Maintaining a sailboat's steering system

One of the vital systems of a sailboat is the steering system, and therefore it is essential to inspect it periodically (at least once a year) and perform appropriate maintenance to avoid breakdowns at sea, which can have very serious consequences, especially when sailing in bad weather or in a difficult situation.

On a sailboat, the transmission system from the wheel to the rudder (to change the angle of the rudder relative to the centerline) is normally via a chain and cable link, and on some boats, it will include a hydraulic transmission. Because it is located below deck and not easily visible, we tend to forget about it until a problem arises while sailing. Therefore, it is important to include it in the periodic maintenance, especially before a long voyage.

Let’s watch a video with an example of a failure in a sailboat’s steering system (with chain and cable transmission), in which one of the sheaves that guide the cables from the wheel to the quadrant (which is attached to the rudder) comes loose, and how to resolve it.

Next, we’ll describe the main considerations for maintaining a sailboat’s steering system, including inspection and adjustment, cleaning and lubrication, and periodic component replacement. We also provide a link to an EDSON video describing these maintenance steps.