Hello Steve and Liz,

Saw that you are OCC Hawaii Port Officers..

We would like to join the OCC, would you sponsor us?

The AMEL group is a wealth of information but feel the OCC would also help with our travels.

I completed an Atlantic crossing in 1999. We have owned our 54 for 3 years and are currently on what I call our shakedown cruise this summer in The Adriatic before heading off next year on our round the world. I would like to visit Hawaii again but on our boat, I lived in Hawaii for 4 years (1970-1074).

Look forward to hearing back.

Best Regards

Barry and Penny Connor

Amel 54.  #17

“Lady Penelope II”

Sailing Croatia

On Aug 3, 2018, at 20:46, Stephen Davis flyboyscd@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

Hi Mark,

Liz and I have been members of the OCC for about a year and a half. We are also the OCC Port Officers for Hawaii, and have enjoyed helping some other members with some logistics for planning a trip to Hawaii. We found the Port Officer for the Caribbean side of Panama to be a big help when we transited Panama. OCC has Port Officers In most of the world you plan on visiting, and I think you will find them a useful resource. Bottom line is that we feel membership is well worth the meager cost. 

Let me know if you need any more info, or if we can be off assistance if you decide to join. 

Aloha,

Steve and Liz

OCC Hawaii Port Officers

Aloha SM 72

Ko Olina, Hawaii

On Aug 3, 2018, at 07:27, 'Mark Erdos' mcerdos@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

Ian,

 

Thank you so much for the feedback.

 

Cindy will say I need no encouragement to go and knock on another boat (Amel or otherwise)... I am that pest in the anchorage who will introduce himself.

 

Do you think the OCC group will be of use beyond the Panama canal and west?

 

 

With best regards,

 

Mark

 

Skipper

Sailing Vessel - Cream Puff

www.creampuff.us

 

From: amelyachtowners@... [mailto:amelyachtowners@...]
Sent: Friday, August 3, 2018 9:40 AM
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] OCC

 

 

Hi  Mark,

 

 We have been members since our qualifying trip in 1981.  The OCC is a virtual club in the sense that it doesn't have a clubhouse and its 2000 odd members  ( maybe more now) are scattered across the globe. It produces a newsletter every 6 months or so and a 200 odd page journal twice a year with cruising stories from members.

 

 The choice of 1,000 miles between points is obviously an arbitrary one, as is the size of the boat, but they were chosen by the originator of the club over 50 years ago and have served well. It puts the O in OCC.

 

 You will now find port officers in most countries,  a voluntary role often filled by someone who has swallowed the hook but still wants to be involved in the cruising world. We have used them to good effect in finding stores, reliable technicians etc in new ports.

 

 Like any club member, when you see an OCC burgee in an anchorage it's irresistible to meet them for a beer and in contrast to almost every other  club they might come from one of 20 or more different countries.

 

I am sorry that the rules suggested to you  that the OCC is bureaucratic---it's very far from that. Amongst its members you will find some of the most adventurous and free spirited folk afloat, some of whose whose achievements will amaze  you.   Rallies where boats sail together  are a rare feature in the club. Normally an OCC rally has meant meeting in an anchorage for a drink, rather than a cruise in company. I suspect that a significant majority of OCC members prefer to do  their own thing , occasionally meeting to share their experiences.

 

 Sharing experiences is what the OCC is all about. There is a small  number of dinners or BBQ's or whatever held  each year in different countries, particularly but not only the UK and US East coast, but I suspect that most members only ever meet other members in a cockpit somewhere. On one extraordinary day we were one of 4 OCC boats who met in Caleta Beaulieu in the Beagle Channel. We all knew each other but it was pure chance that we all happened to be close by  at the same time. 

 

  Arguably,  OCC membership really comes into its own not in the Med or Caribbean , which are socially crowded places, but in some far flung anchorage  where you least expect to see another boat , but there is  yacht with an OCC burgee at her port spreaders.  You make friends for life like that--just as you would if you came across another Amel in such circumstances.

 

 Fair winds,

 

 Ian and Judy, Pen Azen, SM 302, Greece

---

From: amelyachtowners@... <amelyachtowners@...> on behalf of 'Mark Erdos' mcerdos@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...>
Sent: 03 August 2018 12:33:46
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: [Amel Yacht Owners] OCC

 

 

Steve,

 

Interesting to see you are OCC Port Officers.

 

A couple of months ago I looked into joining the OCC but really struggled to see the value. The forum seem light and I assumed it was because of lack of members. Some of the subjects hadn’t been posted in since last year.

 

I had a hard time with the qualifications that sort of appeared a bit snobby to me such as “must have completed a non-stop ocean passage between two ports, where the distance between the ports is not less than 1,000 nautical miles measured by the shortest practical Great Circle route, as skipper or member of the crew in a vessel of not more than 70ft (21.3 m) LOA” I scratched my head and wondered why you couldn’t join if you had done a 999 mile passage on a 71’ yacht J  - or - An Associate Member must have made a clear commitment to achieve the qualifying passage in a realistic and reasonable time-scale. The time allowed is at the discretion of the General Committee and shall take account of all the circumstances of each individual applicant, but it shall not normally exceed three years. Anyway this really sort of put me off.

 

We reconsidered joining when we looked at joining the Suzie Too OCC rally. But our golden rule of sailing on our own schedule prevented us from doing so.. We are heading in the same direction as the Suzie Too but will not go as far north of Panama.

 

Sorry for the long-winded note but I am wondering if you have found the membership beneficial and to what extent do you use it? Any other OCC members, please chime in.

 

 

With best regards,

 

Mark

 

Skipper

Sailing Vessel - Cream Puff - SM2K - #275

Currently cruising - Bonaire

www.creampuff.us

 

From: amelyachtowners@... [mailto:amelyachtowners@...]
Sent: Wednesday, August 1, 2018 2:51 PM
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: [Amel Yacht Owners] Steering Failure on “Aloha” SM72

 

 

I want to thank everyone who helped diagnose our steering problems, and let you all know the final outcome. After our complete steering failure from Panama to Hawaii due to broken teeth in both steering racks, we assumed that replacement of both racks and pinion/steering shaft would resolve the problem, but that proved not to be the case. We have now replaced both steering cables, and our steering perfect.

When we removed the steering cables from the boat and racks, we found that one cable worked smoothly by hand, and the other was nearly impossible to move. We inspected the bad cable externally, and found no sign of any damage... When I get time, I’ll attempt to cut the sheath off the cable, and determine what actually failed. Once the new cables were installed in the boat, the steering was smoother than it has ever been, and we have the required 1.5 turns in each direction.

When we first replaced the racks and pinion, I couldn’t imagine we had a problem with the cables, as they look incredibly robust. We learned a lesson on this one, and if anyone suspects a problem with their steering, I’d recommend replacement of all components. The cables and racks are made by Ultraflex of Italy, and can be supplied by Amel for about $1200 plus shipping. That price also includes a new pinion.. Our pinion was in serviceable condition, but we did not want to mate the
new racks with a slightly worn pinion. If you have an older hull number like ours, you will probably find the original Ultraflex cables are M41 23 FT, and the new cables supplied will be M61 25FT. They appear to be the same cables except the new ones are 2’ longer and have a different style adjustment nut near the quadrant. I suspect sometime not to long after hull 72, Amel decided that a 2’ longer cable made for a slightly smoother cable run. Also, the end pieces that screw onto the cables and then insert into the racks were originally of a plastic material. At some point in production, Amel started manufacturing a metal end piece, and changing them out in the racks supplied by Ultraflex. We were able to buy the end pieces from Amel for about $50 each, and replace the ones provided with our new racks. If you have an older SM with the plastic end pieces, it would not be a bad idea to change them.

We could not find a lot of good information on the forum regarding how to take the steering apart. The first time we changed the racks and pinion was a bit of a learning curve. By the third time we completely removed the steering from the boat to change the cables, we were fairly good at it. It is not a bad job once you know what you are doing, and we could now easily remove the entire steering system from the boat and reinstall in a day. Removing the cables requires at least 2 people. I’ll try and write something up and post it when I have time. Anyone with a fairly old hull number that has seen a lot of sea miles should consider replacing their steering. We had convinced ourselves the steering would last forever, but learned the hard way, that is not the case. My other recommendation is while on a nice day sail, rig your emergency steering, and see how it works. You will find the boat actually fun to steer with the tiller, and it would be nice to know you have all the parts available, and know how to put it together.

On another note, Liz and I are the OCC Port Officers for Hawaii, and for anyone considering sailing here, please contact us, and we can provide you some useful information. Thanks again for the help in diagnosing our problem, and now we are going sailing.

Best Regards,

Steve and Liz Davis
Aloha SM 72
Ko Olina, Hawaii

 

On Aug 3, 2018, at 1:43 PM, Ryan Meador ryan.d.meador@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

Hi James,

I had an Espar D5 Airtronic on my previous boat, a Gulfstar 37.  I lived aboard with that heater through 7 Boston winters.  It's a really great heater.  I had it installed by Ocean Options in Tiverton, RI, which should be very close to you.  They do excellent work, and you're going to want to get to know them even if you don't use them for the installation because they are the local repair and parts source.

These heaters can be somewhat finicky when it comes to their fuel and air supplies.  The fuel pump should be calibrated with your specific heater, something that I think you'll have to get Ocean Options to do.  I also had a problem with my heater coking up a lot which was eventually resolved by lengthening the air intake hose, thus providing a more stable flow of air... not something I would have thought to try, but the Ocean Options guys figured it out.  Also, their usual installation draws air from inside the boat for combustion, which creates negative pressure inside the cabin and thus draws in a little fresh air from outside.  I think this is significant for keeping the boat dry in the winter.

Expect a blower motor to last about 3-4 winters if you're living aboard full time and leave it running (I'd turn it down to the lowest setting when leaving for work in the morning, but leave it running so the pipes don't freeze).  You'll want to get it professionally cleaned every summer.  Even with the cleaning, you may find the glow plug and fuel screen coke up over the course of a winter and you need to replace it yourself -- get spares.  It runs a lot cleaner with kerosene than diesel.  On my old boat, I'd bring kerosene in jerry cans and dump them into the main fuel tank all winter, then in spring switch back to diesel so by the time I was ready to start the engine, there wasn't any kerosene left in the system.  On an Amel, I think you might not want to do that... the tank is much larger and you may actually want to operate the generator during the winter if the power goes out.  The tank might even be big enough to last you all winter long without refueling!  I burned about a gallon per day averaged over the winter.  The Amel, being significantly larger, may take more fuel.  Really, the D5 seems like it's too small for this boat, but it's what Amel chose.  Perhaps they didn't have full time New England liveaboard use in mind when they designed the system.  You want the heater to be big enough that it spends most of its time on "low".

Last winter, I heated my (new to me) Amel with the built-in electric heat supplemented with two space heaters.  It was quite comfortable, even on the coldest days.  I did have to take care not to exceed the power rating of the shore power cord.

Ryan and Kelly

SM 233 Iteration

Boston, MA, USA

On Fri, Aug 3, 2018 at 2:59 AM jamescromie@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

I am writing the group to ask for advice regarding installation of an Espar diesel heater which I plan to install on my Amel Super Maramu, hull #347.  I have acquired the various components, along with a D5 24V Diesel Espar heater.  

Though the heater comes with an installation kit including insulated exhaust tubing and hull fitting, I note that Amel installed heaters have a rigid stainless steel exhaust tube and associated fiberglass exhaust shroud.  

I have inquired of Amel in La Rochelle, and they no longer carry these parts, nor did they have a drawing of the shroud.  

I'd like to as the following of the group:

-Do any of you have tips / advice on installing the heater?

-Any recommendations for installation experts in New England or Annapolis area?

   (I have already reached out to Peter of Helm Yacht on Long Island)

-What was used for the exhaust fittings?

-Did you do the installation yourself? 

-Any other advice on the use or care / maintenance of the heater system?

Thank you so much for your input!

James

SV Soteria

Amel SM2K, Portsmouth, RI

 

Hi Mark,

Liz and I have been members of the OCC for about a year and a half. We are also the OCC Port Officers for Hawaii, and have enjoyed helping some other members with some logistics for planning a trip to Hawaii. We found the Port Officer for the Caribbean side of Panama to be a big help when we transited Panama. OCC has Port Officers In most of the world you plan on visiting, and I think you will find them a useful resource. Bottom line is that we feel membership is well worth the meager cost. 

Let me know if you need any more info, or if we can be off assistance if you decide to join. 

Aloha,

Steve and Liz

OCC Hawaii Port Officers

Aloha SM 72

Ko Olina, Hawaii

On Aug 3, 2018, at 07:27, 'Mark Erdos' mcerdos@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

Ian,

 

Thank you so much for the feedback.

 

Cindy will say I need no encouragement to go and knock on another boat (Amel or otherwise).. I am that pest in the anchorage who will introduce himself.

 

Do you think the OCC group will be of use beyond the Panama canal and west?

 

 

With best regards,

 

Mark

 

Skipper

Sailing Vessel - Cream Puff

www.creampuff.us

 

From: amelyachtowners@... [mailto:amelyachtowners@...]
Sent: Friday, August 3, 2018 9:40 AM
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] OCC

 

 

Hi  Mark,

 

 We have been members since our qualifying trip in 1981.  The OCC is a virtual club in the sense that it doesn't have a clubhouse and its 2000 odd members  ( maybe more now) are scattered across the globe. It produces a newsletter every 6 months or so and a 200 odd page journal twice a year with cruising stories from members.

 

 The choice of 1,000 miles between points is obviously an arbitrary one, as is the size of the boat, but they were chosen by the originator of the club over 50 years ago and have served well. It puts the O in OCC.

 

 You will now find port officers in most countries,  a voluntary role often filled by someone who has swallowed the hook but still wants to be involved in the cruising world. We have used them to good effect in finding stores, reliable technicians etc in new ports.

 

 Like any club member, when you see an OCC burgee in an anchorage it's irresistible to meet them for a beer and in contrast to almost every other  club they might come from one of 20 or more different countries.

 

I am sorry that the rules suggested to you  that the OCC is bureaucratic---it's very far from that. Amongst its members you will find some of the most adventurous and free spirited folk afloat, some of whose whose achievements will amaze  you.   Rallies where boats sail together  are a rare feature in the club. Normally an OCC rally has meant meeting in an anchorage for a drink, rather than a cruise in company. I suspect that a significant majority of OCC members prefer to do  their own thing , occasionally meeting to share their experiences.

 

 Sharing experiences is what the OCC is all about. There is a small  number of dinners or BBQ's or whatever held  each year in different countries, particularly but not only the UK and US East coast, but I suspect that most members only ever meet other members in a cockpit somewhere. On one extraordinary day we were one of 4 OCC boats who met in Caleta Beaulieu in the Beagle Channel. We all knew each other but it was pure chance that we all happened to be close by  at the same time. 

 

  Arguably,  OCC membership really comes into its own not in the Med or Caribbean , which are socially crowded places, but in some far flung anchorage  where you least expect to see another boat , but there is  yacht with an OCC burgee at her port spreaders.  You make friends for life like that--just as you would if you came across another Amel in such circumstances.

 

 Fair winds,

 

 Ian and Judy, Pen Azen, SM 302, Greece

---

From: amelyachtowners@... <amelyachtowners@...> on behalf of 'Mark Erdos' mcerdos@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...>
Sent: 03 August 2018 12:33:46
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: [Amel Yacht Owners] OCC

 

 

Steve,

 

Interesting to see you are OCC Port Officers.

 

A couple of months ago I looked into joining the OCC but really struggled to see the value. The forum seem light and I assumed it was because of lack of members. Some of the subjects hadn’t been posted in since last year.

 

I had a hard time with the qualifications that sort of appeared a bit snobby to me such as “must have completed a non-stop ocean passage between two ports, where the distance between the ports is not less than 1,000 nautical miles measured by the shortest practical Great Circle route, as skipper or member of the crew in a vessel of not more than 70ft (21.3 m) LOA” I scratched my head and wondered why you couldn’t join if you had done a 999 mile passage on a 71’ yacht J  - or - An Associate Member must have made a clear commitment to achieve the qualifying passage in a realistic and reasonable time-scale. The time allowed is at the discretion of the General Committee and shall take account of all the circumstances of each individual applicant, but it shall not normally exceed three years. Anyway this really sort of put me off.

 

We reconsidered joining when we looked at joining the Suzie Too OCC rally. But our golden rule of sailing on our own schedule prevented us from doing so.. We are heading in the same direction as the Suzie Too but will not go as far north of Panama.

 

Sorry for the long-winded note but I am wondering if you have found the membership beneficial and to what extent do you use it? Any other OCC members, please chime in.

 

 

With best regards,

 

Mark

 

Skipper

Sailing Vessel - Cream Puff - SM2K - #275

Currently cruising - Bonaire

www.creampuff.us

 

From: amelyachtowners@... [mailto:amelyachtowners@...]
Sent: Wednesday, August 1, 2018 2:51 PM
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: [Amel Yacht Owners] Steering Failure on “Aloha” SM72

 

 

I want to thank everyone who helped diagnose our steering problems, and let you all know the final outcome. After our complete steering failure from Panama to Hawaii due to broken teeth in both steering racks, we assumed that replacement of both racks and pinion/steering shaft would resolve the problem, but that proved not to be the case. We have now replaced both steering cables, and our steering perfect.

When we removed the steering cables from the boat and racks, we found that one cable worked smoothly by hand, and the other was nearly impossible to move. We inspected the bad cable externally, and found no sign of any damage... When I get time, I’ll attempt to cut the sheath off the cable, and determine what actually failed. Once the new cables were installed in the boat, the steering was smoother than it has ever been, and we have the required 1.5 turns in each direction.

When we first replaced the racks and pinion, I couldn’t imagine we had a problem with the cables, as they look incredibly robust. We learned a lesson on this one, and if anyone suspects a problem with their steering, I’d recommend replacement of all components. The cables and racks are made by Ultraflex of Italy, and can be supplied by Amel for about $1200 plus shipping. That price also includes a new pinion.. Our pinion was in serviceable condition, but we did not want to mate the
new racks with a slightly worn pinion. If you have an older hull number like ours, you will probably find the original Ultraflex cables are M41 23 FT, and the new cables supplied will be M61 25FT. They appear to be the same cables except the new ones are 2’ longer and have a different style adjustment nut near the quadrant. I suspect sometime not to long after hull 72, Amel decided that a 2’ longer cable made for a slightly smoother cable run. Also, the end pieces that screw onto the cables and then insert into the racks were originally of a plastic material. At some point in production, Amel started manufacturing a metal end piece, and changing them out in the racks supplied by Ultraflex. We were able to buy the end pieces from Amel for about $50 each, and replace the ones provided with our new racks. If you have an older SM with the plastic end pieces, it would not be a bad idea to change them.

We could not find a lot of good information on the forum regarding how to take the steering apart. The first time we changed the racks and pinion was a bit of a learning curve. By the third time we completely removed the steering from the boat to change the cables, we were fairly good at it. It is not a bad job once you know what you are doing, and we could now easily remove the entire steering system from the boat and reinstall in a day. Removing the cables requires at least 2 people. I’ll try and write something up and post it when I have time. Anyone with a fairly old hull number that has seen a lot of sea miles should consider replacing their steering. We had convinced ourselves the steering would last forever, but learned the hard way, that is not the case. My other recommendation is while on a nice day sail, rig your emergency steering, and see how it works. You will find the boat actually fun to steer with the tiller, and it would be nice to know you have all the parts available, and know how to put it together.

On another note, Liz and I are the OCC Port Officers for Hawaii, and for anyone considering sailing here, please contact us, and we can provide you some useful information. Thanks again for the help in diagnosing our problem, and now we are going sailing.

Best Regards,

Steve and Liz Davis
Aloha SM 72
Ko Olina, Hawaii

 

 

Ian,

 

Thank you so much for the feedback.

 

Cindy will say I need no encouragement to go and knock on another boat (Amel or otherwise). I am that pest in the anchorage who will introduce himself.

 

Do you think the OCC group will be of use beyond the Panama canal and west?

 

 

With best regards,

 

Mark

 

Skipper

Sailing Vessel - Cream Puff

www.creampuff.us

 

From: amelyachtowners@... [mailto:amelyachtowners@...]
Sent: Friday, August 3, 2018 9:40 AM
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] OCC

 

 

Hi  Mark,

 

 We have been members since our qualifying trip in 1981.  The OCC is a virtual club in the sense that it doesn't have a clubhouse and its 2000 odd members  ( maybe more now) are scattered across the globe. It produces a newsletter every 6 months or so and a 200 odd page journal twice a year with cruising stories from members.

 

 The choice of 1,000 miles between points is obviously an arbitrary one, as is the size of the boat, but they were chosen by the originator of the club over 50 years ago and have served well. It puts the O in OCC.

 

 You will now find port officers in most countries,  a voluntary role often filled by someone who has swallowed the hook but still wants to be involved in the cruising world. We have used them to good effect in finding stores, reliable technicians etc in new ports.

 

 Like any club member, when you see an OCC burgee in an anchorage it's irresistible to meet them for a beer and in contrast to almost every other  club they might come from one of 20 or more different countries.

 

I am sorry that the rules suggested to you  that the OCC is bureaucratic---it's very far from that. Amongst its members you will find some of the most adventurous and free spirited folk afloat, some of whose whose achievements will amaze  you.   Rallies where boats sail together  are a rare feature in the club. Normally an OCC rally has meant meeting in an anchorage for a drink, rather than a cruise in company. I suspect that a significant majority of OCC members prefer to do  their own thing , occasionally meeting to share their experiences.

 

 Sharing experiences is what the OCC is all about. There is a small  number of dinners or BBQ's or whatever held  each year in different countries, particularly but not only the UK and US East coast, but I suspect that most members only ever meet other members in a cockpit somewhere. On one extraordinary day we were one of 4 OCC boats who met in Caleta Beaulieu in the Beagle Channel. We all knew each other but it was pure chance that we all happened to be close by  at the same time. 

 

  Arguably,  OCC membership really comes into its own not in the Med or Caribbean , which are socially crowded places, but in some far flung anchorage  where you least expect to see another boat , but there is  yacht with an OCC burgee at her port spreaders.  You make friends for life like that--just as you would if you came across another Amel in such circumstances.

 

 Fair winds,

 

 Ian and Judy, Pen Azen, SM 302, Greece

---

From: amelyachtowners@... <amelyachtowners@...> on behalf of 'Mark Erdos' mcerdos@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...>
Sent: 03 August 2018 12:33:46
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: [Amel Yacht Owners] OCC

 

 

Steve,

 

Interesting to see you are OCC Port Officers.

 

A couple of months ago I looked into joining the OCC but really struggled to see the value. The forum seem light and I assumed it was because of lack of members. Some of the subjects hadn’t been posted in since last year.

 

I had a hard time with the qualifications that sort of appeared a bit snobby to me such as “must have completed a non-stop ocean passage between two ports, where the distance between the ports is not less than 1,000 nautical miles measured by the shortest practical Great Circle route, as skipper or member of the crew in a vessel of not more than 70ft (21.3 m) LOA” I scratched my head and wondered why you couldn’t join if you had done a 999 mile passage on a 71’ yacht J  - or - An Associate Member must have made a clear commitment to achieve the qualifying passage in a realistic and reasonable time-scale. The time allowed is at the discretion of the General Committee and shall take account of all the circumstances of each individual applicant, but it shall not normally exceed three years. Anyway this really sort of put me off.

 

We reconsidered joining when we looked at joining the Suzie Too OCC rally. But our golden rule of sailing on our own schedule prevented us from doing so.. We are heading in the same direction as the Suzie Too but will not go as far north of Panama.

 

Sorry for the long-winded note but I am wondering if you have found the membership beneficial and to what extent do you use it? Any other OCC members, please chime in.

 

 

With best regards,

 

Mark

 

Skipper

Sailing Vessel - Cream Puff - SM2K - #275

Currently cruising - Bonaire

www.creampuff.us

 

From: amelyachtowners@... [mailto:amelyachtowners@...]
Sent: Wednesday, August 1, 2018 2:51 PM
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: [Amel Yacht Owners] Steering Failure on “Aloha” SM72

 

 

I want to thank everyone who helped diagnose our steering problems, and let you all know the final outcome. After our complete steering failure from Panama to Hawaii due to broken teeth in both steering racks, we assumed that replacement of both racks and pinion/steering shaft would resolve the problem, but that proved not to be the case. We have now replaced both steering cables, and our steering perfect.

When we removed the steering cables from the boat and racks, we found that one cable worked smoothly by hand, and the other was nearly impossible to move. We inspected the bad cable externally, and found no sign of any damage... When I get time, I’ll attempt to cut the sheath off the cable, and determine what actually failed. Once the new cables were installed in the boat, the steering was smoother than it has ever been, and we have the required 1.5 turns in each direction.

When we first replaced the racks and pinion, I couldn’t imagine we had a problem with the cables, as they look incredibly robust. We learned a lesson on this one, and if anyone suspects a problem with their steering, I’d recommend replacement of all components. The cables and racks are made by Ultraflex of Italy, and can be supplied by Amel for about $1200 plus shipping. That price also includes a new pinion.. Our pinion was in serviceable condition, but we did not want to mate the
new racks with a slightly worn pinion. If you have an older hull number like ours, you will probably find the original Ultraflex cables are M41 23 FT, and the new cables supplied will be M61 25FT. They appear to be the same cables except the new ones are 2’ longer and have a different style adjustment nut near the quadrant. I suspect sometime not to long after hull 72, Amel decided that a 2’ longer cable made for a slightly smoother cable run. Also, the end pieces that screw onto the cables and then insert into the racks were originally of a plastic material. At some point in production, Amel started manufacturing a metal end piece, and changing them out in the racks supplied by Ultraflex. We were able to buy the end pieces from Amel for about $50 each, and replace the ones provided with our new racks. If you have an older SM with the plastic end pieces, it would not be a bad idea to change them.

We could not find a lot of good information on the forum regarding how to take the steering apart. The first time we changed the racks and pinion was a bit of a learning curve. By the third time we completely removed the steering from the boat to change the cables, we were fairly good at it. It is not a bad job once you know what you are doing, and we could now easily remove the entire steering system from the boat and reinstall in a day. Removing the cables requires at least 2 people. I’ll try and write something up and post it when I have time. Anyone with a fairly old hull number that has seen a lot of sea miles should consider replacing their steering. We had convinced ourselves the steering would last forever, but learned the hard way, that is not the case. My other recommendation is while on a nice day sail, rig your emergency steering, and see how it works. You will find the boat actually fun to steer with the tiller, and it would be nice to know you have all the parts available, and know how to put it together.

On another note, Liz and I are the OCC Port Officers for Hawaii, and for anyone considering sailing here, please contact us, and we can provide you some useful information. Thanks again for the help in diagnosing our problem, and now we are going sailing.

Best Regards,

Steve and Liz Davis
Aloha SM 72
Ko Olina, Hawaii