Has anyone had any experience with tiller to wheel conversion on a 25' O'Day ( wife wants a wheel, must keep the 1st ,only, Mate happy):dance::naughty:
MLM
MLM
Steering conversion
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I wouldn't do it. You would be better off trading up to an O'Day 27 or 272 LE. Myself, I prefer a tiller to a wheel because I use an autopilot and the tiller pilots are less expensive than the wheel versions. Actually, I would prefer the O'Day 23 or 25 over the 27's but these are my own personal feelings. Unless you or the Mate are already familiar with wheel steering, I would find someone who owns a boat with wheel steering and get invited to sail with them and try it out first.
Joe
Joe
I have to agree with Joe. I have a 25 and for a boat this size, the tiller is really responsive. In today's market, I would NOT retro fit a wheel to a 25. I would, as Joe suggests, move up to the 272. For my $0.02, though, I would sail the heck out of the 25 for a bit and then perhaps look to move up to the larger O'day, (30, 32) with a wheel.
Thanks Guys, Good advice, now I would like get your ideas about the tiller pilot, I haven't had any experience alog that line. MLM
A lot of guys on this forum have asked about single handing and they have often equated it with running the halyards back to the cockpit. My only answer to them is; Single handing =an autopilot. Leave the halyards right where they are. My boat is only 22' long, but I wouldn't sail it anywhere without my Autohelm ST 1000+. The autopilot has freed me up to do a lot of things while under sail that I couldn't normally do, but you still need to watch where you're going at all times. Large masses of metal structure nearby can cause the pilot to steer off in the wrong direction. For instance, the new drawbridge that is being constructed on the river in my area has caused my autopilot to steer in the wrong direction. A portable radio set down near it will cause it to deviate. So, the autopilot, and a roller furler is about all I need. You can also have a lot of fun with an autopilot. Sometimes I stick Penelope out in the cockpit by herself at the helm and hide in the cabin just before a powerboat goes cruising by. I can hear them say, "Hey look, that dog is steering that sailboat!!!" Meanwhile, I'm hiding down below looking at them through my port light going,-- "Hee hee hee!"
Joe
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While it is possible to convert a 25 to wheel steering, it has been done on a few and EDSON does make a kit. I wouldn't do it, the cost will not be redeemed at resale time and it will take up valuable room in the cockpit. Plus, I just noticed that you mention that you trailer your 25 and so if you had a wheel it would mean one more thing to connect/disconnect each time you remove your rudder to trailer. Most of the small boat steering systems for outboard rudders do have some form of quick-disconnect on the linkage to the rudder, but still it will be just another hassle each time you use the boat.
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