The crossed wire idler leads your steering cable from its vertical
run within your pedestal to a horizontal
run under the cockpit, then aft to the radial drive wheel on the rudder shaft. It is mounted immediately under the pedestal, above deck, in a recess molded into the deck.
The steering in this vintage of Catalina 28 and 30 shared a unique above-decks location. The steering components area all housed in a compartment accessible through a removable trapezoidal hatch in the cockpit sole. Due to restricted height inside of the compartment, this custom, low profile idler is required. This custom idler was only used on the Catalina 28 and the Catalina 30.
Caution: These parts were only used on a relatively few hulls with production ending over 10 years ago. More than once we have been told they are discontinued. Each time we've negotiated production by ordering a batch to be built for us. If there is any chance you are going to need one in foreseeable future, it would be prudent to order one while they still exist.
Materials
• Anodized aluminum base plate with integral sheave brackets
• Anodized aluminum sheaves w/ bronze bushings
• Stainless steel cotter and clevis pins
This part fits the following boats that used the old mild steel bracket:
• Catalina 28
• Catalina 30 (starting with hull #4726 in September 1986)
• Sheave diameters: 4"
• Width, base plate: 7-15/16"
• Length, base plate: 8-3/16"
• Fastener spacing, center to center: 6" fore and aft and
athwartships• Rigging pins (double hole): 3/8" x 1-5/16" grip x 1-3/4" LOA
• Depth below mounting surface (without steering cables installed): ~4-1/8"
• Notch for engine control cables / electronics: ~3/4" x 1-1/4"
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