Locking the Wheel

[Old Bumbulum]

I have a Whitlock Cobra steering pedestal with a small wheel by modern standards. The pedestal has a small handwheel but it is only a friction device and neither able nor intended to lock the wheel.

Any cunning ways to lock the wheel without resorting to lines obstructing the cockpit?

 

[pvb]

The pedestal has a small handwheel but it is only a friction device and neither able nor intended to lock the wheel.

Have you tried replacing the brake clamp?

 

[Old Bumbulum]

Have you tried replacing the brake clamp?

it is only a friction device and neither able nor intended to lock the wheel.

 

[pvb]

Ah, that's why it's called a "brake clamp" then.

 

[Graham376]

I have a Whitlock Cobra steering pedestal with a small wheel by modern standards. The pedestal has a small handwheel but it is only a friction device and neither able nor intended to lock the wheel.

Any cunning ways to lock the wheel without resorting to lines obstructing the cockpit?

The knob on our Cobra locks the steering OK but not rock solid. Good enough to lock the steering/rudder against tide but wheel can still be turned stiffly by hand.

 

[andygc]

The pedestal has a small handwheel but it is only a friction device and neither able nor intended to lock the wheel.

Mine locks well enough. It needs to be wound in quite hard, and I can get it tight enough that I can't turn the wheel without considerable effort.

 

[pvb]

Mine locks well enough. It needs to be wound in quite hard, and I can get it tight enough that I can't turn the wheel without considerable effort.

I think some people believe it's not a brake simply because their experience has only been with worn-out examples. If the friction surface is reasonably intact, there's no reason why the brake shouldn't effectively lock the wheel.

 

[andygc]

I think some people believe it's not a brake simply because their experience has only been with worn-out examples. If the friction surface is reasonably intact, there's no reason why the brake shouldn't effectively lock the wheel.

I don't know why you are quoting my post. I believe it is a brake, and mine is brand new.

 

[pvb]

I don't know why you are quoting my post.

Simply to confirm that the brake will work if it's in good condition.

 

[Old Bumbulum]

Despite all that it doesn't lock the wheel, hence my request for other methods to do so as per the original post!

 

[pmagowan]

Fix it?

 

[lw395]

We just use the wheelpilot.
We use it far more to lock the wheel than to actually steer.

 

[langstonelayabout]

Sorry for the silly question, but why do you want to lock the wheel?

Do you park your boat in a dodgy marina full of jobless oiks?

 

[NealB]

Sorry for the silly question, but why do you want to lock the wheel?

Do you park your boat in a dodgy marina full of jobless oiks?

The helm is not 'locked' in the sense of locking a door, it's just held in one set position.

It's useful, for example:

- as a sort of brief self steering device

- if you want to create a sheer when anchored (eg towards a rock), so that if she breaks sheer, she'll move away from the danger

- on our home moorings, all boats are recommended to leave the helm hard a starboard, to encourage them to turn in the same direction when the tide changes.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Despite all that it doesn't lock the wheel, hence my request for other methods to do so as per the original post!

Strip it and service it you may need some replacement parts Cliff Mogeridge is your man do a search on here and you will find some references and his phone number.

 

[Old Bumbulum]

Thanks all. never mind. A page and a half of bickering and not a single post helping to answer a simple question. I'll clearly have to figure it out for myself.

 

[pvb]

Strip it and service it you may need some replacement parts Cliff Mogeridge is your man do a search on here and you will find some references and his phone number.

You're wasting your time, he truly believes that "it is only a friction device and neither able nor intended to lock the wheel." I think that's wrong, but, who cares?

 

[RupertW]

Thanks all. never mind. A page and a half of bickering and not a=one jot of useful input. I'll clearly have to figure it out for myself. So much for hoping for useful advice!

All we can hear is somebody who is driving along shouting “How do I stop my car - and don’t tell me to hit the brake pedal became that only slows it down”

 

[pvb]

All we can hear is somebody who is driving along shouting “How do I stop my car - and don’t tell me to hit the brake pedal became that only slows it down”

 

[Old Bumbulum]

What an unpleasant bunch some of you are!
Someone asks a perfecty reasonable question seeking advice and all he gets is sniping, criticism and not one jot of help as asked.

I'll go elsewhere where the people are more civilised thanks.

God help us all from "yotties" like that!