Folding Helms Wheel

[Navicula]

I have seen these Lewmar folding steering wheels at the boat shows and they make sense, for making room in the cockpit while at anchor, but I dont know anyone that owns one.........is there a reason for this, they look like there well built.

[barnakiel]

Seen plenty of them around but never used one. Guess must be good stuff, why not. But is it not easier and cheaper just to take off the wheel?

b.

[Pblais]

In a narrow cockpit they can improve mobility at anchor. They would also permit a larger diameter wheel than you might otherwise install.

[sv-Mystique]

We have an oversize Lewmar on Mystique - they are solid quality and very function. There are two twisting locks on opposite spokes you loosen to fold the wheel in and out. By folding them in you create additional room to maneuver around the helm.

[sded]

I have had a folding wheel for about 5 years now. Besides making more room at the helmsman station, it also gives those entering via the transom ladder something to grab on to instead of worrying about taking a header like they did with the wheel removed. Very sturdy; took it to Mexico and through a couple of (unintentional) gales. Has gotten a bit more pricey, though.

[D.D.]

We have one on our boat and specifically ordered it in lieu of standard. So far, two of our friends have switched out their wheels for the Lewmar folding ones. Top quality and very functional...Would not have the wheel any other way. Can find them usually on closeout at the Annapolis Boat Show from Defender for less $$$.

[gscriba]

Had the 42 inch on my Ohlson 41 for 5 years now. Love it. Strong and practical. Very satisfied. Highly recommend. I have no affiliation with Lewmar; just extremely happy with this product.
Cheers.

[Navicula]

hey........I guess i am in with the wrong people or maybe I should upgrade

just kidding

[Extemporaneous]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

But is it not easier and cheaper just to take off the wheel?

b.

Thanks for saying that out loud!

I received an email recently where these were on sale (still not cheap) and almost had myself convinced that I NEEDED one .
Then I did a search to find out what others thought of them and found this and one other thread talking about them.
Very cool but I've decided that I don't NEED it.
The other thread has some interesting ideas.
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...eels-9194.html

Best Regards,
Extemp.

[shelly0f]

Originally Posted by Pblais

In a narrow cockpit they can improve mobility at anchor. They would also permit a larger diameter wheel than you might otherwise install.

The configuration of the cockpit of our South African built Monte Carlo sloop is such that to move around the the cockpit and or to go down below requires that we step up onto the cockpit seats to get around the wheel! So very annoying and I'm not getting any younger. I have been looking at smaller radius wheels but cannot find anything with a smaller thickness hub - they all seem to be 2 inches and the hub of our current wheel is only one inch. We cannot locate the manufacturer of the wheel either. So the folding wheel is the only thing we can come up with but we'd prefer just to have something smaller anyway.

Has anyone got any ideas?

Much appreciated!

[JeffDPT]

I have a 36" non-folding wheel for sale with a 1" hub. If that works for you, let me know

[siamese]

I had one on my Catalina 309. And, the Catalina 315 I'm in the process of buying will have one too.

There's nothing not to like about a folding wheel. It won't change your life, and if my boat didn't already have one, I wouldn't bother getting one.

But, I like them. Definitely well made with a good mechanism for folding.

[desodave]

We've had one on our H38 for 15 years. Certainly helps getting around the helm station and makes the cockpit "bigger" at anchor. Only small issue was restitching around the ends of the wheel covering recently.

[double u]

"...But is it not easier and cheaper just to take off the wheel?..."
Only if you have a box full of those little half-moon shaped keys & a few spare wheel nuts...(they don't float, you know...)

[maclysaght]

I bought one of these to make it easier to move around my cockpit. Instructions specified it fit standard Edson tapered shaft. However, the hub does not fit on my tapered shaft, and I'm looking for a solution or will have to return it. Has anyone else had this problem?

I can't find any identifying marks on my pedestal, but it does have a tapered shaft. I took the Lewmar hub to a couple of metal fabricators, but no one seems willing to try to enlarge it. It's a solid hunk of stainless, so there's no way I can enlarge it myself with a file.