Tiller to wheel conversion

[bay]

Ok steady, I know lots of people ask this question and the whole "tiller is best, why would you want wheel?" thing starts up. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I have a Thompson T24 but when I take the family out there isn't a lot of room in the cockpit and when the tiller goes over there is a strong possibility that half the family will go out too!
What I want to know is is it possible to use an ultraflex or similar steering system to convert it to wheel steering. I could mount the hub on the bulkhead feed the cable down & back to the tiller remove the tiller arm make a custom attachment and put a low box over it all. Conversion back would be simple, remove box remove attachment bolt arm back on - done!
Has anybody done something like this?
Thanks for any help.

~Yachtman~

 

[Bodach na mara]

I have done something similar in that I knackered the wire-driven wheel steering and replaced it with a hydraulic system. The wire drive was sort of giant Bowden cables and was very stiff anyway.

The replacement is a Vetus system, just about the smallest you can get, and is finger light with 2.5 turns lock to lock. It was very easy to install and gives total flexibility in where you put the wheel. I don't know why I put it in the same place as before as it means the helmsman is out in the rain. Knowing what I know now, I would have put it under the hood, on the cabin bulkhead, with a smaller wheel.

 

[johna]

I changed the tiller to a hydraulic system on my Sabre 27. I believe it improved safety in the cockpit and made a lot od space. See web site www.sabre27.org.uk Technical page photographs 2 and La Crevette on the Picture gallery.

The main problem was in mounting the ram underneath the gas locker. I made the binicle out of Sunseeker scrap. Real PBO approach.

While I agree that with the wheel under the hood would be nice at times, the grab rail on the binicle is very useful from the safety point of view. The Sabre has a particularly wide cockpit.

 

[ashanta]

I would be interested in finding how you get on with project. I have a T31 and know some of them have been converted but not seen one myself. It's something I would like to consider if the pro's outweigh the cons.

Regards.

Peter.

 

[bay]

Thanks for all the replies so far.
My T24 has a dropdown transom, so a binacle would be almost impossible.
However the tiller is light & easy to control, so I think a standard wire system would work. The tube would be anchored to the cockpit locker side and the drive would connect to a pivoted lever on the rudder. The wheel is to be mounted on the port side of the bulkhead to allow easy access to the cabin.
As long as I can get enough movement to the rudder and it is strong enough it should work. People use the same system to control huge outboards, my rudder isn't that heavy.
I shall have a look at the Newton abbot boat jumble next Saturday & see what I come up with.

~yachtman~

 

[bay]

OK I went to the boat jumble and bought a dual Vetus wire sytem complete with wheel.
As there is room in front and behind the rudder (in the engine bay) my plan is now to clamp a bar on the same plane as the rudder and attach one side to the front and one to the rear.
My cockpit has a teak latice floor so I will place a very small cover over the rudder stub and try it out.
More later.....