I am looking to purchase a leather steering wrap for a 32 inch Destroyer wheel. Any advice as where to purchase this item would be apppreciated. Thank you for your time. David Harcourt Catalina 310 Hull 59 Dancing Shoes
Leather Steering Wrap for Catalina 310
- Thread starter David Harcourt
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Other Vendors are out there
I purchased a leather cover for my C-320 (with a 44" wheel) from Boat Leather at the Chicago Strictly Sail show last year. The quality was very good, the instructions for installing the cover were fairly clear, and the people were good to work with. I don't know if there is a price difference between Boat Leather and the Chandlery here at Catalina Owners.com, but you might want to check them out. A friend purchased (and returned) a leather cover from Edson. That is another potential source, but the only review that I have heard on the Edson wheel cover was less than good. Steve Alchemist 320 #909
I purchased a leather cover for my C-320 (with a 44" wheel) from Boat Leather at the Chicago Strictly Sail show last year. The quality was very good, the instructions for installing the cover were fairly clear, and the people were good to work with. I don't know if there is a price difference between Boat Leather and the Chandlery here at Catalina Owners.com, but you might want to check them out. A friend purchased (and returned) a leather cover from Edson. That is another potential source, but the only review that I have heard on the Edson wheel cover was less than good. Steve Alchemist 320 #909
My experience
I installed a leather wheel cover several years ago. I think it was the kit from Boatleather. It was the padded version that contains self adhesive foam tape that goes on first. It also included the center marker, which is a 2-inch leather strip that indicates if the rudder is on center (or in the case of the C310, also at extreme port or starboard position.) We got "Pre-punched leather, waxed polyester thread, double stick tape, two sail makers' needles and stitching instructions." in the kit. Grey looks real good on our 310. Installation was a bit of an adventure_from my 2001' vacation cruise; "That afternoon I decided to install the padded leather wheel cover that I received as a gift from the sales person that sold me the boat. It arrived the day before we left. It's a long story, but I got it after using guilt to get him to come through on sort of a broken promise. I thought it would be about a two hour job at most, but I soon found out I am no seamstress. I started about 5:00pm. Barb and the people in the boats around us were a little bit amused, watching me take a few stitches, then taking them out again. It was literally two inches forward and an inch and a half back. At about 7:00pm I figured I'd better take Barb into town for some dinner. I had some really forgettable fish and chips, then it was back to the boat and my project. I was starting to get the hang of it, but darkness came at about 9:30pm. I had a vision of having to motor off in the morning with the cover half-installed and tangling up on the steering pedestal. Maybe I could secure it temporarily with some rigging tape? I also thought about getting the flashlights out to work into the night, but my fingers were aching, so I decided to call it a day. I was up early to get that cover finished. By this time it was going very fast, and I was getting good! I had made a few mistakes the previous day, and I had a brief wish that I could undo it and start over. But I finished by about 10:00AM and thankfully got to leave. " I don't mean to discourage anyone, but it took me a while to get the hang of the stitching instructions.
I installed a leather wheel cover several years ago. I think it was the kit from Boatleather. It was the padded version that contains self adhesive foam tape that goes on first. It also included the center marker, which is a 2-inch leather strip that indicates if the rudder is on center (or in the case of the C310, also at extreme port or starboard position.) We got "Pre-punched leather, waxed polyester thread, double stick tape, two sail makers' needles and stitching instructions." in the kit. Grey looks real good on our 310. Installation was a bit of an adventure_from my 2001' vacation cruise; "That afternoon I decided to install the padded leather wheel cover that I received as a gift from the sales person that sold me the boat. It arrived the day before we left. It's a long story, but I got it after using guilt to get him to come through on sort of a broken promise. I thought it would be about a two hour job at most, but I soon found out I am no seamstress. I started about 5:00pm. Barb and the people in the boats around us were a little bit amused, watching me take a few stitches, then taking them out again. It was literally two inches forward and an inch and a half back. At about 7:00pm I figured I'd better take Barb into town for some dinner. I had some really forgettable fish and chips, then it was back to the boat and my project. I was starting to get the hang of it, but darkness came at about 9:30pm. I had a vision of having to motor off in the morning with the cover half-installed and tangling up on the steering pedestal. Maybe I could secure it temporarily with some rigging tape? I also thought about getting the flashlights out to work into the night, but my fingers were aching, so I decided to call it a day. I was up early to get that cover finished. By this time it was going very fast, and I was getting good! I had made a few mistakes the previous day, and I had a brief wish that I could undo it and start over. But I finished by about 10:00AM and thankfully got to leave. " I don't mean to discourage anyone, but it took me a while to get the hang of the stitching instructions.
Sail, don't work
David: I had installed a wheel wrap in the past and with my 310 I knew I did not want to try/do that again. Jon's story meshes with mine. I wanted the wrapped wheel so I got one from Edson already installed on the wheel . I love it, it looks good and it shows no sign of degradation after 4 seasons. I do cover the wheel and pedistal when I am not on the boat. I try very hard to avoid projects that postpone precious sailing time.
David: I had installed a wheel wrap in the past and with my 310 I knew I did not want to try/do that again. Jon's story meshes with mine. I wanted the wrapped wheel so I got one from Edson already installed on the wheel . I love it, it looks good and it shows no sign of degradation after 4 seasons. I do cover the wheel and pedistal when I am not on the boat. I try very hard to avoid projects that postpone precious sailing time.
Aw, C'mon
Two hours expecting to do a wheel wrap? Ya gotta be kidding. We took our wheel off and brought it home and spent a few hours each evening for a week, and finally finished. Don't hurry, don't get frustrated. And don't get mad at the manufacturer for personal impatience. Our cover is tight and looks good. Our fingers are just now recovering (from 1999)!!! We didn't bother with the padding, heck it's only a quarter of an inch difference. The whole concept of a wheel cover is to put something between your fingers and the stainless, cold, wheel. Knit one, pearl two...
Stu PS David: any Chiodos in your family?
Two hours expecting to do a wheel wrap? Ya gotta be kidding. We took our wheel off and brought it home and spent a few hours each evening for a week, and finally finished. Don't hurry, don't get frustrated. And don't get mad at the manufacturer for personal impatience. Our cover is tight and looks good. Our fingers are just now recovering (from 1999)!!! We didn't bother with the padding, heck it's only a quarter of an inch difference. The whole concept of a wheel cover is to put something between your fingers and the stainless, cold, wheel. Knit one, pearl two...
Stu PS David: any Chiodos in your family?- Status