I have a 1982 Catalina 30 and was wondering what the largest diameter wheel would fit ...It is not a T cockpit
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Measuring largest wheel size
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Take a yard stick and place it on the steering hub..... or you could use a measuring tape... then locate the end where you want the outside of the wheel to be..... that number is the radius .......... double it for the diameter.... anyhow....... rotate the radius around to different positions to visualize where the wheel would be and then determine your preference.
heh, heh.... makes sense now. If you have the bucks, I like those folding wheels....
Re: Wheel
curious though - why would you want to go with the largest wheel that will fit? I have the same boat and cockpit configuration and thought about downsizing my wheel to a smaller diameter to make more room in the cockpit. Most wheels are removable which is what I do when on the hook and need the extra room.
- Rob
curious though - why would you want to go with the largest wheel that will fit? I have the same boat and cockpit configuration and thought about downsizing my wheel to a smaller diameter to make more room in the cockpit. Most wheels are removable which is what I do when on the hook and need the extra room.
- Rob
Feel like a big wheel?
Funny, I have one of those itty bitty wheels like All U Get shows in the photo. I could easily fit a 36" or even 48" diameter wheel (mine is 24" diameter). An extra 6" radius would be a more comfortable reach when I'm sitting in the cockpit ahead of the wheel. There are always trade-offs. The extra radius gives you much better touch and more comfort while sailing. It also makes it that much more difficult to get around when positioning behind the helm.
I find when I'm sailing alone that I like to sail the boat when positioned in front of the helm. But when tacking or jibing, I need to be behind the helm where I have access to genny sheets, primary winches and traveler lines on both sides of the boat while facing forward (I have to face aft to work both winches from in front of the helm - and that makes steering a real pia!). This means that I am crawling around the wheel before and after each tack or jibe, and that's where the size of the wheel comes into play.
Funny, I have one of those itty bitty wheels like All U Get shows in the photo. I could easily fit a 36" or even 48" diameter wheel (mine is 24" diameter). An extra 6" radius would be a more comfortable reach when I'm sitting in the cockpit ahead of the wheel. There are always trade-offs. The extra radius gives you much better touch and more comfort while sailing. It also makes it that much more difficult to get around when positioning behind the helm.
I find when I'm sailing alone that I like to sail the boat when positioned in front of the helm. But when tacking or jibing, I need to be behind the helm where I have access to genny sheets, primary winches and traveler lines on both sides of the boat while facing forward (I have to face aft to work both winches from in front of the helm - and that makes steering a real pia!). This means that I am crawling around the wheel before and after each tack or jibe, and that's where the size of the wheel comes into play.
Just getting by...the wheel, that is
We have a "T" cockpit on our Mark I C34 with the standard wheel (32" IIRC).
There is simply NO WAY I can ever "walk by" the wheel to get behind it, simply because of the geometry of the cockpit. The "small" wheel is wider than the longitudinal cockpit seats, so even with the angled aft ends of the cocikpit seats that form the "T" there's no way to walk around the wheel with my feet on the cockpit floor. I get up on the seats to get by all the time. It's simply not an issue for us. But even with a smaller wheel I wouldn't be able to get by because of the binnacle and the seats as they were built.
http://www.c34.org/images/c34_88_brochure_3.jpg
The C34 Mark IIs have a wider cockpit, but a bigger wheel. I recall being able to walk around those wheels.
Before you decide on what a bigger wheel may do for you, and there are advantages as LuzSD points out, think about it for some time before you jump. Not all standard arrangements allow you "walk around" the wheel, even with a smaller one.
Check out the geometry, it's not only the wheel, but the rest of the components, too.
Another issue I see on a lot of boats: the handrail on the binnacle is covered with a GPS or someone has built a big display that blocks that curved handrail. Or there simply isn't one - just a binnacle with a compass and wheel behind it.
I find that handhold to be one of the most important in the cockpit. I'm amazed that many folks either don't have one or do something or other to eliminate it. I look at it as a safety issue. It's critical to be able to move between the front and aft of the wheel while sailing, especially going upwind.
We have a "T" cockpit on our Mark I C34 with the standard wheel (32" IIRC).
There is simply NO WAY I can ever "walk by" the wheel to get behind it, simply because of the geometry of the cockpit. The "small" wheel is wider than the longitudinal cockpit seats, so even with the angled aft ends of the cocikpit seats that form the "T" there's no way to walk around the wheel with my feet on the cockpit floor. I get up on the seats to get by all the time. It's simply not an issue for us. But even with a smaller wheel I wouldn't be able to get by because of the binnacle and the seats as they were built.
http://www.c34.org/images/c34_88_brochure_3.jpg
The C34 Mark IIs have a wider cockpit, but a bigger wheel. I recall being able to walk around those wheels.
Before you decide on what a bigger wheel may do for you, and there are advantages as LuzSD points out, think about it for some time before you jump. Not all standard arrangements allow you "walk around" the wheel, even with a smaller one.
Check out the geometry, it's not only the wheel, but the rest of the components, too.
Another issue I see on a lot of boats: the handrail on the binnacle is covered with a GPS or someone has built a big display that blocks that curved handrail. Or there simply isn't one - just a binnacle with a compass and wheel behind it.
I find that handhold to be one of the most important in the cockpit. I'm amazed that many folks either don't have one or do something or other to eliminate it. I look at it as a safety issue. It's critical to be able to move between the front and aft of the wheel while sailing, especially going upwind.
Thank you All U Get
Pics help a lot just like mine
It looks like I could install a 34in wheel
The reasonning is with a larger wheel the leverage would be better for longer distance cruising as well as being able to sit further outboard
For your ifo I just moved my engine controls to pedestal and now moving guages to coaming , works far better than originall
Pics help a lot just like mine
It looks like I could install a 34in wheel
The reasonning is with a larger wheel the leverage would be better for longer distance cruising as well as being able to sit further outboard
For your ifo I just moved my engine controls to pedestal and now moving guages to coaming , works far better than originall
As Stu mentioned getting by the wheel can be an issue and it looks like you would have to climb up onto the seats putting your head in the deadly Boom
area if you go with the 34". I had a similar situation on my previous C320 and the trouble is after a few hundred step ups around the wheel it becomes such 2nd nature that the Boom issue fades away at bit. I know one time I felt the whoosh of the Boom pass me on the way forward and for me it was just a reminder but...... an inch one way or the other and it would have been a whole different story.Stan
Here's a better picture, Reply #1 - http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5445.0.html
The older C30s with the straight cockpit seats are another issue altogether, and the pictures are great. My point was for folks other than C30-ers, check the geometry before you jump into a larger wheel, you may be surprised.
The older C30s with the straight cockpit seats are another issue altogether, and the pictures are great. My point was for folks other than C30-ers, check the geometry before you jump into a larger wheel, you may be surprised.
We have the rear pulpit (pushpit) seats and I used to steer with my foot. Even with the 24 inch wheel, we were stepping on the seats quite regularly to get around. After making a long list for improvements, we fell in love with a bigger boat.
All U Get
We opted for a 40" folding wheel in place of our 36" wheels on both our Ericson 35 and our Caliber 40. Obviously the wheel folds for when you are at anchor making it very easy to get around the wheel. The wheel has a slight dish to it making it easier to get around when sailing. Easier to get around than the fixed, non-dish 36" wheel.
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