Rossynant
Well-Known Member
Another thing to consider would be to use aft winches for sheets - changing them for suitable if too small now. From picture it seems they're within reach.
Wheel converted to tiller steering. How?
- Thread starter BurnitBlue
- Start date
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Rossynant
Well-Known Member
No doubt. But refrained, nevertheless, from proposing electric winches, remote controlled 
So: THE proper equipment for XXI Century sailor... One Button Tack Control for Simple Tacking!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW5ZmKMTFmM
So: THE proper equipment for XXI Century sailor... One Button Tack Control for Simple Tacking!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW5ZmKMTFmMBurnitBlue
Well-Known Member
No doubt. But refrained, nevertheless, from proposing electric winches, remote controlled
So: THE proper equipment for XXI Century sailor... One Button Tack Control for Simple Tacking!
Wow. It would be cheaper to buy another boat with a tiller. Thanks for the suggestions Rossynant. I don't want to invest any structural changes to the boat. I will try the work-arounds suggested above with Auto helm (maybe buy a better more modern one than I have). If they don't work the boat goes on the market.
westernman
Well-Known Member
No doubt. But refrained, nevertheless, from proposing electric winches, remote controlled
So: THE proper equipment for XXI Century sailor... One Button Tack Control for Simple Tacking!
I bet with the next software upgrade you will just key in the destination and then the boat will sail itself all the way there.
Just sit back and relax. Hey, the boat could even do delivery trips on its own!
Clyde_Wanderer
Well-Known Member
I would suggest fitting a smaller wheel with radial spokes as opposed to a tubular rim, you could then sit fore of the wheel and steer using the spokes.
You might even be able to cut off the rim and shorten the spokes on your own wheel to the length that suits you and have blanking ends made for each spoke.
C_W
You might even be able to cut off the rim and shorten the spokes on your own wheel to the length that suits you and have blanking ends made for each spoke.
C_W
sailorman
Well-Known Member
knuterikt
Well-Known Member
And to feed all this fancy stuff with electricity you must keep the engine running all the time to charge the batteries
Why not convert to a motor boat?
knuterikt
Well-Known Member
Could move the forward winches aft.
Assuming the aft winch is for main sheet - would need to find a new configuration for this.
Still need to climb back and fort - but you have more time to do it
RobF
Well-Known Member
In case you haven't seen it... quote from the Autohelm 3000 manual...
The Autohelm 3000 has an automatic tacking function which operates in both compass and windvane mode.
Controls are as per Michael Chapman's post above (seems to work on most Raymarine tillerpilot and autohelms).
See page 14 on http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/serviceguides/autohelm3000.pdf
The Autohelm 3000 has an automatic tacking function which operates in both compass and windvane mode.
Controls are as per Michael Chapman's post above (seems to work on most Raymarine tillerpilot and autohelms).
See page 14 on http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/serviceguides/autohelm3000.pdf
sailorman
Well-Known Member
My wheel wont fit in there, a slot would be needed in each bench down to the sole
Could move the forward winches aft.
Assuming the aft winch is for main sheet - would need to find a new configuration for this.
Still need to climb back and fort - but you have more time to do it
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
I tack from for'd of the wheel cos it's easier, ( traveller, genoa winches) and find the pedestal a superb thing to lean back on and brace oneself . I push the wheel's top in the direction in which I want the boat to go , kinda the opposite of the under spoke/tiller technique, all from a guy convinced that a wheel would be rubbish....on a boat where reverting to tiller would be v straightforward... Haven't even bothered disconnecting the wheel drive and slotting in the tiller for a wee play..
BurnitBlue
Well-Known Member
Just a few points to answer the late suggestions. It is not possible to use the aft winch position for sheeting because as you can see from the photo there is an angled turning block aft of the genoa track. This is to give a fair lead to the foreword sheet winch independant of the genoa car position. I actually tried bypassing that angled turning block last year but it was impossible to sheet in the genoa because the winch was not powerful enough to overcome the extra friction caused by the near vertical sheet lead from the car to the winch. The small winch shown on the aft port side is for the roller reefing line.
It would seem from all the replies that for single handing, a helm position forward of the wheel is the favoured solution. Some use the under spindle technique others the over spindle. I tried the over spindle many times last year but caused a gybe too often probably because of many years with a tiller put my brain in a rut.
I have come away from this thread with three excellent and practical suggestions I am anxious to try. (1) Sit forward of the wheel and hold the wheel below the spindle. (2) fit a smaller wheel so I can get out of the trap without climbing over the cockpit seats to get at the winches. (3) Use the autohelm for tacking while sitting forward of the wheel.
I am very grateful for the replies and advice. I am only puzzled that I failed to realise that a wheel was so restrictive to movement in the cockpit when single handed.
Last year I attempted to tack up the Preveza channel at least a dozen times and had to give up every time, get the sails down in virtually the open sea, and motor into the Gulf of Amvrakia to Preveza. This is definite NO NO because if the engine failed to start I would have to divert somewhere or beg a tow.
Most folk are single handed when SWMBO is down below attending to a child or sleeping.
I am beginning to wonder if a wheel is a designers get-out for an unbalanced boat because a sensible (and cheaper) tiller would pull a helmsmans arm out. I cannot see any other advantage to a wheel. As I said earlier in this thread, if I cannot sail this boat single handed SAFELY then I will sell her. I really do hope that the solutions offered will work because, frankly I don't want the hassle of selling her.
EDIT. Forgot to say that when I get down to the boat is a few week I will take a close look at moving the sheet winches to the aft position just to cover all the suggestions. Thank you.
It would seem from all the replies that for single handing, a helm position forward of the wheel is the favoured solution. Some use the under spindle technique others the over spindle. I tried the over spindle many times last year but caused a gybe too often probably because of many years with a tiller put my brain in a rut.
I have come away from this thread with three excellent and practical suggestions I am anxious to try. (1) Sit forward of the wheel and hold the wheel below the spindle. (2) fit a smaller wheel so I can get out of the trap without climbing over the cockpit seats to get at the winches. (3) Use the autohelm for tacking while sitting forward of the wheel.
I am very grateful for the replies and advice. I am only puzzled that I failed to realise that a wheel was so restrictive to movement in the cockpit when single handed.
Last year I attempted to tack up the Preveza channel at least a dozen times and had to give up every time, get the sails down in virtually the open sea, and motor into the Gulf of Amvrakia to Preveza. This is definite NO NO because if the engine failed to start I would have to divert somewhere or beg a tow.
Most folk are single handed when SWMBO is down below attending to a child or sleeping.
I am beginning to wonder if a wheel is a designers get-out for an unbalanced boat because a sensible (and cheaper) tiller would pull a helmsmans arm out. I cannot see any other advantage to a wheel. As I said earlier in this thread, if I cannot sail this boat single handed SAFELY then I will sell her. I really do hope that the solutions offered will work because, frankly I don't want the hassle of selling her.
EDIT. Forgot to say that when I get down to the boat is a few week I will take a close look at moving the sheet winches to the aft position just to cover all the suggestions. Thank you.
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knuterikt
Well-Known Member
You could change the angle of the turning block to fit the other winch position.
There are other cockpit layouts that work better with a wheel than yours...
That's why i like my setup
Self tacking head sail
Both main and head sail sheet accessible from behind the wheel
Passage to go forward from the wheel w/o climbing - the cockpit benches stop forward of the wheel.
With increasing boat size you will need to increase length of tiller (it's not all about balance but also the size of forces in play).
There are large boats with tiller steering, but the tiller take up lots of room in the cockpit.
See above
KenMcCulloch
Well-Known Member
Quite a lot of 'traditional' boats have wheels that you can't stand behind. I can't see any fundamental reason why a modern pedestal system could not be set up in such a way if that made sense.
mjcoon
Well-Known Member
And so many people drive with hands often crossed so they can pull the wheel with either hand. (Instead of pulling with one hand and pushing with the other, each on its own side of the wheel.) I'm sure that is not how they were taught...
Mike.