Advice Needed: New Owner of 1975 C27 - Tiller or Wheel? - Have both.

[sikest]

Hello to all

I recently traded my C22 for a C27 in much better condition. When the previous owner purchased the boat it had a Yacht Specialties wheel which had been installed most of the boat's life. At some point the cable snapped due to poor maintenance and as the owner had lost interest in the boat he simply removed the wheel and bolted the tiller back on. The holes through the deck were professionally covered up with the best duck tape money could buy

I have ready so many posts which outline the positives and negatives and from what I can gather some people think the wheel provides less feedback and some love it. Some find it affords more room when underway and most admit that there is less room when at rest. I usually have a pretty full boat and the tiller does tend to get in the way much of the time so I am tempted to try the wheel.

For me this is not a matter of money. I have the wheel and all the parts needed to install it. There are already several holes in the boat so that is not an problem either.

My sailing is limited to day trips with the family on our local lake. My experience is limited to 1 year of sailing on our Cat 22 so I am an amateur at best. I am tempted to install the wheel again as I think it will offer more room while underway which has always been an issue for us.

As a sailor with very limited experience I would appreciate hearing opinions and advice you experienced guys and gals might offer.

Tony

 

[Stu Jackson]

I have ready so many posts which outline the positives and negatives and from what I can gather some people think the wheel provides less feedback and some love it. Some find it affords more room when underway and most admit that there is less room when at rest. I usually have a pretty full boat and the tiller does tend to get in the way much of the time so I am tempted to try the wheel.

...I am tempted to install the wheel again as I think it will offer more room while underway which has always been an issue for us.

...I would appreciate hearing opinions and advice you experienced guys and gals might offer.

Tony,

Very good presentation, and I think you almost answered your own question. You discussed the pros and cons, and, quite frankly, there's not much more that can be said, save resurrecting the same old topic and retyping what you've already read.

You have two choices and no restrictions of either time or $. If I was in your position, I'd simply try one out for awhile and then switch and try the other, and see what YOU like.

What WE may say here, and what you've read (& thanx for doin' your homework and research ) has absolutely NO bearing on what YOU and your family may prefer. And there's NO way we could ever do that, could we?

And when you decide, come back and tell us about it and add to the lore of the "tiller vs. wheel" "controversy"...

After all, we ALL know there's ONLY one right answer!!!

 

[Banooma]

Tony, I think you'll find advantages and conveniences to each. The biggest simple advantage I found in going from a Hunter 23, 2 seasons ago, to my Catalina 28 mkII last year, was the central standing or sitting position a wheel allows. When you turn, there is no need for the skipper to shift sides of the boat and maneuver around or under the tiller while your crew is trying to accomplish the same thing. Then again, for 25 years I never saw a tiller as an inconvenience (it was just part of sailing). Now that I have a wheel, I do love it, but also recognize the additional maintenance it requires.