Quote:
Originally Posted by thomm225
Well, I'm not sure how you plan to cruise if you have to steer all the time.
Since I'm not racing anymore, I'm usually always on autopilot unless I need more speed or VMG then I take over.
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That's a good point. When sailing with my boss (on a PSC 34), once we're out of the harbor, it's fairly rare for me to hand steer if I'm at the
helm. 99% of the time, it's on autopilot with me only taking over to tack, etc. (and even then, I'll sometimes tack with the autopilot depending on the situation and who's aboard with us). Personally, I like the wheel steering, as it's easy enough to sit on the
cockpit coaming and still reach the wheel with a hand or foot. Yeah, the wheel sucks up a good bit of the
cockpit on that boat, but it's rarely an issue, and when not sailing, a folding wheel would fix it.
On the other hand, on my own boat (power, not sail), I've yet to spend the
money for an autopilot. The boat has been to
Florida and back without one (from CT, before my ownership). And I've done 10 and 12 hour days at the
helm hand steering. But hand steering a powerboat with
hydraulic steering is very different than a sailboat with cable steering. The sailboat takes some
work to steer, while, at least in good
weather, the powerboat just doesn't. I think a lot of that difference is in the lack of influence from wind changes against the
sails, and also the lack of feedback in the
hydraulic steering. The sailboat steering is lively, while the powerboat rudders just stay exactly where you put them until you decide to move them again, as they can't back-drive the hydraulics.
) with our tiller. Lots of options with our tiller.
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