Wheel Steering

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johnnycomelately

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Hi All
I am thinking of converting my 1973 Westerly Longbow to wheel steering.
Has anyone tackled this conversion before? I realise the first thing I will need is a binnacle, tried ebay etc can't find any for sale, new or secondhand, any suggestions?
I would be glad of any advice offered
Cheers
Ian
 
Think hard before you convert. I cant imagine why anyone would want to convert to wheel steering on a 33ft boat. The very binacle you refer to will take up most of the cockpit, you will forever feel stuck behind it.... getting wet and I bet you can't pull the main in easily. Wheels are for motorists!
 
The reason you won’t find any for sale second hand is that they are rarer then hens teeth, and disregarding the disparaging remarks by “theotter” I cant think why anyone would change from wheel to tiller, which pretty well sums up why there are none available second-hand, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Whitlock are the most popular conversion now owned by Lewmar. Edson are another possibility, however within the wheel steering systems there are a number of choices for connection to the rudder, I suggest you have a word with Cliff Mogridge at Emsworth (I realise it’s a distance from you) he trades as winchservicing.com but specialises in conversions 01243 430050

Lewmar/whitlock can be contacted (brochure) on 01582 404400. Having said that they are pitifully slow in responding and will probably be even slower while the Southampton boat show is on where I think they are showing one of their pedestal/ wheel units.

Reckon you will need to put aside the best part of £2K.

Have fun………. Peter
 
Wheel works perfectly well on a 336, and the binnacle takes up less room than a tiller....Also gives somewhere to mount a table(which SWMBO will want next....)
 
I've sailed a Berwick with wheel as well my usual one with a tiller. I cant say there was anything in favour of the wheel. You can't really sit down behind it but ones heels are pressed up firmly against the back of the cockpit when standing. It was difficult to get behind the wheel as one had to step up onto the cockpit seats to get round. In a bit of a sea the effects of pitching are more pronounced the further you are from the amidships and in bad weather you cannot duck down behind the pram hood or the dodgers if you see a big dollup of water coming your way.

Stick her behind the wheel and tuck youself under the pram hood in some bad weather and you'll either be in the divorce court anyway or out buying an autopilot at the next port of call. Once you've got the autopilot it won't matter whether you have a wheel or a tiller they never complain.

Nice to stand behind the wheel though when motoring up the harbour in fine weather pretending to be Lord or Lady over everything you can see.

I'm not sure what you will have to do with the mainsheet arrangements as the one I sailed was a ketch (and I guess thats why it had a wheel) but you will have to alter it other wise helmsman and mainsheet will be competing for the same space. Maybe in the sloop the wheel can be further forward than it it was in the ketch but then it ends up bang in the middle of the cockpit, although the position will be limited by the access hatch in the cockpit sole.

I've never looked at a Pentland or a Renown. Presumably they both have wheel steering but then I think the cockpit extends further forward at the expense of the main cabin so a different deck moulding to start with!

Simpler to keep the tiller and change the SWMBO I reckon.
 
More thoughts;

You will have to temporarily remove the fuel tank I think. First you have to drain it but you can only get a smallish receptacle under the outlet valve so ideally unless it is nearly empty you need a pump. Otherwise let SWMBO do it teacup full at a time. Then you have to work out how to pull it forward, turn it though 90 degrees, turn it onto its back and finally on end in order to get it through the hatch.
The exhast hose is in the way a bit making it just that bit more difficult.

You may have to drop the rudder to fit the quadrant and shorten the stock. In fact I cant remember what the access to the rudder stock is like below the cockpit sole. I've only seen behind the fuel tank once.

You will have to relocate the engine controls to the binnacle and the engine insrument panel and starter key switch. If you have any other fancy instruments you will probably want to move those as well. You will need a new compass that can be mounted on the binacle.

You have an interesting time ahead. Do not forget to report back when the job is done.
 
Don't change to wheel!!! On the Renown we have no option. On the Longbow, you have. It is a real pain in wet weather to have to steer out in the rain. With a tiller, you can rig up an extension to get under the hood. Also, autopilots seem much cheaper for tillers.

If you do think of changing, consider hydraulic. The pillar can be simple and you could even (at a pinch) work out some way of putting the wheel on the bulkhead. I wish I had when I threw out the original wire cable system (which had jammed) and replaced it with a Vetus hydraulic one..
 
Hi there - I put the same post on the site a few weeks ago..

I have a 29' tiller steered yacht but going to change to a wheel for the wife and kids.. It is much better to change with a few negatives and have happy family on board!!

The negatives are the exposed steering and the extra autohelm costs compared to a tiller pilot. I have had quotes from Edson and Lewmar (Via cliff at winchservicing.com). For my boat is is going to be c £1500 fitted for a basic pedestal and wheel without any special instrument pods etc.. Quite pricey so you need to be sure its for the best..

Good luck with your decision
 
That same 1500 beer tokens would of course buy a decent cockpit dodger,a secondhand windvane to do the steering and,if you are lucky a couple of cushions so swimbo could read in the dry and in peace while 'George' helms..And would add value to the boat when and if you choose to sell....
This wheel thing is a bit of a circular argument,no?
 
Get one of those kiddy wheels with sucker cups to stick it to the bulkhead. That way SWMBO can steer to her heart's content while you get to the business of helming the boat!!

I would think again before converting but as said in another post, this is a bit of a circular argument.
 
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