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Single handling ease
A wheel brake is basically a set of brake shoes that grip the shaft of your steering wheel inside the pedestal. It is controlled/set by a large bolt like a doorknob. You turn it to tighten or loosen the friction. Over time you buy a new set of pads and replace the worn ones just like brake shoes on a car. I find it very useful when singlehandling- it frees us a hand and also allows you to leave the wheel area to undo a caught line on a winch, flake the sails, etc. At the dock it also keeps your rudder stationary against waves or wakes.
A wheel brake is basically a set of brake shoes that grip the shaft of your steering wheel inside the pedestal. It is controlled/set by a large bolt like a doorknob. You turn it to tighten or loosen the friction. Over time you buy a new set of pads and replace the worn ones just like brake shoes on a car. I find it very useful when singlehandling- it frees us a hand and also allows you to leave the wheel area to undo a caught line on a winch, flake the sails, etc. At the dock it also keeps your rudder stationary against waves or wakes.
Get an autopilot instead
I thought that wheel brakes in general seemed expensive when compared to the cost of an autopilot which would serve same purpose and more...
I thought that wheel brakes in general seemed expensive when compared to the cost of an autopilot which would serve same purpose and more...
Both have (dis)advantages
A wheel brake is mechanical (non-electric), an autopilot electrical, that suggests limitations which may or may not come into play. As to singlehandling, my auto cannot keep up with particular wave conditions and can be slow to react. The brake also could be a problem, if not a disaster, in rough seas. (The 27, at least the shoal draft, "feels" the waves.)Using either at anchor or dock if there is current or wave action may work but you might be listening to the auto correcting all night. Suggest you define the problem you really want to solve and look at the pros and cons of each, or get both. Andy "Baroque"
A wheel brake is mechanical (non-electric), an autopilot electrical, that suggests limitations which may or may not come into play. As to singlehandling, my auto cannot keep up with particular wave conditions and can be slow to react. The brake also could be a problem, if not a disaster, in rough seas. (The 27, at least the shoal draft, "feels" the waves.)Using either at anchor or dock if there is current or wave action may work but you might be listening to the auto correcting all night. Suggest you define the problem you really want to solve and look at the pros and cons of each, or get both. Andy "Baroque"
tie off wheel
You can also just tie off your wheel, see if you like it. Not as fast as a wheel brake but similar function.
You can also just tie off your wheel, see if you like it. Not as fast as a wheel brake but similar function.
Umm, use autopilot as wheel brake...
I am not suggesting that you use the autopilot to "navigate" as a wheel brake. You can simply engage the autopilot "clutch" of a "wheel pilot" to achieve the exact same effect as a wheel brake - no electicity required.
I am not suggesting that you use the autopilot to "navigate" as a wheel brake. You can simply engage the autopilot "clutch" of a "wheel pilot" to achieve the exact same effect as a wheel brake - no electicity required.
Thanks for your answer I am new to sailing and the Hunter 27 1980 I have is new to me so I right now I just tie off the wheel to go forward but the tie off has a lot of play in it. I was reading about this thing call a wheel brake but the article just did not tell me what it does. Another question I have is it seems the 27 needs to be reefed pretty quick or you get weather helm my reefing looks bad when I bring the main back up and tie down. I have folds, uneven spots, and getting the tie downs around the boom, well lets just say its messy. Any tip or advice?
Reefing
Past wisdom on this list talks about reefing at 15 knots. I have found that we are happier if I get to it in less wind. As weather helm increases I spill wind from the mainsail. When this "approaches" ineffective I take the pressure off completely and set the reef (lower, set the luff, then reefing line, then tie off reef points, reset the main). Is it messy? Usually by this point I don't care, as wind on Lake Erie can quickly build seas that makes going forward very entertaining. You might try setting the reef at the dock to figure out what you need to do to make it "Bristol fashion." Andy "Baroque"
Past wisdom on this list talks about reefing at 15 knots. I have found that we are happier if I get to it in less wind. As weather helm increases I spill wind from the mainsail. When this "approaches" ineffective I take the pressure off completely and set the reef (lower, set the luff, then reefing line, then tie off reef points, reset the main). Is it messy? Usually by this point I don't care, as wind on Lake Erie can quickly build seas that makes going forward very entertaining. You might try setting the reef at the dock to figure out what you need to do to make it "Bristol fashion." Andy "Baroque"
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