cumbrian
New member
is wheel steering more difficult for singlehanding? (it's amazing how many different part so the body can be used to steady a tiller)
one hand for the wheel, one for the boat...
- Thread starter cumbrian
- Start date
C
Chrusty1
Guest
Personally I don't like wheel steering on a yacht, not enough feedback for my liking, and I would say that tiller steering makes life easier for the single hander.
Habebty
Well-known member
agreed
Nico
Member
Before using a wheel I thought it would be insensitive and impractical. Now after several years without using a tiller (on a big boat) I can't imagine how I'd manage without a wheel. Conclusion: you adapt.
Croak
New member
My wheel is hydraulic.
If I leave it alone it won't budge.
leaving me to do whatever I want with my "different parts of the body"
If I leave it alone it won't budge.
leaving me to do whatever I want with my "different parts of the body"
StugeronSteve
New member
I can engage the Autohelm clutch, without activating the autohelm, and she will sail herself quite nicely under normal cruising conditions.
damo
New member
I have no problems with my wheel - I can also hold it still with various parts of my body while attending to winches etc....and I can sit on top of the aft cockpit, nice and comfy, and steer with a toe /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif One other advantage compared to a tiller is that it is always in the same place (obviously) so you don't need to adjust your position, and it doesn't affect the seating position of anyone else.
cumbrian
New member
[ QUOTE ]
I can engage the Autohelm clutch, without activating the autohelm
[/ QUOTE ] sorry steve - don't understand that (no autohelm).
sounds like it depends on what you are used to. with not having sailed with a wheel, i thought you might need to keep stepping around it to do stuff.. but then it depends on how your winches are set up? i'm only concerned with singlehanding - not a general wheel/tiller thing.
I can engage the Autohelm clutch, without activating the autohelm
[/ QUOTE ] sorry steve - don't understand that (no autohelm).
sounds like it depends on what you are used to. with not having sailed with a wheel, i thought you might need to keep stepping around it to do stuff.. but then it depends on how your winches are set up? i'm only concerned with singlehanding - not a general wheel/tiller thing.
cumbrian
New member
[ QUOTE ]
...I would say that tiller steering makes life easier for the single hander.
[/ QUOTE ] thanks chrusty - but why?
...I would say that tiller steering makes life easier for the single hander.
[/ QUOTE ] thanks chrusty - but why?
StugeronSteve
New member
The wheel has a clutch which engages the autohelm drive, but when the authelm is off it almost locks the wheel. If the boat is set up well and the sea isn't too rough she will sail herself very happily. Like autohelm without the power drain.
I was a wheel sceptic at first, but now love them.
I was a wheel sceptic at first, but now love them.
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Chrusty1
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
...I would say that tiller steering makes life easier for the single hander.
[/ QUOTE ] thanks chrusty - but why?
[/ QUOTE ]
Just easier all round, as well as the feedback thing from the helm, you can play with different ways of setting up the boat to self steer, easier (inmo) to connect a windvane etc. and as you already said, you can steer the boat with alternative body parts whilst your hands are busy, also a lot easier to set up a jury rig to steer the boat if the tiller falls off! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Also, I feel that a wheel especially some of the "hey look at me, I got a biggun" ones found on modern boats take up a silly amount of room, as for having two wheels.........somebody is having a laugh aren't they?
Like you, I am looking at this from the point of view of the single hander, but in my case, one who believes very strongly in the "KISS" principal. As for plastering your cockpit with more instruments than it takes to fly a 747......well, lets not go there. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[ QUOTE ]
...I would say that tiller steering makes life easier for the single hander.
[/ QUOTE ] thanks chrusty - but why?
[/ QUOTE ]
Just easier all round, as well as the feedback thing from the helm, you can play with different ways of setting up the boat to self steer, easier (inmo) to connect a windvane etc. and as you already said, you can steer the boat with alternative body parts whilst your hands are busy, also a lot easier to set up a jury rig to steer the boat if the tiller falls off! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Also, I feel that a wheel especially some of the "hey look at me, I got a biggun" ones found on modern boats take up a silly amount of room, as for having two wheels.........somebody is having a laugh aren't they?
Like you, I am looking at this from the point of view of the single hander, but in my case, one who believes very strongly in the "KISS" principal. As for plastering your cockpit with more instruments than it takes to fly a 747......well, lets not go there. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Koeketiene
Well-known member
Another important factor, IMHO, is the size of the boat.
< 36' I would prefer a tiller
> 38' I would prefer a wheel
< 36' I would prefer a tiller
> 38' I would prefer a wheel
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Chrusty1
Guest
Why? I have sailed a Saltram Saga 40 with a tiller, no problems.......Lovely boat that was! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
cumbrian
New member
[ QUOTE ]
As for plastering your cockpit with more instruments than it takes to fly a 747
[/ QUOTE ] we'll save that one for later
does anyone know...do all wheels have the hydraulic system steve has, and.... is it feasible/sensible to remove a wheel set up and try the tiller option - then replace if wheel preferred.
lets have our cake and eat it /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
As for plastering your cockpit with more instruments than it takes to fly a 747
[/ QUOTE ] we'll save that one for later
does anyone know...do all wheels have the hydraulic system steve has, and.... is it feasible/sensible to remove a wheel set up and try the tiller option - then replace if wheel preferred.
lets have our cake and eat it /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
C
Chrusty1
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
As for plastering your cockpit with more instruments than it takes to fly a 747
[/ QUOTE ] we'll save that one for later
does anyone know...do all wheels have the hydraulic system steve has, and.... is it feasible/sensible to remove a wheel set up and try the tiller option - then replace if wheel preferred.
lets have our cake and eat it /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Flaming Nora! You're a right trouble maker aren't you?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[ QUOTE ]
As for plastering your cockpit with more instruments than it takes to fly a 747
[/ QUOTE ] we'll save that one for later
does anyone know...do all wheels have the hydraulic system steve has, and.... is it feasible/sensible to remove a wheel set up and try the tiller option - then replace if wheel preferred.
lets have our cake and eat it /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Flaming Nora! You're a right trouble maker aren't you?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
StugeronSteve
New member
Mine's not drybollic it's a good ole Raymarine S1 Wheel Pilot.
lw395
Well-known member
Having a big wheel means you can steer from many positions, alongside it (sat on side deck), in front of it. You can also steer using a foot! It also helps coming alongside if you can steer from near the side of the boat.
As boats get wider, you either need a big wheel or two wheels becomes a good idea.
A wheel is not necessarily a disadvantage for singlehanding, but many 'cruising' yachts have wheels that are far too small, forcing you to stand behind it like driving a tractor. Many also have sheets that cannot easily be reached from the wheel. While I use the autopilot as a wheel lock, I also like to be able to respond to a gust with both sheet and wheel.
Tiller is probably easier for s/h, but you still need everything else easy to use one handed. But it takes two hands to put a tiller pilot on, whereas a wheelpilot can be engaged by the steering hand. This is useful when your other hand is full of sheet that you find you can't quite cleat or similar.
I think some means of locking either wheel or tiller is important.
Regardless of s/h I would go for wheel above 36' and tiller below 33'.
As boats get wider, you either need a big wheel or two wheels becomes a good idea.
A wheel is not necessarily a disadvantage for singlehanding, but many 'cruising' yachts have wheels that are far too small, forcing you to stand behind it like driving a tractor. Many also have sheets that cannot easily be reached from the wheel. While I use the autopilot as a wheel lock, I also like to be able to respond to a gust with both sheet and wheel.
Tiller is probably easier for s/h, but you still need everything else easy to use one handed. But it takes two hands to put a tiller pilot on, whereas a wheelpilot can be engaged by the steering hand. This is useful when your other hand is full of sheet that you find you can't quite cleat or similar.
I think some means of locking either wheel or tiller is important.
Regardless of s/h I would go for wheel above 36' and tiller below 33'.
C
Chrusty1
Guest
In suppose at the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference, and what you have got used to? The Saltram being a double ender didn't have the beam in her arse to give room for a wheel really, it would have been a bit cramped I think. Same with a lot of older boats.
Sgeir
Well-known member
With a 33/34' boat, I can't really see the point of a wheel. As others have said, with a tiller you can "feel" what the boats doing much better imho.
There's another advantage imho, and that is that, once trimmed, the boat will find its own balance and more-or-less sail herself. It obviously depends on the conditions (not congested or gusty) but, very often, if it is all set properly, I can go below and put on the kettle, or go and fiddle about with something up at the mast without using the autohelm.
With the sails properly balanced she should not need too much pressure on the tiller. Having a wheel would probably not allow the rudder to move freely in response to the boat, in the manner of a tillered rudder.
There's another advantage imho, and that is that, once trimmed, the boat will find its own balance and more-or-less sail herself. It obviously depends on the conditions (not congested or gusty) but, very often, if it is all set properly, I can go below and put on the kettle, or go and fiddle about with something up at the mast without using the autohelm.
With the sails properly balanced she should not need too much pressure on the tiller. Having a wheel would probably not allow the rudder to move freely in response to the boat, in the manner of a tillered rudder.
C
Chrusty1
Guest
Yep! I think there is something that too.
