Wheel Conversion

[Chris Patterson]

Shoot, I didn't mean to stir up the pot again. I just saw this while looking at something else and found it interesting. Being "on the record" as not caring for a tiller, I just thought this was cool on a high performance boat. The MOST interesting part of it all was, the helmsman has the stick pulled up under his chin trying to control the thing.

You know, it really doesn't matter. There are people out there that probably like lee boards. Or standing on a bamboo raft holding a ten foot tiller as they cruise the Delta. For that matter, you can steer the boat with a bucket thrown off the back, adjusting it between two aft cleats.

I did wonder about the "trick question". It obviously looked to be a factory C30 wheel install. Very good work Neil. They ARE a bear to get right. I like that old style pedestal by the way. I don't think you can buy the bronze sheaves anymore, they're aluminum now. Flat heads holding it down?

 

[Old Skool Neil]

I did wonder about the "trick question". It obviously looked to be a factory C30 wheel install. Very good work Neil. They ARE a bear to get right. I like that old style pedestal by the way. I don't think you can buy the bronze sheaves anymore, they're aluminum now. Flat heads holding it down?

No sheaves on mine and therefore no sheaves to align or fall out of alignment. It's a radial drive conduit system. The pedestal is held down with 1/2" polished stainless flat head machine screws and Nylok nuts. Edson used aluminum machine screws to (I think) avoid the dissimilar metals issue that usually develops at the pedestal base. I opted for the stronger stainless and used NOALOX, an aluminum anti oxidant compound, under the heads to hopefully achieve the same result. So far so good, 6 years and still looks like new.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Color conversion ...

As the controversy over wheel vs. tiller seems to be winding down I thought I would see what folks think about alternate colors. Here are before and after pics of the pedestal in flaked-away black, and now with burgandy. I started with black and didn't like it and thought I would try red but I'm not so sure. I've never seen a pedestal in anything other than white, except for Starwinds in black.

Is this blasphemy to change the color scheme?

 

[philwsailz]

As the controversy over wheel vs. tiller seems to be winding down I thought I would see what folks think about alternate colors. Here are before and after pics of the pedestal in flaked-away black, and now with burgandy. I started with black and didn't like it and thought I would try red but I'm not so sure. I've never seen a pedestal in anything other than white, except for Starwinds in black.

Is this blasphemy to change the color scheme?

NO!!!!!!!!

Color dates a boat. Change up and refresh by all means! It takes years off a boat. Go look at my thread under Catalina Mid Sized boats to see what new non-skid and new upholstery will do for an old boat.

Also.... Don't be afraid to ditch the "play-it-safe" blue sail cover and canvas. I am going with black ... You would be surprised how cool a black Bimini actually can be. It absorbs more sun than a white Bimini and the heat goes up instead of down...

Canvas color is kind of a tangent WRT your question, but to me those who are adamant about traditional colors will end up looking old with old looking boats...

 

[Merlin Clark]

That red looks great!

 

[Joe]

Joe - I expected . . . uh, that's why I quoted . . . aw, never mind.

heh, heh....... me too.... I should have kept my mouth shut.... more than once. However, I did really enjoy your comments.

 

[Sail123]

As the controversy over wheel vs. tiller seems to be winding down I thought I would see what folks think about alternate colors. Here are before and after pics of the pedestal in flaked-away black, and now with burgandy. I started with black and didn't like it and thought I would try red but I'm not so sure. I've never seen a pedestal in anything other than white, except for Starwinds in black.

Is this blasphemy to change the color scheme?

Congrats on approaching 1,000 posts. No small accomplishment. People that own these sites appreciate good members, but I am not sure the members always feel appreciated. Owners are usually scarce and mods don't pass around many at a boys.

Thumbs Up ^^^^^^

Do you have more red on your sailboat? My vintage 35 year old Edson looks to be repainted once, and needs it again. Will most likely play it safe and go white again.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

need to see rest of boat to have opinion on red pedestal. do you have some red pin striping or accent. then you bet.

but the red and blue kinda clash... unless that's your school colors!

are you still sailing? lake freezing yet?

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Congrats on approaching 1,000 posts.

<---- piker!

 

[Scott T-Bird]

990 ... Yikes!

I hope certain people don't catch wind of that! And that's just since I re-registered in 2008 after the format change. I've been here since 2004 when we bought Thunderbird (she was named "Mixed Blessings" before that and "Sara" before that!

Anyway, there is lots of burgandy on our boat. The only blue we have is on that temporary painters tape that I put on for the hurricane and that spare mainsheet that I used as a dock line. Our bimini is the same as all the other canvas.

There is that blue flex-seat that Sue was sitting on, but that's because it'is the only color West Marine sells. You'd think they would have a color selection, or at least something other than that hideous blue ... sheesh!

 

[Scott T-Bird]

MrBill, I think we might have another break from winter. It never showed last year, unless you count the 18" of snow we had for Halloween. This year, we had Sandy for Halloween and 2 snowfalls right after, but now it's more like spring with the thunderstorms.

 

[philwsailz]

I hope certain people don't catch wind of that! And that's just since I re-registered in 2008 after the format change. I've been here since 2004 when we bought Thunderbird (she was named "Mixed Blessings" before that and "Sara" before that!

Anyway, there is lots of burgandy on our boat. The only blue we have is on that temporary painters tape that I put on for the hurricane and that spare mainsheet that I used as a dock line. Our bimini is the same as all the other canvas.

There is that blue flex-seat that Sue was sitting on, but that's because it'is the only color West Marine sells. You'd think they would have a color selection, or at least something other than that hideous blue ... sheesh!

Man, I'm with ya Scott... Kill the blue. 'round here much of the time you see blue you see "abandoned boat".

That or someone more enamored with owning a sailboat than sailing a sailboat.

 

[Chris Patterson]

What, is blue out of vogue now? (I'm always behind the style trends, next you're gonna say my Members Only jacket is out)..

 

[philwsailz]

What, is blue out of vogue now? (I'm always behind the style trends, next you're gonna say my Members Only jacket is out)..

At this point........

You're the only member........

 

[Chris Patterson]

PHIL! Ok, I deserved that..

 

[philwsailz]

PHIL! Ok, I deserved that..

Of those I count as contributors worthy of listening to and pondering, you are one of the good ones... Thanks for your insights.

Merry Christmas!

 

[alexco38]

Like I was one of the first in the club to raise the dodger to the same height as the Bimini. No more banging my head.

People didn't like it at first and said it doesn't look aero dynamic. But now I see more people done the same. A few inches doesn't make the boat any less aero dynamic IMHO.

BTW it was black color. It was actually cooler underneath.

Normal in boat is like fashion. They come full circle sometime. I love mini skirts in the 60s. They are coming back !!