Hunter 29.5 Wheel Brake?

[boatyboatboat]

Purchased a 1997 Hunter 29.5 last month. Wondering if anyone has installed a wheel brake? I know you can add an Edson side brake to a traditional shaped pedestal, but I'm scratching my head on what to do here.

I know people are going to suggest adding an autopilot instead, but at this time that's not an investment I'm looking to do. Really I want to be able to grab a mooring single handed without having the wheel/rudder swing out in either direction and so far it's been a bit of a struggle.

Thanks in advance!

 

[JoeWhite]

Use a bungee chord to hold wheel from turning temporarily.

 

[Art12050]

Ditto on the bungee. If you wrap it around the binnacle it’ll works fine. We have an Edson Folding Wheel and always secure it with a bungee after sailing.
Just my opinion but using an auto pilot for a wheel brake probably isn’t a good idea.

 

[kappykaplan]

using an auto pilot for a wheel brake probably isn’t a good idea.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Why not? I had an ST3000 older 1986 external belt drive but with newer control head, i.e., same motor. If engaged and in Standby, pushing the +1 or +10 buttons would slowly move the wheel but kept it locked when the motor clutch was engaged. It's just like using the autopilot.

I do not know personally but I wouldn't be surprised if the ST4000 wheel mounted units worked similarly, because they just moved the belt to a different place.

When my control head gave up the ghost halfway through our 1,650 nm trip from SF to BC outside Newport, Oregon, we hand steered for a few days until I "discovered" that using the autopilot was a lot easier than hand steering. Even without the control head, I engaged the clutch at the motor and just bumped the wheel as necessary. We DID have a wheel brake, but knowing how it works on my Edson binnacle, I was disinclined to use it for steering. Not something I wanted to wear out.

Just my opinion but using an auto pilot for a wheel brake probably isn’t a good idea.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

The brake isn't all that powerful. Not worth the effort or expense in my opinion. I'm with those above that say use a bungee. It's more effective