Southampton Boat Show - 2023

[Sandy]

You don't with a single wheel in the middle either, you have to move to look around the sails. At least with twin wheels you can sit somewhere to look under/over the sail which reduces movement, and you can easily get to the dinghy or swim platform. There's a reason they all have that now, even Hallberg Rassey belatedly joined the party as they always do 20 years late.

That's never been my experience on boats from 10 to 30 metres. I might lean over a tiny bit so see something near rather than have to move position to see; I've been on a few deliveries with twin wheels and am not a fan.

As for swim platforms, we just dive off the boat and climb up the ladder. I don't know the young of today they want life so easy.

 

[flaming]

Almost all of the boats had big arses and twin wheels. If I was in the position of buying a new boat they would not be on my wish list. Horrible to helm as you don't have a good 360° view without bouncing from port to starboard.

One follows the other really. If you want the advantages of a wide backside, but also want to be able to see the sails then you either need an absolutely massive wheel, or twin wheels.

Have sailed boats with twin wheels, and spent a lot of time helming a boat with a massive wheel. Honestly it's not something that would rule any boat in or out for me, provided it was appropriate to the boat.

 

[ashtead]

At least with twin wheels you don’t have to step onto seats to get by -even on say an old Bav36 to pass by the wheel it was an issue. The down side of twin wheels is lack of engine control both sides often but otherwise even on a narrow ish beam of say4m it makes changing helms etc far simpler plus you can wheel stuff in and with a tent opens up the stern area for cooking etc -makes a good Cobb space in the rain.

 

[flaming]

At least with twin wheels you don’t have to step onto seats to get by -even on say an old Bav36 to pass by the wheel it was an issue. The down side of twin wheels is lack of engine control both sides often but otherwise even on a narrow ish beam of say4m it makes changing helms etc far simpler plus you can wheel stuff in and with a tent opens up the stern area for cooking etc -makes a good Cobb space in the rain.

I've never understood this issue of engine controls on either side. At least not on anything in the 30s / low 40s size wise.

I have a tiller, but the engine controls are only on one side, so that's where I sit to park, or to drive out of the marina etc.... The previous boat had a massive wheel, as did Dad's Dufour 40, but both had the engine controls on the side of the cockpit, not the binnacle. So you just sat there to park. I've sailed boats with binnacle mounted engine controls a lot too, and that's not an issue either... Provided you can reach both wheel and throttle at the same time then you can control the boat just fine.

 

[ashtead]

I guess personal choice but on twin wheels much prefer to berth on wheel side with throttle -not as easy as a binnacle throttle on a single wheel in some ways.though . Many newer boats seem to have on double wheels binnacle control though so no more using the foot to control.

 

[dunedin]

Almost all of the boats had big arses and twin wheels. If I was in the position of buying a new boat they would not be on my wish list. Horrible to helm as you don't have a good 360° view without bouncing from port to starboard.

I agree that some sterns are extremely wide now, but I disagree entirely about twin wheels. I suspect it of the new.
Before getting our current boat I didn’t want twin wheels. Now I am a convert.
Most of the time we are on autopilot, except when sailing for fun, upwind or downwind. Twin wheels gives much better view of the sails and the course ahead. A pet hate is a tiny wheel on the centreline, as can’t see either sails or forward.
And when at anchor easy access past the wheels.

 

[ashtead]

Not certain you have to have a big arse Bene to have twin wheels -we have beam of 3.99m with twin wheels and tapered back so I guess it depends on your particular marque.

 

[zoidberg]

Provided you can reach both wheel and throttle at the same time then you can control the boat just fine.

Reminded me, with a wry grin, of being roped into helping a skatty woman bring her colander of a boat downriver from Totnes to Dartmouth. It emerged the wheel in the wh'house was not connected to the massive external rudderpost on the stern. A necessary component was missing. We lashed up a tiller, as you do.
However, the engine controls were on the wh'house front bulkhead, where you'd expect them, 10 feet or more from the tiller.

Manoeuvring this great heavy lump off the quay and turned round was just a tad challenging. Rather more challenging was bringing the 'great heavy lump' to an alongside berth on the Visitors Pontoon...... with a big expensive yacht ahead, and another one moored astern.

I had the son poised amidships with a line to loop over a cleat - he'd never been on a boat before - and the skatty woman inside working the Morse-type engine control lever according to my shouted "Forward..... more forward..... Neutral.... NEUTRAL.... Reverse, a bit..... REVERSE..... REVERSE..... Neutral...."

It didn't help that the engine was in an open box between us, and she was a bit 'mutton-jeff'.

There was a noticeable outlet of breath from the assembled gawpers.... and me..... when we nudged the pontoon with inches to spare astern. It was almost as though I'd planned it....

 

[steveeasy]

Deleted.

 

[Sandy]

Reminded me, with a wry grin, of being roped into helping a skatty woman bring her colander of a boat downriver from Totnes to Dartmouth. It emerged the wheel in the wh'house was not connected to the massive external rudderpost on the stern. A necessary component was missing. We lashed up a tiller, as you do.
However, the engine controls were on the wh'house front bulkhead, where you'd expect them, 10 feet or more from the tiller.

Manoeuvring this great heavy lump off the quay and turned round was just a tad challenging. Rather more challenging was bringing the 'great heavy lump' to an alongside berth on the Visitors Pontoon...... with a big expensive yacht ahead, and another one moored astern.

I had the son poised amidships with a line to loop over a cleat - he'd never been on a boat before - and the skatty woman inside working the Morse-type engine control lever according to my shouted "Forward..... more forward..... Neutral.... NEUTRAL.... Reverse, a bit..... REVERSE..... REVERSE..... Neutral...."

It didn't help that the engine was in an open box between us, and she was a bit 'mutton-jeff'.

There was a noticeable outlet of breath from the assembled gawpers.... and me..... when we nudged the pontoon with inches to spare astern. It was almost as though I'd planned it....

Sounds like you had a lovely day on the water.

 

[Concerto]

I thought this year's boat show seemed quieter than last year, but the show attendance figures have just been released. It is claimed just over 92,000 people attended.

Southampton Boat Show: increased footfall despite 'atrocious' weather - Marine Industry News

Last year I posted this and quote it as an observation.
"The organisers are putting a brave face on the attendance numbers of 83,000 this year and claiming closing on Monday for the Queen's funeral was to blame.
SIBS reports on its 2022 sunshine-infused show - Marine Industry News

Last year the number attending was 88,000, this was after the cancellation of the 2020 show and Covid restrictions to attend the show in 2021. The attendance in 2019 was 103,000."

The weather this year was some of the worst at any Southampton Boat Show. The second Saturday seemed very busy with a real bustle, but overall the exhibitors I have spoken to said sales were ok, not OK or good.

 

[ashtead]

I attended on last Saturday -I’m not keen on weekend attendances but I thought it was quieter than usual - we had no issues looking at the HR and a good discussion with trans world staff. It was busy on boatfolk stand but found a space. In the hall walking around not that frantic mid afternoon. Clearly we didn’t visit many stands but spoke to youboat at end of day in peace. I tend not to go on dreamboats like spirit etc but they seem busy to be fair . I guess the oyster was perhaps one we might have viewed but a few beers beckoned. The weather was good -not scotching but no gales or rain etc. just cannot believe the gap to step up in size though by say 4foot.