Modified (?) Steering Gear for 1978 Freedom 40 Cat Ketch

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1

Posted by ketch_sailor (ketch_sailor@…>)

Currently listed for sale on www.yachtworld.com is an elegantly
restored 1978 Freedom 40 mid-cockpit cat ketch. The boat is located
in the Netherlands.

Because I hope to own a similar boat in the not too distant future, I
have studied the photo’s in the ad fairly carefully. In addition to
the boat’s beautiful interior and well thought out systems, two
photo’s show a steering system of the sprocket/chain/cable pull-pull
type, not the hydraulic steering system that I have seen on other
F’40’s of this same model and vintage.

My questions to the group are these:

a.) Were two steerings systems offered by Freedom or should I assume
that the Dutch boat has junked the stock hydraulics and retrofitted a
sprocket/chain/cable system?

b.) Has anyone seen this or similar set-up and does anyone know the
specifics of how this chain/cable system was engineered?

The photos clearly show the steering cables descending from the
sprocket, passing through two sheaves and turning outboard toward
what one would assume are additional sheaves which would turn the
direction of the cables aft. However, no conduit or steering cable is
visible in photos of the aft cabin, nor are there any quadrants or
tiller arms visible in the photos.

c.) How would one calculate the dimensions of such a system, for
example; how long a tiller arm would be necessary to turn the big
F’40 aft hung rudder?

How could the inlet through the transom be engineered to
provide the necessary leverage, turning radius, unobstructed access
and watertight integrity?

d.) Would the length of the cable run and overall cable strech be a
problem with this type of system? One could imagine that in a big
puff with lots of weather helm, the wheel hard over and the boat
slowly rounding up as the cable stretched out.

Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated, Thank you.

Rick Wright
s/v ANNIE
Davis Creek,MD

2

Posted by Peter Schaefer (pcschaefer@…>)

Rick,

as to my knowledge most UK built F40s had mechanical steering while the
US built F40s preferred hydraulic steering. This June I inspected an aft
cockpit F40 in the UK which had mechanical steering. As I did not sail
it I can not say anything about the steering forces.

Greetings,
Peter

3

Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)

Rick,

I checked Garry Hoyt’s original 1976-1978 typewritten specsheet of
the US-built F40 centrecockpit (CC) version and the aft cockpit (AC)
version on this. The specs of the CC version say about
the steering: ‘Outboard rudder with quadrant in watertight
enclosure.’ The word ‘quadrant’ suggests mechanical steering, I would
think. The specs of the AC version state there is hydraulic steering.

It might be that for the CC version they also went to hydraulic
steering later on because of the long cablerun and the issues around
getting the tiller entry watertight.

If you want, I can give you contact details of the guy who restored
the F40 in the Netherlands you refer to, so you can ask him yourself.
He is very knowledgeble on Freedoms and also did a very fine
restoring job on an F44 (Ivory Goose) which is now owned by a friend
of mine.

Hope this helps. I believe board member Lance Riley keeps a website
with most if not all Freedom documentation.

Best,
Michel Capel

4

Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)

Dear all,

I received the following email from Dwight Escalera, a former TPI
employee:

From: descalera1@… <descalera1@…>
Subject: F40CC Steering
To: michel.capel@…
Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 5:05 AM


Michel,

I worked at TPI from 1978 thru 81, and as I recall the CC was
originally designed with cable steering and a quadrant. The AC
retained the outboard rudder but because of the cockpit, did not have
any space for the steering system as used on the CC. The solution
was to mount a hydraulic cylinder externally on the transom. I do
not remember any CC’s having the hydraulic steering, but I can’t be
sure.

Dwight Escalera

5

Posted by Sailor (ketch_sailor@…>)
Thank you all for clearing up the mystery.
Rick Wright
s/v ANNIE
Davis Creek, MD— On Thu, 8/14/08, michel.capel <michel.capel@…> wrote:
From: michel.capel <michel.capel@…>Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Re: Modified (?) Steering Gear for 1978 Freedom 40 Cat KetchTo: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.comDate: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 4:51 AM


Dear all,I received the following email from Dwight Escalera, a former TPI employee:From: descalera1@cox. net <descalera1@cox. net>Subject: F40CC SteeringTo: michel.capel@ yahoo.comDate: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 5:05 AMMichel,I worked at TPI from 1978 thru 81, and as I recall the CC was originally designed with cable steering and a quadrant. The AC retained the outboard rudder but because of the cockpit, did not have any space for the steering system as used on the CC. The solution was to mount a hydraulic cylinder externally on the transom. I do not remember any CC’s having the hydraulic steering, but I can’t be sure. Dwight
Escalera