Glenn:
A couple of years ago I had a vision after watching "Failure to Launch". It was the horizontal "Bus" type wheel they had on that boat for a helm that spurred my thinking. I thought a horizontal wheel the same size as the 42" wheel I have now would be awesome in my large roundish cockpit. Add on the ability for it to telescope up and down a pole with a fixed table on it would make it very applealing to me.
I had a vision of being at the helm and letting the wheel telescope up so I could walk under it to the cabin and then bring it down and ask somebody to take the helm, which of course, they wouldn't have to leave their seat to do so. When at anchor or at the dock, I could just scope it up to the top and free up the whole cockpit....or leave a pole for a dancer
I was pretty serious about it and posted it on this site to get opinions. It seemed the opinions were split right down the middle; it was either hated or loved. I sent an email to Hunter to read the thread and see what they would have to say and their reponse was "we don't read from that site". I felt insulted and never brought it up again....but....
Maybe now is the time. Pass on a thought to a boat designer and let him mull it over and possibiliy improve on the idea. Anything to make a boat better for the individual buying it.
Franklin
A couple of years ago I had a vision after watching "Failure to Launch". It was the horizontal "Bus" type wheel they had on that boat for a helm that spurred my thinking. I thought a horizontal wheel the same size as the 42" wheel I have now would be awesome in my large roundish cockpit. Add on the ability for it to telescope up and down a pole with a fixed table on it would make it very applealing to me.
I had a vision of being at the helm and letting the wheel telescope up so I could walk under it to the cabin and then bring it down and ask somebody to take the helm, which of course, they wouldn't have to leave their seat to do so. When at anchor or at the dock, I could just scope it up to the top and free up the whole cockpit....or leave a pole for a dancer
I was pretty serious about it and posted it on this site to get opinions. It seemed the opinions were split right down the middle; it was either hated or loved. I sent an email to Hunter to read the thread and see what they would have to say and their reponse was "we don't read from that site". I felt insulted and never brought it up again....but....
Maybe now is the time. Pass on a thought to a boat designer and let him mull it over and possibiliy improve on the idea. Anything to make a boat better for the individual buying it.
Franklin