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Try stern rail seats and tiller extension. The
wheel takes up a lot of room in the cockpit and in smaller boats that if a very large problem. Ray s/v Speedy
wheel takes up a lot of room in the cockpit and in smaller boats that if a very large problem. Ray s/v Speedy
Ray, you forgot....
How insensitive and just plain slow a wheel can be. Of course, maybe that's just me (insensitive and slow -get it!
) If I could figure out how to cost effectively do it, I'd be converting to a tiller right now! Greg S2 9.2C S/V Impulsive Ex H23
How insensitive and just plain slow a wheel can be. Of course, maybe that's just me (insensitive and slow -get it!
) If I could figure out how to cost effectively do it, I'd be converting to a tiller right now! Greg S2 9.2C S/V Impulsive Ex H23you may choke on the price
Tom, I was looking at purchasing a Hunter 270 with tiller, which I really don't like. Called Edson re a wheel steering kit, and they quoted a price of $1500 for just the kit without installation. I think I'll look around for a boat that already has it installed. Dave...
Tom, I was looking at purchasing a Hunter 270 with tiller, which I really don't like. Called Edson re a wheel steering kit, and they quoted a price of $1500 for just the kit without installation. I think I'll look around for a boat that already has it installed. Dave...
Real men use tillers!!!
Got your attention, didn't I? I have mixed feelings about the wheel steering on our '83 H27. We owned a couple of past their prime Lightnings and a Cape Dory Typhoon before purchasing Dilemma. All our previous boats had tillers. This is our third season with a wheel. PROS: 1. Easier for the novice to steer. To go right, turn the wheel to the right. 2. Easier to balance the steering, lock the wheel and duck below or run forward for a few seconds while the boat stays on course. 3. Makes the cockpit feel larger. The sweep of a tiller renders a large section toward the aft end of the cockpit almost useless under sail. CONS: 1. Lack of feeling due to the friction in the system. The tiller is much more direct. 2. Slow steering. You need to turn the wheel a lot more than you need to pull or push a tiller. 3. Weather helm confusion (probably just me). With a tiller, you know immediately when you are developing weather helm and you can react instantly. It takes a little longer with the wheel. Also, if your used to tugging the tiller to weather, you need to retrain yourself to turn the wheel to leeward -- three years and I'm still having problems (may be an old dog/new tricks problem in my case). 4. Puts too much weight in the stern. Not just the weight of the steering gear, but of the helmsman also. 5. When single handing it's a long reach to the mainsheet and halyards since the helmsman is behind the wheel. Yes, I know you can sit forward to one side of the wheel, but the sensation is all wrong. 6. Makes the cockpit seem smaller in port -- you have to keep dodging the pedestal. Paul
Got your attention, didn't I? I have mixed feelings about the wheel steering on our '83 H27. We owned a couple of past their prime Lightnings and a Cape Dory Typhoon before purchasing Dilemma. All our previous boats had tillers. This is our third season with a wheel. PROS: 1. Easier for the novice to steer. To go right, turn the wheel to the right. 2. Easier to balance the steering, lock the wheel and duck below or run forward for a few seconds while the boat stays on course. 3. Makes the cockpit feel larger. The sweep of a tiller renders a large section toward the aft end of the cockpit almost useless under sail. CONS: 1. Lack of feeling due to the friction in the system. The tiller is much more direct. 2. Slow steering. You need to turn the wheel a lot more than you need to pull or push a tiller. 3. Weather helm confusion (probably just me). With a tiller, you know immediately when you are developing weather helm and you can react instantly. It takes a little longer with the wheel. Also, if your used to tugging the tiller to weather, you need to retrain yourself to turn the wheel to leeward -- three years and I'm still having problems (may be an old dog/new tricks problem in my case). 4. Puts too much weight in the stern. Not just the weight of the steering gear, but of the helmsman also. 5. When single handing it's a long reach to the mainsheet and halyards since the helmsman is behind the wheel. Yes, I know you can sit forward to one side of the wheel, but the sensation is all wrong. 6. Makes the cockpit seem smaller in port -- you have to keep dodging the pedestal. Paul
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