Why is the wheel so large on the 36? It seems the cockpit would easier to move in if it were smaller.
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Why indeed
It's for control. The larger the wheel, the more sensitive to to the touch and therefore more accurate steering. Not to mention the greater leverage when experiencing weather helm. I myself prefer a 24-inch wheel on my 29.5, precisely because it's easier to move around.
It's for control. The larger the wheel, the more sensitive to to the touch and therefore more accurate steering. Not to mention the greater leverage when experiencing weather helm. I myself prefer a 24-inch wheel on my 29.5, precisely because it's easier to move around.
Prefer it that way.
When not using the autohelm(most of the time) I steer with my toes.
Not sure I could do that with the small wheel. When I need room for lunch, dinner, or swimming I move the wheel to the pulpit.
When not using the autohelm(most of the time) I steer with my toes.
Not sure I could do that with the small wheel. When I need room for lunch, dinner, or swimming I move the wheel to the pulpit.The bigger the better.
Mr Schenck has a valid point about helm leverage. In nearly any case the more leverage you have on the helm the better it will be for your endurance and patience under way. The biggest potential hassle in going to a large wheel is if the gearing ratios of the sterring system are set up too long-- i.e., that too many revolutions of the steering-wheel axle are required to turn the rudder enough to navigate the boat. I have written extensively on the as-built flaws of the 54, and this is one of them. The boat was given a plenty big wheel but still requires something like 4-1/2 turns lock-to-lock. On our Raider 33 we had a 36- or 40-inch wheel. Going under the cockpit I toyed with the ratios by removing turns of cable off the quadrant and later adding some on. We ended up with about 2-1/2 turns lock-to-lock and the ability to make the boat come about with only about two or three spokes' worth of turning the wheel. Coming from a tiller set-up to this, it doesn't get any better. The boat was as nimble as a Formula-One car whilst racing (which is where my dad got the idea-- those cars turn lock-to-lcok in about 1 rev). Do not now say, 'Well, I cruise, I don't need that.' Nearly ALL so-called 'high-performance' ideas have their corresponding application in leisure use. The as-built 54 repeatedly wearies helmsmen (and the autopilot) with endless cycling of the helm back and forth, excerabated by the rudder having been moved too far forward to accommodate the stupid dinghy garage (don't get me started on THAT again!). By comparison a boat like our Raider would be very comfortable on a long trip-- seeing as we Cherubinis, with the genetic curse of a big space between the first two toes, could steer it from sitting on the coaming!! JC
Mr Schenck has a valid point about helm leverage. In nearly any case the more leverage you have on the helm the better it will be for your endurance and patience under way. The biggest potential hassle in going to a large wheel is if the gearing ratios of the sterring system are set up too long-- i.e., that too many revolutions of the steering-wheel axle are required to turn the rudder enough to navigate the boat. I have written extensively on the as-built flaws of the 54, and this is one of them. The boat was given a plenty big wheel but still requires something like 4-1/2 turns lock-to-lock. On our Raider 33 we had a 36- or 40-inch wheel. Going under the cockpit I toyed with the ratios by removing turns of cable off the quadrant and later adding some on. We ended up with about 2-1/2 turns lock-to-lock and the ability to make the boat come about with only about two or three spokes' worth of turning the wheel. Coming from a tiller set-up to this, it doesn't get any better. The boat was as nimble as a Formula-One car whilst racing (which is where my dad got the idea-- those cars turn lock-to-lcok in about 1 rev). Do not now say, 'Well, I cruise, I don't need that.' Nearly ALL so-called 'high-performance' ideas have their corresponding application in leisure use. The as-built 54 repeatedly wearies helmsmen (and the autopilot) with endless cycling of the helm back and forth, excerabated by the rudder having been moved too far forward to accommodate the stupid dinghy garage (don't get me started on THAT again!). By comparison a boat like our Raider would be very comfortable on a long trip-- seeing as we Cherubinis, with the genetic curse of a big space between the first two toes, could steer it from sitting on the coaming!! JC
Sometimes the leverage is necessary
Most the time I could get by with an auto sized wheel on my 35, would be nice to have something small and not be in the way. But, when you're sliding off 6' waves and get a gust of wind, the temporary pressure on the boat to round up requires a lot of torque on the rudder -- in that situation I've been glad for leverage the big wheel gives you. Trying to muscle a small wheel would require much more strength and be exhausting.
Most the time I could get by with an auto sized wheel on my 35, would be nice to have something small and not be in the way. But, when you're sliding off 6' waves and get a gust of wind, the temporary pressure on the boat to round up requires a lot of torque on the rudder -- in that situation I've been glad for leverage the big wheel gives you. Trying to muscle a small wheel would require much more strength and be exhausting.
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