stay with tiller or convert to wheel ?

[CalebD]

Get the autopilot for the tiller and be done.

It will still cost more than the purchase price to install and debug and it is worth more upon re-sale than a wheel.As most everyone has said, you feel the boat in the water much better with a tiller but it is certainly an option to go to wheel steering.My $.02.

 

[Jeff]

No deal on the wheel

Keep the tiller, get the Simrad TP22 auto. more durable and waterproof than the Raymarine. Interfaces with NMEA.A wheel is a huge obstacle on the 27. Seriously in the way. on a 270 is OK as there is widelong cockpit area with outboard stern seats and walk throughs. a 27? no way. Tiller is perfect.

 

[Bob]

Conversion is ugly!!!!

Take a look at your rudder; does it hang below the transom or does it come up the transom? Better yet does your tiller come up from the cockpit floor over overhanging the transom? If it comes up the transom then the wheel conversion is really an ugly set up. With the new wheel you have a control rod coming out of the transom attaching to the rudder (mid-point). So the rudder looks funny as though its missing the tiller!! I have seen several of these configurations with Catalina 25's and despite the owners desire to have the wheel the overall look greatly distracts and the set up in my opinion is very ugly!!!!Do yourself a favor if the tiller is over the transom where it attaches to the rudder, put you refund into something more useful like a dinghy and outboard, new sails, standing rigging, etc, etc. I think the tiller is great and you have much better control and feel. Good luckBobCatalina 30

 

[Bill20449]

I too have found that women like wheels

If you plan on having a women as your primary partner, most seem to like wheels over tillers.