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05-03-2021, 08:30
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 18
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French spiral hitching wheel?
Thinking of French whipping my wheel this spring. In doing some searching sounds like the tarred twisted twine is a good option. Anyone with any feedback or experience/ recommendations/ best sources for material? Also in quick searching I only found black available as color option. If I wanted to go natural or a color can anyone recommend a product and source? Thanks for any input and help!
Roger
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05-03-2021, 09:26
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#2
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Writing Full-Time Since 2014
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,601
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
Quote:
Originally Posted by michigander
Thinking of French whipping my wheel this spring. In doing some searching sounds like the tarred twisted twine is a good option. Anyone with any feedback or experience/ recommendations/ best sources for material? Also in quick searching I only found black available as color option. If I wanted to go natural or a color can anyone recommend a product and source? Thanks for any input and help!
Roger
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You'll get lots of opinions. Ask yourself these questions:
- Is it for looks?
- Is it for comfort in hot and cold weather?
- Is it for grip?
- Is it exposed to weather or covered, and how long do you want it to last?
I don't like tarred or varnished line; It's not comfortable. I don't like French hitching; the knots make (to me) uncomfortable bumps. I was not concerned about durability too much because the wheel was under a hard top. I wanted the wheel increased to a certain diameter (grip).
I opted for a tight wrap of cotton/polyester clothes line. It was cool in the summer, warm in the winter, provided a good grip, and lasted 8 years before it got stained enough I choose to replace it (through I never tried to wash it). I used rubber-faced gloves to get it very tight, so it never slipped a bit (you don't need the knots). It took about an hour.
But there are methods that look prettier and last longer in the weather. Personal preference rules.
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05-03-2021, 18:20
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Southport CT
Boat: Sabre 402
Posts: 2,728
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
Tarred line sounds like it would dry out and start rotting at some point, after leaving stains on hands or clothes that came in contact with it until it did dry out. We have a poly-line turk's head marking the king spoke on our wheel that has been there for at least 10 years. Seine twine might hold up well, and the internet suggests paracord. As Thinwater suggests, it doesn't take too long to do, so trying different options shouldn't be too much trouble.
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05-03-2021, 19:27
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: PNW
Boat: Old Wooden Ketch
Posts: 30
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
If you're talking about tarred nylon seine twine, it is great stuff. But not for a wheel, it will leave your hands black with tar. Seriously.
After the first year in the sun it isn't so bad about rubbing off tar, but needs to be re-slushed every couple years with an oil/varnish mixture. Will outlast you in that case.
My whole rig is served with it, but I wouldn't put it on something meant to be handled regularly.
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06-03-2021, 08:58
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: CPYC Erie, PA
Boat: Catalina 34ll 2001
Posts: 40
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
Did that to mine 10 seasons ago. I used nylon mason line, still looks good. Using nylon need to be careful with the tension, you want to stretch each wrap about the same. Get a lot of compliments and I like it. But be warned it is tough on the hands when needing to steer hard a lot for a long time. Looked a little but couldn't find a picture.
Jim
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06-03-2021, 09:57
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Satellite Beach, FL
Boat: Brewer 44' Steel
Posts: 397
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
Second the vote for nylon. And a ribbed wrap, like a St Mary's hitch, will give you a much better grab on the wheel when you really need it, like if it's wet. A smooth wrap just isn't going to cut it though any cord wrap will make the wheel warmer on cold days and cooler on hot.
Below is a tutorial link.
https://youtu.be/g66LyFJmxyc
__________________
Russ
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06-03-2021, 10:16
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Boat: Tartan 40
Posts: 2,473
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
Quote:
Originally Posted by thinwater
You'll get lots of opinions. Ask yourself these questions:
- Is it for looks?
- Is it for comfort in hot and cold weather?
- Is it for grip?
- Is it exposed to weather or covered, and how long do you want it to last?
I don't like tarred or varnished line; It's not comfortable. I don't like French hitching; the knots make (to me) uncomfortable bumps. I was not concerned about durability too much because the wheel was under a hard top. I wanted the wheel increased to a certain diameter (grip).
I opted for a tight wrap of cotton/polyester clothes line. It was cool in the summer, warm in the winter, provided a good grip, and lasted 8 years before it got stained enough I choose to replace it (through I never tried to wash it). I used rubber-faced gloves to get it very tight, so it never slipped a bit (you don't need the knots). It took about an hour.
But there are methods that look prettier and last longer in the weather. Personal preference rules.
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+1 on this. I used navy blue paracord which matches canvas and doesnt show dirt. Tight wrap, finish with hitches at top of wheel to mark center.
Funny thing is, I have a 42 inch wheel and just guessed on a spool size to buy. When I finished I had about 8 inches left out of maybe 250 foot spool or whatever length I guessed. Rare case where a boat project goes on the lucky side. It would have been a pain to have to add in more line and wouldnt have looked good
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06-03-2021, 11:36
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#8
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Carrabelle, Florida
Boat: Fiberglas shattering 44' steel trawler
Posts: 6,084
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
I'll second or third on paracord for this job. It's 1/8" or 3mm, comes in any color you want, and the slightly stretchy nature of nylon means you can easily make it very tight. It does hold salt and mud, but you can scrub away if needed. Here's a source in whatever length/color you want. I've never used it for a wheel covering, but I went through two 1,000' reels of it in 26 years of running a summer field school.
https://www.strapworks.com/Parachute...0aAq3sEALw_wcB
__________________
Never let anything mechanical know that you are in a hurry.
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06-03-2021, 11:40
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Minnesota, Port of Call Lake City
Boat: Tartan 37 Shes original not much has been done to her.
Posts: 6
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
Covered our wheel with para cord type 550 have a large wheel approx 3 feet across used approx 300 feet. Love it makes for a comfortable grip
__________________
Not all who wander are lost...
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06-03-2021, 12:30
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#10
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,184
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
FWIW, I've always preferred leather on a wheel. IMO, looks way better and for my hands, feels better.
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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06-03-2021, 12:42
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: St Croix, heading to South Seas
Boat: Hunter 37 Cheribini
Posts: 276
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
To avoid stains & wear spots, has anyone varnished or used white paint on top like the old times boats did?
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06-03-2021, 12:43
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#12
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Writing Full-Time Since 2014
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Deale, MD
Boat: PDQ Altair, 32/34
Posts: 9,601
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
I thought I posted this: I think it was 50' of 1/4" cotton sash cord. Remember, mine was out of the weather, and cotton is comfortable. Not the right answer if in the weather. I used the same cord for some hand rails in the cabin, ad the posts at the back edge of the hard top. Better grip with wet hands= safer. I replaced it in-kind after 10 years.
For exposed locations I second (fifth?) paracord or the equivalent in polyester (better). Polyester 550 DB is my favorite on-deck lashing material.
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06-03-2021, 13:01
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#13
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Boat: Retired Delivery Capt
Posts: 3,684
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
Not sure where you the boat will be used, and that may make a difference. But why????
I brought a boat from St John’s to Key West with a wheel wrapped with knotted line and hated it. The wrapped wheel looked yachty. After a few days when my hands were wet, it hurt to spin the wheel. And like many who sail frequently, my hands are not tender.
As Jim Cate mentioned, leather would probably be a better option.
__________________
"Whenever...it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off- then, I account it high time to get to sea..." Ishmael
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06-03-2021, 13:17
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Jensen Beach, Fl
Boat: O'Day 34
Posts: 392
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
PO did a beautiful job with black paracord. Knots are on inside of wheel out of the way of your hands with monks head on top ( bottom right in pic). ~10 years old and still in perfect condition. Makes a slippery sst wheel much easier to grip comfortably with no slipping. Ok
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06-03-2021, 14:10
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#15
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Solent, England
Boat: Moody 31
Posts: 18,458
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Re: French spiral hitching wheel?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Cate
FWIW, I've always preferred leather on a wheel. IMO, looks way better and for my hands, feels better.
Jim
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Agree with Jim, leather for me too. Nice to handle in the cold with bare hands hour after hour.
Bloke down the road does mine for £50 and lots of other local yachts too.
Pete
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