Tiller to wheel conversion

Pete7 said:
Mike, yes and ours is normally stored vertically when hand steering with the wheel. If want to use the auto pilot then it is folded down. Steering across the channel by hand using the tiller would be an arduous task for 12 hours and having done it by hand steering using the wheel, much easier. We already had the tiller auto pilot or would have gone for a more normal under deck installation. In response to Sailorman, our 10 yr old daughter found it much easier even if she was stood on a step to see over the spray hood. Thankfully for the OP some of us are willing to make worthwhile changes and if a wheel in a small yacht makes an improvement, then go for it, even if it is frowned upon by the purists.

Pete
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While I'd probably use a vane or AP for longer passages, a tiller (with extension) is not any more work than a wheel - with the exception that if you don't trim the boat properly, then a Wheel might be less Work.
 
MissIsle said:
We have a 28' Benetau with tiller steering.
I know these were offered with a wheel steering option new, many of which ended up as charter boatrs in the US.
Space isn't a real issue either in the cockpit, or in the rear cabin, so has anyone attempted a conversion of this kind, & is there any advice?
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I have not done such a conversion on my boats, but think I still can give you some useful info.

If you are going to buy the parts new it will have a price tag

This is one of the companies making steering systems http://www.jefa.com/ (seems they are at the Southampton Boat show in September)
They are making all the necessary components and have some useful information, have a look here http://www.jefa.com/steering/steering.htm and here http://www.jefa.com/steering/steering.htm

Only connection with the company is as a happy customer.
 
I would strongly recommend to the OP to ' try before you buy'.
Whether you do tho is another natter. Let us know how it goes?
 
Tranona said:
There are two issues. First, Why do it? There are no benefits in a small boat like that in having a wheel rather than a tiller and a lot of negatives. Wheels start to become useful when you get over about 32' and when the effort required to turn big spade rudders becomes too much for a tiller. Wheels are complicated and make fitting an autopilot an expensive exercise. Expect the only reason why some of your model boats were fitted with it is because the charter company wanted it, and doubt any were sold to private customers. The second is the practicalities. Unless you are able to source a complete rig from the same model of boat you will have to engineer your own solution using standard parts and material costs will be substantial - plus labour.

sailorman's comments were a bit tongue in cheek, but if you really want a wheel, buy a boat fitted with one, but of course it will almost certainly be much bigger than your present boat.
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Agree with most of what you state above, except the 32' number and spade rudders - a properly designed balanced spade rudder is "lighter" than a barn door hung on a skeg or keel. Wheel(s) is/are required for boats with wide ar5es, or around the 45-50 feet mark (and sometimes more). However it's a nice addition for above the 32' (although I'd say 35') because they can have cockpits that can be designed around them.
So depending on what you mean by 'useful' we might agree :)
 
knuterikt said:
I have not done such a conversion on my boats, but think I still can give you some useful info.

If you are going to buy the parts new it will have a price tag

This is one of the companies making steering systems http://www.jefa.com/ (seems they are at the Southampton Boat show in September)
They are making all the necessary components and have some useful information, have a look here http://www.jefa.com/steering/steering.htm and here http://www.jefa.com/steering/steering.htm

Only connection with the company is as a happy customer.
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Jefa is great stuff. But think of the new sails you could buy instead :)
 
lpdsn said:
Maybe give the tiller another season to see if you get used to it. They have definite advantages once you're comfortable with them and the load isn't too heavy, which it shouldn't be on your boat.
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+1

I'm not sure why some people have a strong aversion to a tilller..? If your sails are set up and balanced reasonably well - you will have a lot more feedback from your boat - and your steering. My boat is 35ft and is perfectly OK with a tiller. I still sail dinghies, so it requires few additional braincells to sail our big boat. I've helmed a 44ft 27ton boat with a tiller, and it felt OK as well..:-)
Finding the correct parts to do a good conversion will probably be tricky anyway?
 
pagoda said:
+1

I'm not sure why some people have a strong aversion to a tilller..?
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One thing I do remember from tiller steering years ago was the effect in a quartering swell. As the boat rocked it was necessary to move the tiller to counter the tendency to yaw (just as with a wheel). But the movement was exactly that obtained by having the tiller vertically above the same spot on the cockpit floor. So standing up near that spot you could appear to be holding the tiller stationary with no effort.

Mike.
 
pagoda said:
+1

I'm not sure why some people have a strong aversion to a tilller..? If your sails are set up and balanced reasonably well - you will have a lot more feedback from your boat - and your steering. My boat is 35ft and is perfectly OK with a tiller. I still sail dinghies, so it requires few additional braincells to sail our big boat. I've helmed a 44ft 27ton boat with a tiller, and it felt OK as well..:-)
Finding the correct parts to do a good conversion will probably be tricky anyway?
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here is a 70 footer on the Orwell tiller steered she is called "Madam"
 
Several of the old OYC ketches used to be tiller steered. I think from memory the local boat 'Master Builder' was. I remember doing a trip to Vlissingen in her in the 70's. They were 72' overall.
 
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I sailed an Open 60 which was tiller steered. I asked the skipper, Steve White, why some were tiller, and some wheel. It actually boiled down to the fact that the French guys come up through the ranks of Mini 6.50s and Figaros, and are used to tillers, so the French boats are built with tillers. Brits prefer wheels...simple as that!

I'd like a wheel steered yacht, but on a smaller boat tillers are just so much easier. You can easily see where the rudder is pointing, especially when going backwards in marinas, and it folds out the way for better use in the cockpit. But the big one for me is heavy weather...I can extend the telescopic bit of my tiller extension and practically helm from under the sprayhood, instead of being stood up at the back, getting soaked...
 
I give you The Madam tiller n all
IMG_1098_zps3d33c0ff.jpg
 
mjcoon said:
Don't tillers usually fold up out of the way when not in use? (Long time since I used one.) I'm assuming entertaining=stationary, as implied by mentioning marinas. (Other ways of being stationary are available. ;)

Mike.
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Exactly my thoughts...

To the OP: the 'wheel is easier' is a myth. When teaching new sailors I never even tell them which way to push or pull the tiller. On most boats small enough to have a tiller the feedback is so quick that people soon learn. The only exception I find is when people are coached with phrases like 'if you want to go left a bit push it away from you' etc.

I put the boat in a beam reach and say 'have a go at steering'. When they look worried or blank, I reassure them and say, 'watch and see what happens, experiment and find out' etc. Stay close by to reassure and make sure they don't gybe you all standing but 99% of people 'get it' very quickly.
 
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