Do you prefer a wheel or a tiller?

[Kelpie]

Having a tiller was a deal-breaker for us when we upgraded to the current boat.
I see the advantages as being:
- feels better, more responsive
- easier/cheaper to hook up to a pilot and/or windvane
- much simpler, far less to maintain, no complex hidden moving parts
- helm position nice and far forward so you can hide under the sprayhood (it has been known to rain occasionally up here)
- swings out of the way to keep the cockpit clear

This is all said on the assumption that we sail two up, i.e. singlehanded watches on passage.

 

[lw395]

If you have a proper size wheel, you can steer with a foot.
I've never sailed with twin wheels, but I can see the advantages.

 

[rogerthebodger]

My boat has a hydraulically operated wheel with non return valves.
Whilst there is no feedback to the wheel you can steer with one finger and go off to brew up whilst sailing single handed no problem.
So I am total convert to the wheel.

I also have hydraulic steering and I agree totally.

 

[Supine Being]

I sometimes sail with friends in their Bav 34 and, while I envy them their space, I much prefer my Sadler 26 for the way she sails, and a big part of that is the responsiveness of the tiller. Also, on all the boats that I've sailed with a wheel, I have needed to stand at the helm, which is a much more exposed position on a cold day than the more hunkered-down position with a tiller.

On the other hand, I know Mrs SP would prefer a wheel as she can't see as well from a sitting position as me.

Either way, much over 32' I would prefer a wheel. I sailed an Ohlson 38 with a tiller in a blow, and it got the biceps working.

 

[pmagowan]

I much prefer a tiller. It is so much more responsive and you can't beat the quiver in your hand when you have her in the zone, riding it right on the edge. I really want a tiller on my next boat ~45' but it might have to be a compromise.

I also like to steer with my bum!

 

[James_Calvert]

Another bumsteerer here!

Agree with everything already said but there's another thing. Steering a boat with a wheel at the back of the boat seems a bit counterintuitive to me. A boat steers a bit like pushing a bike backwards, with the handlebars doing the same job in the same way as a tiller. But a steering wheel is turned in the opposite direction...

 

[John 32i]

Had a Beneteau 32' with a tiller and now a Jeanneau 32 with a wheel - prefer the wheel every time; much more control :encouragement:

 

[Fantasie 19]

Having sailed the same model of boat last year on charter I would say that it is a lovely, lovely boat performance/sailing'wise, but that the cockpit layout is 'awkward'... the mainsheet track is on top of aGRP divider that runs across the cockpit about a third of the way from the stern end so you have to stand in this small area to steer, but the sweep of the tiller is right across where your standing - if you stand the other side of the mainsheet you have to reach behind you for the tiller...

I noticed you spent time on the side deck with an extension in the video I think because of the layout.. in terms of the cockpit design - a wheel would probably be better, and I prefer tillers.....

 

[corbu]

I have spent many enjoyable hours sailing a 342 with a wheel. The owner explained to me that the tiller is standard and the wheel an option. His preference was driven by a bad experience with a tiller on an earlier boat, almost broke his leg!

Whilst the 342 is a beautifully balanced yacht the wheel configuration does have one drawback. There just isn't enough room to stand comfortably behind the wheel. No big deal to sit on the coaming to windward but shows the cockpit was conceived for a tiller configuration.

Like an earlier poster I like the tiller on my small boat, some how feels more 'authentic', but am partial to twin wheels whilst chartering in the sun.

 

[NeilO]

We have a tiller on our Moody 31 which works well - but when we upsize we will go for a wheel as my wife finds the tiller tiring.

Great video by the way. I notice that a motoring cone was deployed at one point. So a change to the answer to the exam question ... "What does a black cone mean ... examiner on board or yacht on delivery"

 

[jwilson]

In principle I like a tiller on any boat not too hard-mouthed for helming to be a struggle. Instant and usually sensitive feedback, and fold it up when moored to increase cockpit space. However the usual tiller-pilot fittings are awkward things compared to an inboard wheel autopilot or even a wheel-drive, and you very rarely get a permanent built-in under-deck ram-type autopilot on a tiller steered boat, though I have met a couple of boats where it has been installed specially.

 

[Leighb]

Hmmmmm... but then you look like you have a big knob... not a problem for males but somewhat different for females.

Only if you have the tiller right under you, I just have it against the buttocks, gives excellent steerability and easy disengagement.

 

[shan]

Be careful you don't end up impaled... that would be an interesting one t call the RNLI out for! Do you suppose it would qualify as a pan pan or mayday....

 

[Kwik Decision]

I don't think anybody has mentioned another advantage of a tiller over wheel, which is that it is obvious at a glance which way the rudder is pointing.

I recently did a weeks training on a wheeled steered boat, and had to get in the habit of spinning the wheel one way and then t'other to get it central before setting of (2.5 turns lock to lock, so even if the mark were at the top, the helm could easily be hard over one way or another......). Very pleased to get back to a tiller!

 

[Wandering Star]

Had a tiller on my Ncouver 27 and loved it but quite recently sailed on a Rustler 36 with tiller steering and found it very heavy work, couldn't wait to engage the autopilot and get some relief. I think up too a certain size i'd prefer tiller steering but over that a wheels the way to go.

 

[Lyndsey Doyle]

In reply to Kwik D Yes indeed, and how do you trim a wheel steered yacht, to get the ideal of just a touch of weather helm? You can't feel the water flowing over the rudder! Absurd in my view, wheel steering is for at least huge yachts, tugs, workboats, trawlers or larger, vessels which are obliged anyway to have a rudder position indicator fitted at every helm position, for obvious reasons.. and if it's broken it's a stop note.

 

[Lyndsey Doyle]

Had a tiller on my Ncouver 27 and loved it but quite recently sailed on a Rustler 36 with tiller steering and found it very heavy work, couldn't wait to engage the autopilot and get some relief. I think up too a certain size i'd prefer tiller steering but over that a wheels the way to go.

Interesting! And a bit surprising? What was heavy, was it weather helm? Or just in general? That's the sort of boat I'd expect a great feel on the tiller on, glad yr mate's delivery went ok anyway LD

 

[ditchcrawler]

I have sailed for nearly 50 years mostly on tiller boats and enjoyed the feel of the tiller and sitting out with the tiller extension watching the telltales. However at 70 I found that my own boat a Moody 31 could be hard work in a blow and with a dodgy shoulder and a bad back I converted it to a wheel. For me this has transformed my sailing and hopefully will add further years to my sailing. The draglink system is very positive and it takes not much more than a quarter turn to spin her round. I have a fairly large folding wheel and I like having the plotter in front of me and being able to press the button to activate the autopilot. The throttle/gear on the pedestal is a boon for a bad back instead of bending down whilst you approach a berth. My friends who sail with me are all converts now but they are in the main of a certain age like me. We also appreciate being able to hold on to the tubular metalwork when it is blowy. Both systems have their pros and cons.

 

[Kukri]

Back in the Dawn of Time, I crewed for HW Tilman, who had just spent quite a bit of money at the Berthon Boatyard having Baroque's wheel removed and a tiller fitted in its place. She was / is a Bristol Channel pilot cutter 49ft x 13ft 6ins x 7ft. The tiller worked nicely. He was 76 at the time.

 

[Lyndsey Doyle]

Back in the Dawn of Time, I crewed for HW Tilman, who had just spent quite a bit of money at the Berthon Boatyard having Baroque's wheel removed and a tiller fitted in its place. She was / is a Bristol Channel pilot cutter 49ft x 13ft 6ins x 7ft. The tiller worked nicely. He was 76 at the time.

Ha, top that, wheelies

What was the food like btw?