Do you prefer a wheel or a tiller?

Lyndsey Doyle said:
Ha, top that, wheelies ;)

What was the food like btw?
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I sailed as cook... I could not possibly comment... ;)...

... so I will just quote the man himself.... :p

" The few days of Andrew's reign in the galley had been so brilliant that it seemed the act of a madman or a sour ascetic to replace him, but he would clearly be in his element on deck..."

Actually the food was brilliant, within the constraints of feeding five men for five months without a fridge and without fresh fruit and vegetables. No complaints at all.
 
Kwik Decision said:
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!
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Just illustrates that not all wheel (or tiller) are the same and it is wise not to generalise. My wheel is just one turn lock to lock and not difficult with centre marking on the wheel to see where the rudder is - although feel is also good. On the other hand the old long keel boat that I have done most of my sailing in could be really hard work if it was the slightest bit overcanvassed. Somewhat improved after I built a deeper, higher aspect ratio rudder with some balance but still needed a firm hand at times.
 
My Moody33 - centre cockpit - has a wheel which is excellent and would be almost impossible to fit a tiller as it would interfere with access to the rear cabin. Both my wife and I like it.
It does have an emergency tiller which I've only tested in harbour and would be difficult to use in anger as you would have to stand in the rear cabin holding the tiller and barely being able to see because one is not tall enough and you have stand with your head out of the offset hatch - not easy!
 
My wheel steering is Whitlock rack and pinion - no cable no wire so very litle friction in the system - great feedback, would not swap for a tiller
 
I helmed on Ezra, 27Tons of 44ft "Bristol" pilot cutter. She had a tiller. No great problem. Lots of feel. There were also blocks/lines on both sides for extra tiller control when the wind got interesting!
 
Lyndsey Doyle said:
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.
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A GOOD wheel system gives you quite a lot of feel: even the el cheapo Goiot system on my AWB lets you feel weather helm build. I still in general like tillers though.
 
I am happy with either. My old boat had a tiller, my current bigger boat has a wheel. I looked at several boats and it was not a deal maker or breaker.

Current layout, not the best for single handing, main sheet is on coach roof. I get by.

I have sailed a 70 ft ketch in severe gale with a tiller. Not a problem if its big enough and boat balances.
Odd thing about my boat. it has an emergency tiller, and the top of the rudder stock is at aft end of cockpit. I haven't figured out how to use it. There is a wheel and pedestal in the way, even taking the wheel of the pedestal would be in the way.

I came to the conclusion its decorative.

I also liked to steer with my bum. :cool:
 
One other point- you can go lock to lock much faster with a tiller than a wheel, for those exciting surfing down waves days...
 
Minn said:
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.
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IIRC on of the big OYC boats had a tiller.
I seem to recall some stories about people getting flung off by it when going astern?
 
I find it difficult to comment on which system is better. I'm happy with what I've got, which is a tiller on a 27ft long-keeler, naturally, whereas I've also happily helmed 34-42ft fin-keeled yachts with wheels. Different beasts really.

One thing about tillers though: there's something cosily democratic about sitting with your crew (or even on your own if you're Jonny-no-mates) all on one side of the cockpit. :D
 
Spoke to a owner of an HR 34 or 35 ( not sure which) . His father had bought new ones each for him & his sister at the same time. Identical except sister had the wheel. He said that the tiller was by far the better.
 
We're just getting used to a wheel after many years using tillers, the decision to change boats was forced on us by the arrival of arthritis in swmbo earlier in life than would be reasonably expected, This meant hanging on to a tiller was painful / impossible. The wheel has transformed sailing for her and whilst a tiller had all advantages listed above we are delighted with wheel steering (and the ` new` boat).
 
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