Hydraulic steering

[prv]

The binnacle can be where the wheel would go and the tiller only needs to come to the widened 'steering area' of the cockpit.

I suppose that works if you have a lot of afterdeck behind the cockpit, and the rudder stock well aft. Otherwise, the necessary length of tiller tends to put the helmsman in about the middle of the cockpit, not back aft where he would be with a wheel. However, from a position on the side benches, will he be able to properly see the compass (and any other instruments) on the binnacle? If he's in this "widened" area, will he have anything to brace his feet against or will he always be sliding off the bench when beating? If he does have something, will the helmsman who prefers a wheel trip over it?

I like tillers, but it's sounding increasingly like this boat needs a wheel.

Pete

 

[pmagowan]

This is perhaps why I am contemplating the half way option. I know it probably should have a wheel but I want a tiller. I probably need to make the leap and just accept it but that might take me some time! I would so miss the feeling through my fingertips as I glide her through 'the groove'. The vibrations from the sea on the rudder, the slight loss of pull as you near the edge of luffing up and you need to rein her in again. I am not sure I would get that from a wheel. I am not sure I want to give that up.

 

[dom]

I would so miss the feeling through my fingertips as I glide her through 'the groove'. The vibrations from the sea on the rudder, the slight loss of pull as you near the edge of luffing up and you need to rein her in again. I am not sure I would get that from a wheel. I am not sure I want to give that up.

Oh my goodness, a perfectly balanced boat at one's fingertips; so beautifully written I want to be there :encouragement:

 

[rogerthebodger]

I think it can be done. Whether it is a good idea or not is another thing. I want a binnacle and a fold down table for dining in the cockpit. The binnacle can be where the wheel would go and the tiller only needs to come to the widened 'steering area' of the cockpit. Both the wheel and the tiller could be detachable so would not clutter up the cockpit when not in use.

Thats how mine is. My emergency tiller has an upright that fits on to the rudder top and the tiller is fitted to the top of this extended rudder post but is removable so it does not protrudeinto the area used to steer with the wheel. My cockpit table fits fwd of the binnacle
The round stainless cover at the mid/top left is access to to of rudder shaft that takes the emergency rudder extension.

The U shaped stainless bracket is the same as the top of the rudder shaft extension the the tiller fits in

The cockpit storage and steering wheel position. Behind the wheel is my gas locker and aft of that is the emergency rudder shaft extension.

 

[duncan99210]

The reason behind wheel steering as opposed to a tiller is all about mechanical advantage. The length of tiller required to replace the mechanical advantage found in wheeled steering is such that you'd need a very large clear area for the tiller to achieve the same effect. Just looking at my Hurley 18, the tiller sweeps much of the aft third of the cockpit area. I'm not saying you couldn't set up a 40 foot boat with a tiller: clearly this has been done but I suspect that it will be at the expense of having the space available to fit a binicle and table as you describe.
My Bavaria has an emergency tiller which fits onto a socket on top of the rudder behind the binicle. I've set it up for use to see how easy it was to use. It is a long as possible to fit into the space but the leverage is so small as to make using it very hard work except under motor. Now, the binicle could be moved forward but that'd rob cockpit space.
If you're determined to have a tiller, then you may need to give some thought to how to fit your cockpit table as fitting a binicle may not be feasible with the required length of tiller.

 

[ex-Gladys]

The reason behind wheel steering as opposed to a tiller is all about mechanical advantage.

When I sailed in the Ocean Youth Club 72' Ketches as a "yoof" Falmouth Packet and Scott Bader had tiller steering... above F3 you had to have someone sitting on the tiller with legs on the lee bench as "power assist"