I am thinking of converting to wheel steering on my Bayfield 29. Has anyone had any experience doing so?
whell steering
- Thread starter mblume
- Start date
You might try the archives on this subject... because there has been a lot of discussion over the years. Always a somewhat controversial subject for smaller boats, but converting a 29 footer would certainly have less negativity. What are your reasons for the conversion?
The thing about wheels are, they take up a lot of room in the cockpit, the autopilots are way more expensive, and there's not as much "feel" when steering. It also sticks the driver at the very back... because most folks have a tendency to stand behind the wheel and drive the boat like a truck... .
If I were converting I'd want a large, destroyer type wheel so I could still sit on the rail and see my telltales... but the benches in the already narrow cockpit restrict it... so you'd have to have a pretty small wheel and that means less feel and restrictions to steering positions......and.. a small wheel doesn't look as cool as a big one.
An adequate tiller pilot can be installed for under $500. A low end wheel pilot will be twice that, or more.. if you get the good one.
The plus side is that on your size boat, it might increase the resale value. The cockpit may be large enough... width and depth. And it may not affect the single handing convenience offered by a tiller.
Cost wise... I don't specifically know, others will contribute there. I'm thinking in the $2-3k range. Edson is the best known manufacturer of wheel steering systems. http://www.edsonmarine.com/support/wheel_conversion/
The thing about wheels are, they take up a lot of room in the cockpit, the autopilots are way more expensive, and there's not as much "feel" when steering. It also sticks the driver at the very back... because most folks have a tendency to stand behind the wheel and drive the boat like a truck... .
If I were converting I'd want a large, destroyer type wheel so I could still sit on the rail and see my telltales... but the benches in the already narrow cockpit restrict it... so you'd have to have a pretty small wheel and that means less feel and restrictions to steering positions......and.. a small wheel doesn't look as cool as a big one.
An adequate tiller pilot can be installed for under $500. A low end wheel pilot will be twice that, or more.. if you get the good one.
The plus side is that on your size boat, it might increase the resale value. The cockpit may be large enough... width and depth. And it may not affect the single handing convenience offered by a tiller.
Cost wise... I don't specifically know, others will contribute there. I'm thinking in the $2-3k range. Edson is the best known manufacturer of wheel steering systems. http://www.edsonmarine.com/support/wheel_conversion/
I would contest the argument that the wheel takes up more room than a tiller. Certainly at the dock, this is true, but when sailing you no longer will have a tiller sweeping across the cockpit causing lee side guest to move. I have had both and I like the wheel far better.
Joe and Higgs;
Both of you have pointed out the pluses and minuses. as a former dealer, I did what the customer wanted unless it was a safety issue for example the customer once wanted a chair sling so his young son could sway back and forth in that attached to a second main halyard while under sail. I refused to sell him a boat. He finally bought a boat and did that stunt with his son who not only ended up with a leg fracture but nearly drowned him as well and of course child protective services were involve.
I went far left but back to wheel, I installed them on the smaller trailerable Hunters and others. I would suggest that you look at a few installs and since you are in Annapolis, there are many folks who can install them unless you want to do that yourself and saving monies. In other words, look and familiarlize yourself first before you go head on with that as to installation and costs.
Both of you have pointed out the pluses and minuses. as a former dealer, I did what the customer wanted unless it was a safety issue for example the customer once wanted a chair sling so his young son could sway back and forth in that attached to a second main halyard while under sail. I refused to sell him a boat. He finally bought a boat and did that stunt with his son who not only ended up with a leg fracture but nearly drowned him as well and of course child protective services were involve.
I went far left but back to wheel, I installed them on the smaller trailerable Hunters and others. I would suggest that you look at a few installs and since you are in Annapolis, there are many folks who can install them unless you want to do that yourself and saving monies. In other words, look and familiarlize yourself first before you go head on with that as to installation and costs.
The Bayfield 29 has a 'pintle hung' barn door rudder ... meaning its an UNBALANCED rudder that is attached to the end of the full keel; and therefore, a wheel steering system can provide the extra force needed to steer such a 'barn door' rudder system. Wheel steering on such a boat configuration is especially advantageous when your sail trim and sail 'shaping' inefficiencies leave you with a 'heavy helm' AND ' the faster the boat is moving, the harder it is to steer' and requires MUCH greater force to steer at those higher boat speeds --- an ideal situation for wheel steering - IMO.
If this boat had a balanced spade, etc. rudder, Id recommend to keep the tiller; however with an unbalanced rudder, wheel steering can be a BIG PLUS in boat handling.
If this boat had a balanced spade, etc. rudder, Id recommend to keep the tiller; however with an unbalanced rudder, wheel steering can be a BIG PLUS in boat handling.