Reply To: HT Mk 111 steering

After my recent experience of a lower pintle failing and the steering bar arm on the rudder coming throught the side of the boat I have an observation to make regards your intended observation. I am unconvinced about the design of an internal tie bar as on the HT 27. It creates two large holes in the hull only about 9 inches above the water line (not enough to stop heavy seas coming into the boat as I discovered). You are entirely dependant upon the rubber gaiters covering these holes to be intact (and pintles not failing, which are in my opinion too lightly engineered on the originals). I would seriously consider whether the deck mounted original bar is not perfectly alright as it is. Otherwise make your holes and attach your internal tie bar as high up as you can internally.