Throttle lever on two wheel boats

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cmedsailor

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It’s probably just me wondering because I am not used to this at all, but is it easy to make fast engine manoeuvres in a tight place when the throttle lever is so low like it is in many boats with two wheels?
I have a boat with single wheel and the lever is in the usual place right next to it. You can use it very easy without bending your knees or something. The usual set up you find in many single wheel boats. On the contrary when I see boats with two wheels the person at the helm usually needs to bend its knee to reach the level.
So, is it just something you get used to it and never really notice or is it annoying?
 
I find it very annoying and it did stop us buying several otherwise very nice boats. We spent a long time searching and ended up with a Beneteau - they seem to be the only mass market AWB in current production that puts the throttle up high.
 
A lot of boats with single wheels or tillers also have the throttle low down on the side of the cockpit lockers / seats, I certainly have always found it a pain and there's often too much of an opportunity to step on and snap off the key !

I suppose there's not much choice with a tiller, but with a wheel the throttle can go alongside on a console; I'd be a little concerned about the mainsheet or something catching it but that depends on the boat.
 
The problem is mostly parking in a confined space - just as you are getting close to the pontoon, you have to bend down to find the throttle and get into reverse - completely losing sight of the thing you are about to hit!

There are electronic remote controls from Vetus that are not too difficult to fit on most boats, so don't necessarily let it stop you buying something you really like!
 
maby said:
The problem is mostly parking in a confined space - just as you are getting close to the pontoon, you have to bend down to find the throttle and get into reverse - completely losing sight of the thing you are about to hit!

There are electronic remote controls from Vetus that are not too difficult to fit on most boats, so don't necessarily let it stop you buying something you really like!
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Mind you that's luxury compared to an outboard on the transom with no remote controls; I often think anyone with such a set-up should call Youtube before approaching a marina...
 
Seajet said:
Mind you that's luxury compared to an outboard on the transom with no remote controls; I often think anyone with such a set-up should call Youtube before approaching a marina...
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We had one of those for a while - every time we called the marina for a lock in, you could see boats along the fairway sprouting extra fenders!
 
I once thought that having two wheels would be handy. if you came into a marina berth you could choose which wheel to use so you got a better view. not so. All the twin wheel boats i have seen have only one throttle. so not only does the twin wheel not offer an advantage when entering the marina berth it can put you at a disadvantage cos you need to be at the wheel where the throttle is, maybe on the wrong side of the boat. if its also at low level its even worse.
 
chewi said:
I put my boot on it (gently!) instead.
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That's ok if you just want to go faster - not great for delicate close quarters manoeuvring with a need to use reverse in a controlled manner to stop in the required place!
 
geem said:
I once thought that having two wheels would be handy. if you came into a marina berth you could choose which wheel to use so you got a better view. not so. All the twin wheel boats i have seen have only one throttle. so not only does the twin wheel not offer an advantage when entering the marina berth it can put you at a disadvantage cos you need to be at the wheel where the throttle is, maybe on the wrong side of the boat. if its also at low level its even worse.
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Fully agree with you - it was a real problem when we wanted to upsize - there are very few boats over 36 foot offered with a single wheel and very few twin wheel boats with the throttle up high!
 
P.S. - I guess that a lot of manufacturers of the larger boats on the market these days expect you to purchase with some form of 360 docking system controlled by a joystick so that the throttle position is not so important. That was certainly the case with Jeanneau, and we really liked the idea - till I understood the engineering involved - then it scared the hell out of me!
 
maby said:
But can you put your hand on it without needing to kneel down?
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Yes. I do have to bend my knees but when berthing I'm generally moving around quite a bit checking fore and aft so the odd knee-bend to reach the throttle is unimportant. As I said I don't even think about it, my body just moves so that I can operate the throttle. It's a non-issue really.
 
I got spoiled by our previous boat - a Jeanneau 33i - that was single wheel with the throttle high up on the binnacle - when reversing into our finger berth I could just step round the helm and face in the direction of travel, with the throttle sense logical as well. It became a bit of a sore point when we decided to upgrade and was an important consideration in our choice of Beneteau - I can do exactly the same.
 
The reason for asking and opening this thread is because I would like (!!) at some point to upgrade my boat to something bigger and this is an issue that concerns me. I am used to the single wheel and the ease of using the lever when necessary but probably as Tony Cross said, it's a non-issue and I guess you simply get used to it.
 
cmedsailor said:
It’s probably just me wondering because I am not used to this at all, but is it easy to make fast engine manoeuvres in a tight place when the throttle lever is so low like it is in many boats with two wheels?
I have a boat with single wheel and the lever is in the usual place right next to it. You can use it very easy without bending your knees or something. The usual set up you find in many single wheel boats. On the contrary when I see boats with two wheels the person at the helm usually needs to bend its knee to reach the level.
So, is it just something you get used to it and never really notice or is it annoying?
Click to expand...

This is one of the reasons that I am not really convinced that I like two wheel boats. I can see advantages - but there are disadvantages too, such as this, and also having engine controls only on one side of the boat. Also, presumably a lot of instruments need doubling up. For example, if you only have one autopilot control head, and it is at the other helm, how do you reach across to turn on the pilot? All in all it seems to add a lot of weight, cost and complexity. Usually it is just a requirement because the designers have built a boat far to beamy so that they can cram in yet more berths, so two wheels are needed to see anything while helming.
 
My throtle lever is well away from the instrument panel & has a hinged polycarbonate panel to protect it
I have tiller steering & the tiller is positioned at a level for sitting
the throtle is just under my knee. Fortunately to port which is the side i generally berth when at home.
I never feel the need to stand up until the final berthing by which time the engine is in neutral
But there again i do not have one of those silly tent things to obscure my view
 
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