Reply To: Steering system HT 1974

Hello Jim thanks for your reply and sorry its taken me so long to get back to the forum,- I kind off gave up on the forum as people did’nt seem to be using it, this thread was started Dec 2016!

To get back to the steering system – anything that gets rid of the wooden strut that links the two rudders has to be a plus. Apart from being a trip hazard, I’ve noticed the steering circle of the HT(with crossmember) is limits the rudders achieving an angle of only about 60Degrees (from memory), if part of the rudder that links to the crossmember was cut off it would allow the rudders 45 degree’s allowing you a much smaller turning circle.  Why Pat designed this at the time, I can only imagine that he envisaged the boat with a prop in each hull which would allow you to turn the boat on a sixpence using engines alone.  With just an outboard in the centre well its a different story.

Is it possible to get a detail drawing/ parts needed of the steering system on the later HT’s which had no cross members, and if any of have an HT with the later set up or modified can you please send photo’s.

Innes (Korky)