Tiller or Wheel Steering ?

[Twister_Ken]

The location of the gear and throttle is a bit compromised with a tiller,

Old boat had a tiller. Gear/throttle was low down, front face of cockpit locker, port side, could be operated by foot. No problem.

New boat has a wheel. Gear/throttle lever is mid way up, front face of cockpit side, starboard side, can't be operated by foot because too high, need to lean down and manipulate by hand. Less good than the old arrangement with a tiller.

 

[Salty John]

My wheel steered boats had the gear/throttle on the binnacle - perfect. Tiller steered boats had it as you describe, but I never learnt to operate with my feet!

 

[Newman]

Blimey ! What a helpful lot

Well I certainly never expected such an immediate response and from so many people. Many sincere thanks to all and I will take time to digest every comment (especially some of the p.s. lines !!!).

I'm sure that whatever boat I get I will enjoy. I can see my immediate evenings being spent looking at the many questions and much advice being offered between you all.

One small point I perhaps never made clear was that when I said (in my ignorance on such matters) an aft cabin, I meant a cabin as opposed to a quarter berth and being accessed directly from the saloon area. I did look at one boat with a completely seperate aft cabin, accessed from the cockpit, and it just did not appeal to me.

Thank you all once again. Who knows, we may have a couple of near misses when I get my boat and start sailing in the Solent area !

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I never have to think too much about where I'm going with a tiller -it just happens. Graeme

If it's a long keeler going astern you probably won't have a clue where it's about to go either!
My recently aquired 33' long keeler with a tiller has a bow thruster to partly offset such challenges

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Old boat had a tiller. Gear/throttle was low down, front face of cockpit locker, port side, could be operated by foot. No problem.

New boat has a wheel. Gear/throttle lever is mid way up, front face of cockpit side, starboard side, can't be operated by foot because too high, need to lean down and manipulate by hand. Less good than the old arrangement with a tiller.

sounds to me as if you need to change back

 

[Twister_Ken]

sounds to me as if you need to change back

Don't spend much time motoring in a boat that will sail handsomely in 5kts of breeze!

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

tiller steering demonstrated by 'the management'

http://sailingscotty.wordpress.com/photo-gallery-2/

 

[Bosun Higgs]

You can't beat being out on the coamings, tiller extension in hand in a F5 though (ex Laser sailor)

You can - being out on the comings in an F5 with the rim of a carbon wheel in your hand. Much cooler!

 

[LadyInBed]

Many of the new boats I see look awful exposed round the wheel. No transom, wheel far aft . . . . How does that work out in a blow?

And there is not much worse than at night, having a wave creep up behind you and giving you a good dousing

Oh how I like my centre cockpit, tied to the mizzen in a blow

 

[Meteor]

Tiller

For a boat of about 32' I would definitely chose tiller steering.
+ simpler mechanics
+ direct steering with a good feel of the sails
+ much more space in the cockpit
+ simple tiller pilot
- engine contol is low in the cockpit, you must bow or use your foot when mooring

P.S.: If you want a really good autopilot, now there are those with a gyro compass und course computer also available for tillers e.g. Raymarine S1

 

[Ric]

I find wheel steering is slightly easier when single-handing, as it is easier to get the autopilot on and off (just press a button) if I need to adjust a sheet or whatever, whereas tiller involves faffing about with the ram thingy, and ensuring it doesn't fall overboard.

I also find more positions to sit/stand when helming with wheel, whereas with tiller I am more obliged to sit down in one position. In a heavy seaway, the wheel gives something to brace yourself against, and makes the cockpit more secure. Some tiller boats with broad, open cockpits are scary in a big sea, perched up on the windward bench.

Wheel steering can give just as much feedback as tiller, if it is a well made set up. Admittedly, most wheel boats are not.

The pedestal for wheel steering can be a safe place to mount expensive instruments, radar screen etc. With a tiller boat, they have to be mounted against the coachroof bulkhead which can leave them exposed to damage should a crew member accidentally lean against them.

Having said that, I don't have a strong preference either way, current boat has wheel, previous had tiller. Like everything in boats, it is a compromise - just make your choice according to your personal priorities.

 

[Victoria Sponge]

If you've tried a wheel, then try a tiller and see what you think. I've used both and personally prefer a wheel.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I find wheel steering is slightly easier when single-handing, as it is easier to get the autopilot on and off (just press a button) if I need to adjust a sheet or whatever, whereas tiller involves faffing about with the ram thingy, and ensuring it doesn't fall overboard.

I also find more positions to sit/stand when helming with wheel, whereas with tiller I am more obliged to sit down in one position. In a heavy seaway, the wheel gives something to brace yourself against, and makes the cockpit more secure. Some tiller boats with broad, open cockpits are scary in a big sea, perched up on the windward bench.

Wheel steering can give just as much feedback as tiller, if it is a well made set up. Admittedly, most wheel boats are not.

The pedestal for wheel steering can be a safe place to mount expensive instruments, radar screen etc. With a tiller boat, they have to be mounted against the coachroof bulkhead which can leave them exposed to damage should a crew member accidentally lean against them.

Having said that, I don't have a strong preference either way, current boat has wheel, previous had tiller. Like everything in boats, it is a compromise - just make your choice according to your personal priorities.

Yes it's all a compromise at times but it seems to me that a windvane is really the answer for solo sailers who are on long trips, if you can justify the expense and don't mind the ironmongery sticking out the back.
I'm regularly hearing from single handers and long distance cruisers, how the windvane is worth at least several crew and is more reliable than most other electical steering systems.

A Monitor system is seen on the rear end of my boat in one of the photos on this link...
http://sailingscotty.wordpress.com/photo-gallery-2/

 

[prv]

Yes it's all a compromise at times but it seems to me that a windvane is really the answer for solo sailers who are on long trips, if you can justify the expense and don't mind the ironmongery sticking out the back.

I'd have thought that anyone on long trips, solo or not, needs a windvane - no ifs, buts, or maybes.

The only exceptions would be very large boats that have sufficient crew (at least a dozen) that hand-steering isn't a chore, or that have ship-grade automatic steering and the resources to power and maintain it.

Pete

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I'd have thought that anyone on long trips, solo or not, needs a windvane - no ifs, buts, or maybes.

The only exceptions would be very large boats that have sufficient crew (at least a dozen) that hand-steering isn't a chore, or that have ship-grade automatic steering and the resources to power and maintain it.

Pete

agreed
Ive spent days in a Nic 38 with 3 others, where the engine had to be started to charge the batteries to feed the auto pilot going down to Spain. Spoils the fun and the point of being a yacht rather than a mobo. Even to rely on solar panels is not usually giving enough power to keep all systems going on a larger boat with a lot of gear thats power hungry.
Of course if you have a windvane and a wind generator as seen here http://sailingscotty.wordpress.com/photo-gallery-2/ then you have a chance of keeping everything going.