I hate Steering Wheels

[GILow]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

The easy way or perhaps the blonde way, is to steer the boat while standing in front of the wheel. Then its easy to reach all the sheets. Makes singlehand docking easier, leastwise for me. I've not stood behind the wheel for many a year.

Ditto. I sit forward of the wheel most of the time and rest my arm over the top arc to hold the wheel steady. Seems the most comfortable to me and closer to things being passed up from the galley. I really like the idea of the winch handle nut on the wheel. Perhaps the wise thing to do would be to make a habit of putting the wheel back on before retiring for the night?

[mrohr]

Tiller is much easier if alone ,I can tack ,steer ,handle jib sheets drink and eat all the while by using hips to press on tiller and adjust course as necessary.Of course a larger boat (+ 36 ft.?) would mandate a wheel but even if removed there is still a binnacle taking up space in the cockpit. Removing a wheel while at anchor seems to me questionable seamanship since the first order of business after getting the hook down should be to make all ready for a quick departure.
Yeah, I know, cocktails come next.

…………………………..luv you all…………………mike……………………………………………………….

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

The easy way or perhaps the blonde way, is to steer the boat while standing in front of the wheel. Then its easy to reach all the sheets. Makes singlehand docking easier, leastwise for me. I've not stood behind the wheel for many a year.

I've done that, but for it to work for me I'd have to move the throttle to the binnacle, which is the more logical place for it anyhow, not sure how hard that would be to do. As it is climbing out of the little space behind the wheel to grab a dock line isn't easy, being in front of the wheel would be much better.
IP has a small wheel to begin with and a balanced rudder, my wheel is held on by a plastic nut that is only hand tight so removing it is dead easy, is that not normal?

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

The easy way or perhaps the blonde way, is to steer the boat while standing in front of the wheel. Then its easy to reach all the sheets. Makes singlehand docking easier, leastwise for me. I've not stood behind the wheel for many a year.

+1

As comfortable in front ... As behind the helm... I think it should be a standard skill set...

Of course I like to ski backwards too...

[Formosa Scott]

Get a small (12") wheel and swap it out when you want the extra room, that way you can still move the boat in a pinch. Look on ebay for something like this:

[roverhi]

Bought my first boat with a wheel and hated every minute sailing with the damn contraption. From the quadrant slipping and nearly causing me to ram the Golden Gate Bridge, never really knowing where the rudder was pointed, the downright painful and awkward force required to stay on course when overpowered, just unpleasant force at other times, to always being in the way, it was just a silly affectation to placate the BMW wannabe crowd.

After enduring the wheel for four years, finally tore it out and installed a tiller. No small undertaking as the Edson Bronze Tiller Head alone ran north of $500 but way easier to do the job than I'd at first feared. Bought a piece of hollow bronze rod and had it machined to fit over the existing rudder stock with solid round stock on the other end to bring it above deck level for attachment of the tiller head. Used a 2" thick piece of Delrin bored for the tiller stub to cover the puka that had been the attachment access for the emergency tiller and as an upper bearing surface. Woooooeeeeee, no more wheel!!!!!!!

[flash]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Bought my first boat with a wheel and hated every minute sailing with the damn contraption. From the quadrant slipping and nearly causing me to ram the Golden Gate Bridge, never really knowing where the rudder was pointed, the downright painful and awkward force required to stay on course when overpowered, just unpleasant force at other times, to always being in the way, it was just a silly affectation to placate the BMW wannabe crowd.

OK, I suppose I can live with the pseudo-salty pretentious reference to a steering wheel as a "damn contraption" even though it's a brutally common form of steering that's been around since, well, the invention of the wheel. But for my taste, the reverse snobism evident in the comment becomes unpalatable, or should I say distasteful, when you imply that folks with a wheel on their boat are being "placated" as members of a "BMW wannabe crowd", whatever that means. And that's even assuming that having or wanting a BMW is somehow a bad thing or even a consequential factor in determining one's "crowd".

[sailorchic34]

I should mention that with my dual Morse controls down low on the cockpit side wall, by the wheel, I'll use my bare foot to control throttle and put the engine in neutral, etc. A hippy chick skill, I'm guessing.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

I should mention that with my dual Morse controls down low on the cockpit side wall, by the wheel, I'll use my bare foot to control throttle and put the engine in neutral, etc. A hippy chick skill, I'm guessing.

That's the favoured method around our part of the world. We have the same setup, and at first I found it really difficult, so much so that I was looking for alternative ways of mounting the lever. Also, I once stood on the darn thing as we were coming into the pen and put the engine in full throttle forwards, which was, quite frankly, NOT a pleasant moment. Anyway, thankfully I tried pulling the whole control system apart, cleaning out the old grease and repacking the system afresh, and now you can set the engine power to the nearest 4 or 5 rpm with your little toe. It's a delight and leaves both hands free for the wheel.

On the wheel, I agree with the sentiment of not knowing which way the rudder is pointing being a pain (and yes, we do have the wheel clearly marked for the straight ahead position, but it is still easy to lose track once you have turned the wheel a full turn either port or starboard), I find it quite annoying when manoeuvring in the pen, so much so that I am considering either an angle repeater gauge with the other instruments or perhaps one of these, which look elegant and simple, and certainly cheap enough to be worth trying first.

https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_i...AbsolutePage=1

If anyone has tried one I would be interested to know what you think.

Matt

[Johnathon123]

A lot of 38 ft plus modern production boats go for the dual wheel, they have the volume in the stern to achieve it I suppose. Those that I have sailed on with the dual wheel are fantastic, plenty of room, easy to move around, sheets easy to reach. It seemed a great solution.

On my old boat I had a lug installed (all bolt on) on the pushpit rail which was a replica of my wheel lock on the pedestal, this enabled me to remove the wheel and mount it securely on the rail. It was a bit hard to remove and reinstall quickly so i went back to bungy chord.

[jongleur]

Hand steered from Maui to Newport Beach with one of these:
[/QUOTE]

One of the handles broke off early in the trip. Which
handle did you need at the exact moment to
turn the boat... sure enough, the missing one. Over
and over and over, the whole trip.

My vote is for tillers. Stand comfortably with it
between your thighs. Lean to turn, always standing
up with great visual ability, instead of reaching down
for a new grip on a wheel.

...and when will the cable slip its quadrant? Not
when it's calm. Uh uh. Not then.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by GILow

That's the favoured method around our part of the world. We have the same setup, and at first I found it really difficult, so much so that I was looking for alternative ways of mounting the lever. Also, I once stood on the darn thing as we were coming into the pen and put the engine in full throttle forwards, which was, quite frankly, NOT a pleasant moment. Anyway, thankfully I tried pulling the whole control system apart, cleaning out the old grease and repacking the system afresh, and now you can set the engine power to the nearest 4 or 5 rpm with your little toe. It's a delight and leaves both hands free for the wheel.

On the wheel, I agree with the sentiment of not knowing which way the rudder is pointing being a pain (and yes, we do have the wheel clearly marked for the straight ahead position, but it is still easy to lose track once you have turned the wheel a full turn either port or starboard), I find it quite annoying when manoeuvring in the pen, so much so that I am considering either an angle repeater gauge with the other instruments or perhaps one of these, which look elegant and simple, and certainly cheap enough to be worth trying first.

https://www.whitworths.com.au/main_i...AbsolutePage=1

If anyone has tried one I would be interested to know what you think.

Matt

G'Day Matt,

I forget what sort of auto pilot you have, but many of them have a rudder angle gauge as part of their display. Both our Auto-Nav and our Nav Man do so, and that is useful. Don't have to be steering the boat, just switched on to get the display.

Cheers,

Jim

[sy_gilana]

Our wheel is off 99% of the time. It takes about 8 seconds to put it back on in an emergency. Our autopilot drives the same system down below, and the wheel shaft is fixed to the a-pilot shaft so not having the wheel there reduces power consumption because of the lack of flywheel effect. We have done a lot of miles, and we probably have done 200 with the wheel on. Its only for entering and leaving harbor, slipping and berthing, anchoring and weighing. Once we are underway, Fred takes over. It's not unusual for the wheel to be removed just outside the Lake Worth inlet, and put back on for arrival in the harbor of Horta in the Azores.
Of course at anchor its off as well. I made a bolt that clipped on to the Bimini on a friend's boat, and his wheel was in storage up on the "roof" at anchor.

Just make sure you can get it on in a hurry,
(No I don't mean Viagra)
it might mean tapering the end of the key on the shaft for easy alignment.

[scotty c-m]

My wife and I have a Catalina 400. It has two stearing wheels. It handles great, and the entire cockpit is available both at anchor and under way. I find myself frequently moving from one wheel to the other for better visibility, and I can move freely forward (and back) to take care of sail trim or other stuff. Tillers and wheels both have advantages and disadvantages; having used both, I prefer a properly functioning wheel - it seems more comfortable and less tiring. Like any other gear, it needs to be properly maintained and inspected regularly. So, whichever suits your fancy, get out there and have a great sail!
Oh yes, our auto pilot (raymarine) has a rudder angle guage. Very useful.)

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

G'Day Matt,



I forget what sort of auto pilot you have, but many of them have a rudder angle gauge as part of their display. Both our Auto-Nav and our Nav Man do so, and that is useful. Don't have to be steering the boat, just switched on to get the display.



Cheers,



Jim

Jim you are quite correct, there is an indicator on ours but the main display is not very visible from the wheel. Pity.

Matt