Hunter 376

[tomfoolery]

Can any 376 owners out there tell me if the Whitlock steering has a wheel lock? I read a review on the site that lamented that it did not. I cannot imagine why a wheel on a boat this size would not have a means to lock the wheel/rudder , otherwise it will be constantly moving the steering cables etc at dock or at anchor.

 

[Allan Frey]

>Can any 376 owners out there tell me if the Whitlock steering has a wheel lock?

it does

 

[Don12364]

My H376 has a wheel lock - but it hardly works. It is a knob on the port side of the steering console which, when rotated tightens a band with a brake shoe type material lining round the main 1" diameter shaft that carries the steering wheel.

The problem is that the wheel, and also the rudder, can apply a tremendous torque which this puny so called locking system cannot handle. Actually I think they call it a "steering brake". I use it just as a drag but it is no use to keep the boat on course when hard on the wind. I it is much easier to just push the button on my autopilot.

Also when I leave the boat I need to tie a length of cord from the rim of the wheel to the crash bar on the console to prevent the wheel working its way over to full lock and consequently banging against the stops whilst I am away.

Yet it wouldn't be too difficult to modify.

 

[Steve W]

I went through this last year with the same boat (model year 1997). According to Edson (which now owns and services Whitlock) the locking mechanism is actually that "spin" knob at the end of the shaft. The issue I had was that nobody (including Edson/Whitlock) made a spinner with a long enough shaft to actually hit the thingie inside. The measurement from the outside of the wheel to the internal 'stop' where it would tighten against the shaft and act as a brake is 133mm. The largest/longest I found was considerably shorter. So I'm going to plan B and screw in a pair of eye straps at the bottom of the pedestal and secure the wheel with bungee cords from them.

I use the a-pilot to hold course instead of a brake, but I wanted the brake for when I'm on the hook or at my mooring to secure the rudder amidships so "sailing" around the anchor or mooring wouldn't swing the rudder.

 

[Greg Reardon]

On my 376's Whitlock you simply turn the wheel hub to tighten and lock.

 

[tomfoolery]

Amazing how in such a short two year production the 376 has so many varying wheel locks or lack thereof....