and wire steering system. Reviewing all of the maintenance and replacement needed for an Edson Chain & Wire Steering System.
Helpful Links:
Edson's Sailboat Steering Inspection Check List
edsonmarine.com/content/EB-37...
Edson's Sailboat Steering Data Sheets
edsonmarine.com/sailboat-data...
Music Credit:
"Riptide" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@johnbates6199]

Enjoyed the video - I had no idea. I have a J/34c and am trying to confirm the components for the Edson pedestal. JB

[@stevenhartmann5511]

That was very helpful -- appreciate the big-picture view. I liked the outtakes at the end too!

[@edsonmarine]

Thank you, Steven! Please email or call us if we can do anything else to assist: [e-mail] or [phone]. Enjoy your time on the water!

[@pwkyt]

Great video. I have a pull-pull system. Most of your videos omit mention of this system. Can you do a video specifically on pull-pull systems?

[@edsonmarine]

Hi - Sorry we're replying so late. Hopefully our recently posted conduit video gets you the info you need.

[@faezshahrezaei1073]

Hey, thanks for you amazing video, was super helpful I’m also wondering if you know a quick way to find a idler assembly, unfortunately mine got stollen:(

[@edsonmarine]

HI Faez, thank you for your compliment on the video! We're really sorry to hear about your stolen idler. If you are able to give us a call at [phone], we can help you with determine the correct part number for the replacement. From there, we can help you with a new one, or you can go through any of our dealers. You may even be able to find one on the used market, but be very cautious in your selection as this is a highly loaded component.

[@LydieBaillie]

Thank you this informative video . Before sea trial on a 1979 Westerly 36, the owner turned the wheel at quay (wheel was hard to turn, rudder was in the mud, unbeknownst to him) and the chain link and ring connecting it to the wheel broke. Upon inspection , it was found the non stainless ring linking the chain to the steering wheel was corroded and had broken in half. Now the owner proposes to repair it. The yard has fabricated a ring from a stainless shackle and is looking for a replacement chain link. Watching your video , this does not seem to be the proper fix. What would you suggest ?

[@edsonmarine]

Hi Lydie - At this point, the whole chain and wire assembly should be replaced. Our pre-made assemblies have custom connections between chain and cable, but if you are doing it on your own then a high quality stainless shackle can be used. Not sure what role the ring play, the cable's eye can be attached directly to the shackle.

[@LydieBaillie]

@@edsonmarine thanks for the advice , I will check the repair and replace the parts needed.

[@dc14522]

What's Edson's view of Dyneema or Vectran cables?

[@edsonmarine]

Properly done, they can work great. Generally shorter inspection and replacement intervals are needed with fiber cables.