Converting from tiller to wheel

R

Richard D

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Jul 2011
Messages
183
Visit site
Maybe a daft question but I have seen a number of boats I would be interested in buying but they have tiller steering, is it possible to convert and if so any idea of a ball park cost, or is it something that can be done on some boats but not all.
 
It's usually possible, but I'd suggest not usually sensible. There are exceptions both ways.

Why do you think you need a wheel? Even if you're not used to a tiller now, it doesn't take long to get used to it. Most boats designed with a tiller work far better that way, and would be awkward if retrofitted with a wheel.

Pete
 
After having been on tiller boats the changing from side to side when tacking causes people to bang into each other and the till takes up a lot of room in the cockpit, again with people in the way if you have to whip the tiller across at short notice
 
I think it would entirely depend on the vessel. For example, fitting wheel steering to a boat with a stern-hung rudder would, I imagine, be very difficult, and if achieved, would be very unsightly with steering gear exposed at the rudder head.

In many cases, while possible, it might well impinge on storage or living space. For example, on the Moody 31 like my own, there was an option for wheel steering, but the drawback was that it took away some space in the aft cabin.

If the boat is not designed for wheel steering, there may be a considerable engineering challenge in retro-fitting steering quadrants and so on.

Personally I can't for the life of me imagine why you want wheel steering, unless the boat is either large enough to require the mechanical advantage of a wheel (in which case one will already be fitted), or has a centre cockpit and cannot accommodate a tiller. For me, a tiller allows far more direct contact with the boat, allowing me to "feel" the interaction of sails and sea in a way which wheel steering does not (in general). But, of course, opinions vary on this one!
 
The cost and solution of the conversion will depend on the model of yacht in question.

Some of the more modern production yachts sub 34ft are available still in either tiller or wheel steered versions with the wheel steered version as the optional upgrade. For this reason a conversion to wheel steering can be quite straight forward as the boat is already designed for both systems.

I recall project managing a conversion of a 2005 Dufour 34 performance from tiller to wheel steering. The conversion cost was around £1,200 if I recall with the owner arranging himself for the mainsheet track to be moved forward.
 
I've seen a few conversions and they didn't look nice ...

As for cost - I would hazard a guess at a couple of grand - unless you were prepared to find all the bits cheaply and do the work yourself.

I recognise the issue with tiller boats - crew changing from side2side does make an interesting shuffle during the tack and it requires a bit of prep to ensure a smooth transition. I don't think the tiller takes up too much room - certainly no more than a wheel - and tillers can usually be lifted out of the way when not in use.

We moved from tiller to wheel and I mostly like the wheel - I don't like it when sailing to windward - as I'd prefer to helm from the coaming - and I just can't reach!
 
Richard D said:
After having been on tiller boats the changing from side to side when tacking causes people to bang into each other and the till takes up a lot of room in the cockpit, again with people in the way if you have to whip the tiller across at short notice
Click to expand...

These might be considered downsides, but a tiller is generally "nicer" to helm, particularly on a smaller livelier boat. It is also simple and reliable.

A wheel introduces new downsides, particularly on a smaller boat. You usually end up with very cramped space for the helm perched at the back of the boat. The wheel is usually small because there is not enough width for a bigger one, and the helm can have difficulty in doing anything else on the boat such as reaching the mainsheet.

Conversion can be complicated, depending on the design of the boat and existing steering gear, and expensive if new components are used.

Wheels start to come into their own at around 34ft, particularly with modern wide sterned baots with large spade rudders where the mechanical advantage is needed and the cockpit is usually wide enough to have a decent size wheel and still have room to work in the cockpit.
 
fireball said:
We moved from tiller to wheel and I mostly like the wheel - I don't like it when sailing to windward - as I'd prefer to helm from the coaming - and I just can't reach!
Click to expand...
I agree. I have a wheel which is pretty big but you still have to stand in the centre of the boat or sit down on the seat with a consequent loss of visibility.
 
I went through all this for years, not wanting a tiller.
The choice of craft available in my budget and my taste with wheel steering was limited.
Mystere Flyer 26, S&S 34, etc...
Eventually relented and got an attractive yacht with a tiller, very happy with my choice.
She will be on the water next year.


Howard
 
biggest issue is usually attaching quadrant to rudder stock - most older boats designed for a tiller will have a fully sheathed rudder stock (to prevent water ingress). to fit a quadrant you need to cut out a section of the sheath and therefore need to fit a watertight seal. it can be done but can be extremely difficult, therefore costly if not doing it yourself. you also lose a lot of locker space (which could be an important factor on a smaller / sub 34' boat). also query whether you can fit the pedestal bolts and associated guide pulleys under the cockpit - again, on smaller boats the fuel tank is often located here with minumum clearance, and this can make it very difficult or impossible to fit without major alterations.
we have gone from tiller (30' boat) to wheel (36' boat) - i prefer the wheel for sailing and actually prefer the tiller for manouvering in the marina. also, the tiller folded up against the backstay when moored whereas even with the wheel removed (it can be removed easily) you are still left with the pedestal. albeit larger boat = more cockpit room so not such an issue. had we had a wheel on our 30' boat we would have lost a lot of "sociable" cockpit room when not sailing.
 
corinthmistral said:
biggest issue is usually attaching quadrant to rudder stock - most older boats designed for a tiller will have a fully sheathed rudder stock
Click to expand...

Yep - my boat has a sealed glassed-in tube from the bottom of the hull up to the deck behind the cockpit. You'd need to do some fairly major work to fit a below-decks quadrant.

Pete
 
Converting from tiller to wheel....why?

In many boats I'd prefer to convert the other way round.
If you'r a cruiser why consider it? When going into heavy conditions on a cold dark night it's good to be under or near the hood to keep out of it.

I've stood at a wheel at the back of a cockpit in the irish sea on a cold winters day wishing I'd taken up indoor bowls!
 
fireball said:
So - get a wheel and a good autopilot .... ;)
Click to expand...

Keep the tiller and get a tiller pilot (assuming the boat is not too large for the available types).

I bought a used Autohelm ST4000 off Ebay and noticed that it has autotack - turns the boat through 100deg at the press of a button.
I am presently building an interface to convert it to work with my boat's hydraulic steering pump - the existing autopilot ia an anlogue (pre NMEA) Cetrek system since the ST4000 is meant for wheel and tiller pilot use.

Ian
 
I had an ST1000 on the previous boat - a 30'er ... wasn't fast enough for the job when there was any sea running ...
 
fireball said:
I had an ST1000 on the previous boat - a 30'er ... wasn't fast enough for the job when there was any sea running ...
Click to expand...

Bit under-sized for a 30' yacht, I'd have thought. Raymarine reckon the ST1000 is OK up to 3 tonnes weight and the ST2000 for 4.5 tonnes. I have an ST2000 on a 31 footer that nominally displaces 4.5 tonnes, and that copes fine. Also, I find that I really ought to change the parameters for different types of sailing and/or motoring - of course, I'm too lazy to do so, as it means getting the manual out to check how to do it!
 
She was 3.5tonnes - so yes - probably a bit undersized - rarely used it as it just wasn't worth the hassle....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

bluey01
Anyone want to design a folding sailing dinghy with me?
2 3 4
Replies
66
Views
2K
bluey01
bluey01
Refueler
Navionics Boating gives me river nav coverage .....
Replies
8
Views
257
Refueler
Refueler
P
Essential pre purchase or even pre survey checks
2
Replies
28
Views
855
Refueler
Refueler

Share this page

Top