Has anyone here retro-fitted an H-26 (the one I just purchased is a '94) for wheel steering ? Any ideas, plans, suggestions, prices, would be helpful. Thanks,Tim
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Hunter and edson take the position there is no longer a steering system available for the old stlye Hunter 26 due to problems in the past. I have an idea but will not discuss it at this point with anyone. I need photos of the transom of the old style H 26 not 260 showing the complete rudder system with post and tiller. Also neeed photo of the gas locker. Send me clear concise photos(not moonshine) to my email by those who have it. Again do not discuss or give that out on the forum out or respect for me. Also, do not inquire with me as I will not discuss anything at this time but I have an idea which may or may not work. Thanks guys. Crazy Dave
Hunter and edson take the position there is no longer a steering system available for the old stlye Hunter 26 due to problems in the past. I have an idea but will not discuss it at this point with anyone. I need photos of the transom of the old style H 26 not 260 showing the complete rudder system with post and tiller. Also neeed photo of the gas locker. Send me clear concise photos(not moonshine) to my email by those who have it. Again do not discuss or give that out on the forum out or respect for me. Also, do not inquire with me as I will not discuss anything at this time but I have an idea which may or may not work. Thanks guys. Crazy Dave
For what it's worth
From what I've found out about the same question, it requires beefing up the attachment areas rather extensively and would probably run between 3-4K. The one conversion setup that Edson does show in their catalog would run you over 2K alone. Can do a lot of other things to make your boat nicer with that kind of money. Fair winds, John
From what I've found out about the same question, it requires beefing up the attachment areas rather extensively and would probably run between 3-4K. The one conversion setup that Edson does show in their catalog would run you over 2K alone. Can do a lot of other things to make your boat nicer with that kind of money. Fair winds, John
Think about it- a lot
I saw an Edson wheel retrofit on a 95 H-26 and was less than impressed with the results. The rudder was much more limited in its travel compared to a tiller, i.e. it did not swing left and right as far. It eliminated the cockpit table use. You have to rig some kind of seat on the back rail unless you want to stand all the time. And, if you have ever used a wheel on a conventional sailboat with the propellor in line with the rudder, this is completely different. On a conventional boat you can be dead stopped, swing the wheel over and rev the engine, and the stern will move. On the H-26 with the outboard this does not work. If you are not moving you have no steerage. I know, I saw someone go from a keel boat to the H-26 and it took him a while to figure out that they handled a lot differently going in and out of a slip. He did not like it.
I saw an Edson wheel retrofit on a 95 H-26 and was less than impressed with the results. The rudder was much more limited in its travel compared to a tiller, i.e. it did not swing left and right as far. It eliminated the cockpit table use. You have to rig some kind of seat on the back rail unless you want to stand all the time. And, if you have ever used a wheel on a conventional sailboat with the propellor in line with the rudder, this is completely different. On a conventional boat you can be dead stopped, swing the wheel over and rev the engine, and the stern will move. On the H-26 with the outboard this does not work. If you are not moving you have no steerage. I know, I saw someone go from a keel boat to the H-26 and it took him a while to figure out that they handled a lot differently going in and out of a slip. He did not like it.
I like a tiller better
Fewer parts means less maintenance and lower cost. Also a tiller give you a much better feel for the balance of the sails and the boat. I'd much rather have the simple strong tiller.
Fewer parts means less maintenance and lower cost. Also a tiller give you a much better feel for the balance of the sails and the boat. I'd much rather have the simple strong tiller.
The H26 Dream
The H26 is a great boat for the imagination. There is so much room that you can consider upgrading almost every component to have the amenities of a a big boat. Wheel steering has to be one of the most common considerations (right after a built in head). There is a lot of discussion about installing wheel steering in the HOW archives; some of them in great detail. There seems to be several problems to overcome with this project: The thinness of the deck in the cockpit, the mounting extrusion on the deck, the rudder's reduced swing arc, and the expense. The deck thinness seem to be the biggest problems because it will flex and allows the pedestal to move. Sounds like there may have been some catastrophic failures. There was some kind of problems with the mounting extrusion and the fitting designed for it. I couldn't quite figure that out but basically the design was not up to real world challenge. I remember seeing a photo of this once and you end up with a lot of holes in the boat that were not optimal. For example, you have to cut holes in the fuel locker to allow the cables to get to the rudder. I imagine those holes did not help with the decks stability either. Lots more in the archives...maybe even some pictures. Markdb
The H26 is a great boat for the imagination. There is so much room that you can consider upgrading almost every component to have the amenities of a a big boat. Wheel steering has to be one of the most common considerations (right after a built in head). There is a lot of discussion about installing wheel steering in the HOW archives; some of them in great detail. There seems to be several problems to overcome with this project: The thinness of the deck in the cockpit, the mounting extrusion on the deck, the rudder's reduced swing arc, and the expense. The deck thinness seem to be the biggest problems because it will flex and allows the pedestal to move. Sounds like there may have been some catastrophic failures. There was some kind of problems with the mounting extrusion and the fitting designed for it. I couldn't quite figure that out but basically the design was not up to real world challenge. I remember seeing a photo of this once and you end up with a lot of holes in the boat that were not optimal. For example, you have to cut holes in the fuel locker to allow the cables to get to the rudder. I imagine those holes did not help with the decks stability either. Lots more in the archives...maybe even some pictures. Markdb
no picutres yet
For the record, I installed 12 systems on the old style 26. As certain parts are no longer availble, it is expensive but me got ideas. Enough comments and guys get me those photos as I need to be precise if I think something can be done in the abscence of those parts
For the record, I installed 12 systems on the old style 26. As certain parts are no longer availble, it is expensive but me got ideas. Enough comments and guys get me those photos as I need to be precise if I think something can be done in the abscence of those parts
Yes...I'm an engineer
I couldn't find any pictures in the HOW archives and I don't have an H26 manual scanned. However, here is the mockup I built in my basement for our 1995 H26. There is only one real problem with this configuration. You need to be left handed. Although it overcomes the deck stiffness problem, it does take up a lot of cockpit space. Note: My wife was not happy with the need for a tire on the sliding hatch so we ultimately scrapped the project.
I couldn't find any pictures in the HOW archives and I don't have an H26 manual scanned. However, here is the mockup I built in my basement for our 1995 H26. There is only one real problem with this configuration. You need to be left handed. Although it overcomes the deck stiffness problem, it does take up a lot of cockpit space. Note: My wife was not happy with the need for a tire on the sliding hatch so we ultimately scrapped the project.
Attachments
Thanks Mark
That will not help me but there may be a strong possibily but without the actual picutres, I cannot go any further. Crazy
That will not help me but there may be a strong possibily but without the actual picutres, I cannot go any further. Crazy
Special purpose device
It only LOOKS like a stick shift. Its actually a shot glass holder. I way over designed this thing. By the way, www.edsonmarine.com does show a small boat wheel steering system that might be usable on the H26. The decking problem seems to be a big risk though. I don't know if the current kit has the same design as the original kit but it might be worth investigating if you MUST HAVE WHEEL. Markdb
It only LOOKS like a stick shift. Its actually a shot glass holder. I way over designed this thing. By the way, www.edsonmarine.com does show a small boat wheel steering system that might be usable on the H26. The decking problem seems to be a big risk though. I don't know if the current kit has the same design as the original kit but it might be worth investigating if you MUST HAVE WHEEL. Markdb
Tried to order one
The original Edson design used a push-pull cable. Originally, it involved cutting the cockpit floor near the foot rest to mount the pedestal. Eventually, they designed a bowl shaped base to straddle the foot rest. The cable came out of the bottom of the pedestal and through the overhead of the aft berth. The cable was attached to a lever that poked through the transom, on the starboard side of the rudder. This is the same system designed for the 23.5 and Catalina 250. Problem was the load on the rudder was at the limit for the cable and rudder attachment lever. They had several failures, and at the time I purchased my 26, they were still trying to design a fix for the failures. I even discussed the problem with the Edson rep at Strictly Sail. The dealer and I waited over a year, and finally, he refunded me the cost of the wheel option since Edson could never get it right. The truth is, I enjoy sailing with a tiller. Adding a tiller pilot was a piece of cake. I have never missed the wheel. P.S. I used the money to put in a roller furler and bimini instead. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
The original Edson design used a push-pull cable. Originally, it involved cutting the cockpit floor near the foot rest to mount the pedestal. Eventually, they designed a bowl shaped base to straddle the foot rest. The cable came out of the bottom of the pedestal and through the overhead of the aft berth. The cable was attached to a lever that poked through the transom, on the starboard side of the rudder. This is the same system designed for the 23.5 and Catalina 250. Problem was the load on the rudder was at the limit for the cable and rudder attachment lever. They had several failures, and at the time I purchased my 26, they were still trying to design a fix for the failures. I even discussed the problem with the Edson rep at Strictly Sail. The dealer and I waited over a year, and finally, he refunded me the cost of the wheel option since Edson could never get it right. The truth is, I enjoy sailing with a tiller. Adding a tiller pilot was a piece of cake. I have never missed the wheel. P.S. I used the money to put in a roller furler and bimini instead. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
Thanks !
to everyone who responded - I learned a lot and it makes it easier to explain to my wife that the tiller is just fine !!
to everyone who responded - I learned a lot and it makes it easier to explain to my wife that the tiller is just fine !!
H22
I put a wheel on my 81 H22 last season. After I got some NASTY "teething proplems" worked out, I really like it. Total cost (salvage parts) was around $450.00 Expensive year, new boot and a bimini... ouch.. I believe there is a push pull edson unit for sale down the street from me (also salvage) for about the same price. Comes with a 24" destroyer wheel too.
I put a wheel on my 81 H22 last season. After I got some NASTY "teething proplems" worked out, I really like it. Total cost (salvage parts) was around $450.00 Expensive year, new boot and a bimini... ouch.. I believe there is a push pull edson unit for sale down the street from me (also salvage) for about the same price. Comes with a 24" destroyer wheel too.
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