I got an idea...it will revolutionize sailing :)

[Franklin]

I just got finished watching Failure to Launch. A good moving but not really much about sailing...however, it did give me an idea. I saw the horizontal wheel and it got me to thinking. On my H376 I have a large wheel that at times is a pain but at other times is a blessing. Sometimes it's just in the way. Other times the large wheel give me leverage when I have too much sail up and I get hit with a gust...or...I'm being an idiot and after changing course from a run to a reach I reduce sail first in high winds. Anyway...what do you think of this idea? A large wheel that is horizontal the same size that doubles as a table. Of course the outter ring is uncovered so you can get your hand around it for steering. Think of the wheel centered over the pedistal at a good height and everybody is sitting in the cockpit. Anybody in the cockpit can take the wheel without changing seats. They are also using the wheel as a table that has cup holders for our beer and so on. If the skipper needs to take a wizz, he reaches down and flips a lever and the wheel rises to the top just below the bimini and he walked unintruded to the cabin and then pulls it down and the admiral takes over without having to leave her seat. When you dock, it slides up out of the way. When your sailing, it's right there where you need it. It doubles as a table that has lots of cup holders and a great place to throw the chart down for an emergency when the admiral says your off course and you disagree. Now I may not have an admiral and also may have had a bit much to drink this hot humid night here at the marina, but damn if I ain't ready to start ripping things out and rebuilding the cockpit. The console for the instruments can be attached to the bar that does up and down. It would hold the instruments on the foreward side of the wheel where nobody sits. It would be attached to the bar but this bar wouldn't spin so they would always be there, just a half inch above the wheel on the foreward side.

 

[Franklin]

ok....a new beer and I got an enhasement already

Because we want the beers in the cup holders to be able to spin under the instruments, the instruments will be 6 inches above the wheel but they will be on a swival so that they can be tilted down when you raise the wheel all the way to the bimini when docked/anchored.

 

[Stu Jackson]

It's called a 1950's

city bus.

 

[Timm R 25 Oday]

I like it

Keep going.Most new clever ideas come way out of left field.Except now you going to have me go rent a chick flick.

 

[Dennis]

Why not have

If your going that route, why not have a wheel that can be flipped up to the horizontal postion from the verticle. A simple hinge type of set up would work!

 

[Ross]

I think that indivdual cup holders and trays

gimbaled between the spokeswould be the way to make this work. No matter the position of the wheel the cups and dishes don't spill.

 

[Tim Welsh]

What happens in a big gust now

say you have to let go of the wheel and it spins violently the other way, you could have your martini stirred, not shaken. hmmmmmmTim Welsh

 

[Waffle]

Great Idea

I am not sure it would be easy to handle?

 

[Ross]

Handles? easy to handle! just attach them

with screws.

 

[Tom]

Use the Autopilot

My autopilot as a remote control that I have used to steer when it was raining really hard. That way I could stand in the compainionway under the dodger. Just remove the wheel and steer with the autopilot remote. Have some manual backup if the autopilot dies. A wireless remote would be even better!!!!. Steer from the bow when going through tricky water or while watching the dolphins. Supposedly the new Airbus jet airliner flies by remote control with electrical controls and motors replacing the cables of a conventinal plane.

 

[Abby Normal]

It Has Merit...

How about some green felt and chip holders for poker?

 

[Waffle]

This is a pipe dream

it would take up too much room!Why not invent the tele a scoping mast os we can get under bridges instead.

 

[Ross]

Waffle, that's your idea. He's working the

wheel. your Idea is good but will require telescoping shrouds and stays.

 

[Franklin]

Take up too much room?

Your nuts. It would take up much less room then is already taken up.Ok...the wheel might be too big for some cockpits, especially the narrow ones, but for the big round ones like Hunter has built and the way mine is, it's a perfect size/fit. The wheel is actually smaller then the pedistal with the side tables expanded.

 

[Rich]

How about a mouse?

Why not just replace the wheel altogether? wire in some kind of trackball computer mouse to your autohelm unit and steer the tiny ball with the flick of your finger...

 

[Jentine]

Sounds cumbersome BUT !!!!!!!!!

It is a rather strange idea to get used to but not a bad one. I rather like it. A wheel, awning, coffee table ......... it all depends on where the telescoping shaft stops. Jim

 

[tom]

Telescoping Mast is a Great Idea!!!

One of those free standing masts. In a storm just remove the sails and lower the mast. 5 X 10' sections with only a stub showing when lowered!!!!! Maybe mechanical like an adjustable whisker pole..or pneumatic. If you could drop it to boom level then you could just drop the sails and tie them to the boom then drop the mast. A couple of steel cables to pull up the mast using a winch safely down below. Any engineers out there??? If this is a viable concept it would be great. No place for birds to sit and poop on the deck!!!  I know that I'd feel a lot safer during a storm without 45' of aluminum sticking up to catch the wind and attract lightening. And going under low bridges would open up a lot of marinas and rivers to sailboats.

 

[Dave C.20477]

I like the Horz Wheel idea

except I wouldn't mount the table on the wheel, but above it, permanently. The table could be supported by a center post that the wheel spins around. The wheel would spin underneath the square table and parts of the wheel would protrude out from under the 4 sides. Chart table, cup holder, instruments and compass all mount on the table.Sounds like it would take up a lot of room, but these kinds of ideas can grow into a viable product. So, Franklin, when are we going to see this on the market?Dave

 

[Pete Peterson]

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

... is waiting for your application!

 

[Franklin]

Dave C.

You may have a good enhasement as well, especially for those non-round cockpits, but while your at anchor having dinner, you can't turn the wheel to pass the bread as for "... is waiting for your application!"All I want is a brand new 50' Hunter with one...Hunter would be kind enough right?