f-28 fly bridge steering linkage

[larryeddington]

I do not as yet have a problem but in reworking my f28 I was having some water leakage problems on the starboard side of the flying bridge into the right cabin area. In searching for it I opened up the chase for wiring and cables from cabin to fly bridge. Now what I noticed is all wiring and cables are bundled together and rug against the steering linkage rod that takes the steering signals down into the bowls of the boat to power the manual chain drive steering. My question is has anyone seen problems with this rotating verticle shaft causing chafing and short in the wiring. I will reassemble so there is no contact, but I thought this an unusual engineering oversight?

[pnmudge]

I have an F-28 as well, and haven't looked or thought of that particular problem...... but I thought I'd respond to the leaking issue you're having. We just bought our boat in May and so have been discovering all sorts of things.... like the leaking.
Ours was happening on both sides, towards the back of the cabin, and water would just run down the walls (and sometimes drip through the headliner) in heavy rain.
We took out the panels in the command bridge surround and there was a little "toe-rail" screwed into the floor of the bridge. The screws were brass and the holes never sealed -- they sealed around the wood rail instead! After 30 years, the wood was rotted away and water was seeping down the screw holes.
Replaced the wood, gooped up the holes liberally (5200) and put in new stainless screws.
Still have some slight leaking on the starboard side, and we're thinking it might be the passenger helm seat next.

Good luck!!

[larryeddington]

Thanks for the tip, I have not yet removed those panels, I assume you are talking about the fly bridge panels port and starboard. As they do not seem very secure I bet I have some wood rot behind as you mentioned. Will certainly look at that. The boat is in rehab on cribbing at my shop at present covered with Tarp.

Thanks again,

Larry