leather for steering wheel

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ErikKiekens

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Hello folks!
For my UFO34, I would like to cover the stainless steel of my steering wheel in leather. What specification do I need for the leather? (of course I'm not going to buy it in a yacht chandlery - if I did that all the time I would be sleeping under a bridge by now)
Thanks and enjoy a safe passage into 2010!
Erik the Belgian Viking
UFO34 - Dr NO
 
Not as easy as it seems to do from scratch. Even in low labour cost Greece it is just as expensive to have a leather worker do it as it is to buy a kit. You can buy a ready made kit from Lewmar about £110 depending on size or there is a Dutch firm that makes a similar kit - can't remember the name, but I bought mine from Calibra Marine on the Hamble. £80 for an 800mm diameter wheel. Kit contains the leather, glued strip and twine. Easy but time consuming to fit - 1 beer or glass of wine per segment between spokes and looks fantastic. For 50 Euros I had a canvas wheel cover made so the leather should last longer than the original 7 years.
 
We bought a kit from this company:http://www.boatleather.com/ We tried the Lewmar Kits but none of them fitted our wheel. We sent the dimensions off (diameter, spoke diameter, etc) and opted for the soft feel version with a very thin neoprene which is stuck to the wheel before you stitch the leather over the top.

The kit fitted perfectly and we are very happy with it. I had to soak the spoke leather's before stitching them on to get them to stretch round the spokes, but this means they tightened up in a very satisfying way when dry. The soft feel is very pleasant to handle. The kit came with needles, thread and very good instructions. The main wheel leather was already stitched in a circle to fit the wheel diameter.

No connection except as very satisfied customers.
 
ErikKiekens said:
Hello folks!
For my UFO34, I would like to cover the stainless steel of my steering wheel in leather. What specification do I need for the leather? (of course I'm not going to buy it in a yacht chandlery - if I did that all the time I would be sleeping under a bridge by now)
Thanks and enjoy a safe passage into 2010!
Erik the Belgian Viking
UFO34 - Dr NO
Click to expand...

It should be chrome tanned leather. It is available with one "smooth" and one "hairy" face, or with two "hairy" faces, depending on what you prefer.
It also comes in several thicknesses, IIRC I used something 1-1.2mm thick, but it depends on the diameter of the wheel and the kind of feeling you want.

I covered my wheel by myself: it has 110-120cm diameter so that makes over three metres of leather, so I cut three strips. It is very important to pre-punch it on both sides with the same spacing, in order to have absolutely the same number of holes on the two sides of the strip: when you soak it before fitting, leather will stretch *a lot* and if you don't have facing holes you risk a mess.

I first joined together two of the three strips, then began sewing from the middle (where they joined) to both sides: once two thirds of the wheel were covered I stiched the third section of leather strip (always consider it will stretch a lot), this way the wheel is covered by three identical sections of leather.

I used this type of stitch, done with two needles, I personally like the "rough" touch given by the twine.
P1030841.jpg



In the end I made the typical turk head, though this one is built to have one of the spokes going through it :smile:

P1030839.jpg



It took about one day and 20 euro of leather (half a complete skin, I kept a spare strip too just in case), can't notice any change in leather after three years, the wheel is always exposed it has no cover.
 
The alternative is to use 5 or 6mm Diameter polyester braided rope. This had been done on my boat when I bought it - although I didn't know it was alternatining blue & white until I pressure washed it! It was just wrapped round and finished with a Turks Head at the central position. If you go this way, make sure you get enough rope - a lot is used!
I think it looks good and will last fort years.
 
There is a firm in Glasgow who provide kits-see advert in PBO from time to time. We bought one and very pleased with result. Quite difficult to sew on though.
 
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