Use of a wheel lock/brake for single handing

Andy1237 · Feb 10, 2012

The most dangerous part on a car (or boat) is the nut behind the wheel! But the brake can be useful. In steady medium light breezes you adjust the rudder trim, lock the wheel and move about the boat (with caution!!) Also useful under power as a wheel not braked will spin under power quickly (Crazy Ivan). Just ticker with it while sailing and you we get the hang of it, but remember .. if you go overboard that is where you will be!

dparilla · Feb 10, 2012

Use it to balance the feeling on the helm. It can reduce fatigue by dampening out transients from waves etc. Also if you are a bit out of balance it can help stabilize lee or weather helm, and when the wind pipes up, it is essentially to keep the helm pressures down a bit. With care you can use it to hold the helm steady, but I would not trust it for too long unaided.

Bill Roosa · Feb 11, 2012

I'd recommend AGAINST using it to control the help pressure for lee or weather helm. Balance the sail plan to get the optimum 3 degrees of weather helm (about one spoke of the helm wheel) and there will not be much in the way of pressure on the helm. Doing otherwise just wears the break faster. You will sail faster with a balanced sail plan also.

Stu Jackson · Feb 11, 2012

I agree with Bill. Don't wear out the brake pads. The only time I use ours is when motoring. And whenever I use it I only apply a LITTLE bit of pressure. Do NOT dog it all the way down. When sailing (upwind) our boat steers itself with good sail trim and NO use of the brake.

Dan Johnson · Feb 12, 2012

Wheel lock...

In addition to the uses already described, I use mine to lock down the rudder with the boat in the slip so that the rudder and steering system isn't subjected to additional wear brought on by the sideward motions created by wind and wake waves.

Sailgunner · Feb 12, 2012

When I had my 30 and single handed I would use the break to help raise/lower the mainsail to keep the boat into the wind. But it is only helpful for short periods of time needing constant adjustment. Now on my 410 with an autopilot I never use the wheel break.

silverbeard · Feb 12, 2012

I'm just asking because I don't know, but if you tighten the brake at the wheel isn't the rudder and the rest of the steering mechanism still free to move back and forth? In my way of thinking this would put more strain on the steering system not less.

NC-C320 · Feb 12, 2012

The wheel brake comes in handy when backing the boat. If you take you hands off the wheel when backing, the forces on the rudder will tend to slam the rudder into the stops and possibly damage the system. When backing down the fairway, just before turning (backing) into my slip, I tighten down the brake so it will hold the rudder in any position, but not so tight that I can't override the brake to fine tune rudder position. Now, I can use both hands (off the wheel) to pickup lines, etc.

On my boat, when going ahead, the brake will hold the rudder position, but any shift in wind, waves, or even my weight on heel of boat will start the boat into a turn. So yes, it's better than no brake, but you have only a short time before you need to make a rudder correction to maintain your course.

jtm · Feb 14, 2012

I've had a rudder brake on my H28.5 for 25yrs. Its great within limits-especially if you sail alone.
Good to lock down the rudder in the slip and minimize packing/bushing wear.
Best use is for when on a minimal motor speed & "on the wind" when putting up the main or going forward to shackle the jib halyard to the sail just before hauling it up.

Since your boat is about the size of mine, I find that when sailing alone, just going forward/midship to adjust somethjing on the deck( line or a car), with the rudder braked and wind a blowin, can somtimes have the boat round up some as your weight changes the boat's balance and direction.