I win!

[DArcy]

My steering set up.

That is a nice setup. Any changes you make will not be as robust, reliable or efficient. You certainly can move the wheel, there are plenty of tiller to wheel conversions out there and yours would be a similar job to any of those. It won't be cheap and it won't be easy.

I suggest investing in a good autopilot instead of moving the wheel. You could also build raised seats behind, or aft but to either side of, the wheel if you want to sit and have better visibility for manual steering. Try sitting on a milk crate in the corner of the cockpit seat for height. I bet you would be at a good height for line of sight and still reach the wheel. A couple of pedestal seats would be cheaper and easier than moving the wheel.

 

[garymalmgren]

If that system was good enough for Slocum it would be good enough for me.

 

[Glsawyer]

That's exactly what I expected. Those are quite robust steering mechanisms, and your's looks to be in decent condition as far as I can see in this image. The difficulty, in my mind, is how do you easily move the position of this steering mechanism. You pretty much have to redesign and build a completely new steering control mechanism. I'm not saying it can't be done. It just may not be an easy thing to do. Are you going to move to a cable system? Hydraulic system? How will you set up the pulleys or piston? Are you going to modify that sector gear attached to the rubber post to accommodate your new system? Build a new attachment mechanism?

Hey, maybe you have a slick idea, I'd love to know what it is...

dj

I was think cable or hydraulic

 

[Glsawyer]

That is a nice setup. Any changes you make will not be as robust, reliable or efficient. You certainly can move the wheel, there are plenty of tiller to wheel conversions out there and yours would be a similar job to any of those. It won't be cheap and it won't be easy.

I suggest investing in a good autopilot instead of moving the wheel. You could also build raised seats behind, or aft but to either side of, the wheel if you want to sit and have better visibility for manual steering. Try sitting on a milk crate in the corner of the cockpit seat for height. I bet you would be at a good height for line of sight and still reach the wheel. A couple of pedestal seats would be cheaper and easier than moving the wheel.

I have a good autopilot

 

[dLj]

I was think cable or hydraulic

Honestly - there are so many other things on this boat to fix, figure out, get working that moving the wheel, from my perspective, is a total waste to time, money and energy. That is an excellent steering system and mechanism. There is an old saying: if it ain't broke, don't fix it...

But hey, it's your boat, your time, and your money.

dj

 

[Jim26m]

Ditto. Old school steering setup is simple and in good condition. Converting to hydraulic will be easy enough, but won't be as simple or reliable.

As you say, something to noodle over while you are slaying other dragons.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Also now I have to order a new head. Mine wont pump. I have a raritan right now. Manual. But I will be getting a jabsco manual head to replace it

I thought most sailors go, no pun intended, the other way.

 

[Hayden Watson]

Are you still on board and afloat?

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Also now I have to order a new head. Mine wont pump. I have a raritan right now. Manual. But I will be getting a jabsco manual head to replace it

That would be like replacing a BMW with an electric wheel chair! The Raritan PHII has been the top rated manual toilet since Raritan introduced it in 1983. PH II Owner’s Manual Try lubricating it before you scrap it...just flush a tablespoon of veggie oil to see if that frees it up. Depending on its age and level of neglect, may only need a rebuild kit (about $60)...worst case it may also need a new air valve, but that's about all unless the pump has really been SERIOUSLY neglected/abused.

It's also possible that there's nothing wrong with the toilet that some lubrication and a rebuild kit won't fix. If you're getting a lot of back pressure when you try to flush it, that may be due to a blocked holding tank vent. Clean out the vent thru-hull and the other end of the vent line before doing anything else.

--Peggie