Wheel Steering Installations

[Richard_Peevor]

Just wondering if I can tap into the wealth of info again.

I love my boat, a 28' sailing yacht!

She is tiller steered though the cockpit has the side cut outs to walk around a wheel, it also has easy access to the rudder.

My wife struggles in gusts / breezy conditions with the tiller even if the boat is well balanced (no lectures on better sail set please!!) she really doesnt enjoy helming and she loses her confidence.. She is more than happy manoevering a 48' charter boat though!!

I would like to keep my boat and have her sail it. Does anyone know of suppliers / installers of wheel steering systems in the Solent area. I would particularly be looking at the smaller wheels or those that have the folding sides..

I am very worried the cost is going to be prohibitive... any ideas on rough quotations??

Many Thanks

Richard

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Edson do systems...

look at http://www.edsonmarine.com/faq/wheel_conversions.html

circa £1500 ish....

 

[Richard_Peevor]

Thanks magnaCarter - thats bizarre! - just sent you a PM about it after I foound your post on the site after searching.. Thanks. I will check it out and see if anyone else has any other suggestions.

 

[michael_w]

How about a longer tiller? Increase the leverage. Alternatively, is it posible to alter the rudder to a balanced spade?

Both these ideas are a lot cheaper than a wheel instalation.

 

[Richard_Peevor]

Those options are interesting. Unfortunately the rudder is skeg hung so the balanced spade option wouldnt be possible.

Part of my wife's problem is the deep cockpit and finding a comfortable helming position. I can either sit on the coamings and steer with an extension (she hasnt got the strength for this) or sit in the cockpit and look out but my wife feels her vision is too restricted by this....

Back to the wheel options..

 

[DinghyMan]

I remember seeing some photos from LakeSailor a while ago, /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif, and in one of them he showed some seat height extensions - sort of slats going along the seat with a couple of blocks at the bottom so that the seat was raised up for better view. Maybe something like this would work for your other half to allow her to sit down but be higher sort of thing.

If she can't steer using the existing extension is there room to extend the tiller forwards and then put an extension from there - would make the tiller lighter due to more leverage but would need more room to steer.

 

[Guest]

I do not know how Edson is in the UK but we tried to buy their system for a 35' yacht in the US and they refused to sell one to us as they believed that it could not be made to work. Strange situation.

Whitlock were a lot better and sold me everything as individual bits so I could adapt it for the tight space. Ended up with custom 6" arms instead of the standard 8" and oversized rod ends. But it works a treat. Had to strengthen the cockpit floor considerably to take the forces from crew hanging on it in bad weather. Old one became a bit independent!

Also had to strengthen the rudder post for forward-aft forces as well. It is certainly not a quick job.

 

[Dyak]

Try winchservicing.com. Cliff someone runs the business who is an ex Lewmar/Whitlock engineer and they do conversions but as you say could be pricey. based Chichester/Emsworth area I think.

 

[homa]

This is not intended to put you off, but have you considered the all pro's & cons of wheel steering.

I've just moved to my 5th boat, and it's my first with wheel steering (retro fitted by the previous owner).

I would say that firstly like you my wife loves wheel steering and actually enjoys helming now - just like driving the car - she says.

Down side - when I'm sailing singlehanded (a lot) is that I have to let go of the helm when tacking & using the winch to crank in the headsail - with tiller I could steer with the tiller between my legs and operate the winches at the same time. I use the autopilot much more now (when singlehanded).

You will need a new autopilot for wheel steering - not as cheap as the tiller type. Advantage nowadays is that most wheelpilots are permanently rigged so no ferreting in a locker to dig out tillerpilot and connect.

In inclement weather you are further aft in the cockpit and cannot get the full benefit of the protection from spray hood.

Otherwise I can only see advantages - more room in cockpit - particularly when entertaining underway - no tiller to sweep accross knees of passengers. Most people prefer the wheel and you can put anyone on who's never helmed before.

I wouldn't skimp on the gear either as there's more to go wrong. If you do convert make sure you keep the old tiller as back-up.

Good luck and I hope your wife gets her confidence back.