Move from tiller to wheel - less pleasure helming?

[Tranona]

Question for wheelists.
Just about to convert from stick to wheel on a newly acquired yacht. The steering is wire from binnacle to steering gear in aft cabin.
Should the wire fail, is there a way of manually steering in such an emergency? If so what does this entail?

It is a requirement of the RCD that an alternative means of steering is fitted. Normally this is an extension upwards of the stock to take a tiller arm - usually on a square. Often not very effective as there is insufficient room to swing a long enough tiller. On my boat it also faces aft. Even more difficult with an aft cabin unless you are able to take the stock through cabin roof. So, normally the extension comes to bunk level and you need a second person to do the steering from inside the cabin.

An effective form of alternate steering is an autopilot with a drive direct to the quadrant, although of course this depends on an electrical supply.

Fortunately on a well designed and maintained boat there should never be a need for emergency steering!

 

[capnsensible]

It is a requirement of the RCD that an alternative means of steering is fitted. Normally this is an extension upwards of the stock to take a tiller arm - usually on a square. Often not very effective as there is insufficient room to swing a long enough tiller. On my boat it also faces aft. Even more difficult with an aft cabin unless you are able to take the stock through cabin roof. So, normally the extension comes to bunk level and you need a second person to do the steering from inside the cabin.

An effective form of alternate steering is an autopilot with a drive direct to the quadrant, although of course this depends on an electrical supply.

Fortunately on a well designed and maintained boat there should never be a need for emergency steering!

Um. Have used emergency tiller twice. Both on well maintained boats.

First was a Jenneau 45. Twin wheels, cable broke. Spent several eventful hours going to the marina in Guadaloupe capital. Tip. Use the term 'alternative steering' instead of 'emergency steering' when talking to French geezers to avoid several ribs with blue flashing lights greeting your arrival.

Second was a Bavaria 37. Design fault on lower gearbox. Four corner feet to bolt it on. One broke. Was delivering from Lanzarote to Gib. Company involved fessed up and sent a new one by TNT Overnight.
Tip. Tnt overnight can actually take eleven days, so plan accordingly.

Been out this week on a new Bavaria 37. The 'good ideas club' has put the chart plotter in the way of the tiller. So until I chop a bit off, you have to rig it backwards. I would rather like to meet the man.

 

[lpdsn]

Fortunately on a well designed and maintained boat there should never be a need for emergency steering!

I've twice had a cast quadrant break. I could partly blame whoever commissioned the boat for the first and the builders for the second, but I was still surprised after the first one how many other people I mentioned the tale to had had similar problems. So if your 'well-designed' avoids cast Aluminium I'd say true, but I'd guess Bavaria use cast Al. Not surprising, as when I bought a Duralium one it was about four times the price of a cast Aluminium replacement.