wheel/tiller steering

[Peter]

My yacht, 12 steel and 14 tonnes, originally came with tiller steering, the previous owner converted her to wheel steering. I am thinking about converting her back to tiller steering, more familiar with tiller steering and less exposed. (also fitted, a wind pilot). Appreciate any comments on what advantages/disadvantages they are between the two steering systems, am I doing the right thing etc.

Thanks

Peter


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[bigmart]

One of the main advantages of wheel steering over a tiller is that you save an awful lot of space. It can be hard to imagine the amount of the cockpit you lose with the sweep of the tiller. Also , wheel steering does give you a convenient place to mount a lot of the modern instrumentation that is available nowadays. The modern Chartplotters/Radar units are fabulous to use when they are directly in front of you as you steer. So much more convenient. On the other hand there is considerably more feel to a tiller.

I am lucky enough to sail with both setups. At the end of the day you pays your money & you takes your choice.

Martin

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[tome]

I think tiller steering is much more natural, and I disagree about the space: if it's hinged it can be easily tied to a backstay or whatever.

I currently have wheel steering on a 37ft boat and the wheel is far more intrusive in the cockpit. Our previous 28ft boat was tiller steered and the cockpit, although smaller, allowed you to lie full length which I cannot do on the current boat.

I've sailed with tillers on boats up to 40ft and personally prefer them, though SWMBO would disagree!

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[bigmart]

Just to clear up a point. my comments regarding space were meant to be considered when sailing. It is my experience that you can easily find space for 2 extra people when comparing wheel with tiller steered boats. Mind you I often use a tiller pilot on the tiller setup & this can affectively remove one seat/space.

Martin

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[tome]

Agree that tiller takes more space underway.

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[qsiv]

Against that, wheels usually make it more difficult to move fore/aft. Current boat has a pair of wheels - nice access down centreline. New boat will be tiller steered - much more direct, no loss of feel, and freedom to move.

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[snowleopard]

here are a few pros and cons of wheels-

pro

beginners find them more natural
you can usually let go of a wheel and the boat will stay on course
gearing makes them less tiring to use in heavy weather

con

more mechanical linkage = more risk of failure
wheels generally awkward to get past in the middle of the cockpit
tillers are more natural to ex-dinghy types
tiller pilots are cheap & easy to rig (in smaller sizes)
pendulum servo vanes work better with tillers

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[Ohdrat]

mmm tiller helmsperson myself.. Space taken underway depends.. I have tiller steering and most of the space it takes up is the after deck.. In practise on my boat tiller makes much more sense space wise than a wheel...

My point is that some boats and their cockpits suite tillers and some suite wheels..

Then there is personal preference..

Generally a heavy boat generally works better with wheel steering.. historically boats up to about 35 ft would be built with wheel steering as they were heavy to manouveur under tiller.. smaller lighter boats were built with tiller steering.

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[jeanne]

I have a 10 ton displacement boat, 10 metres LOD, 12 metres LOA [Bowsprit], with a long keel [thank God]. We have a tiller, and a transom hung rudder, and for simplicity and reliability, would not want anything else. Mainly for the feel, you know when the helm is heavy, or when you are sailing with a lot of helm on. You can fit a simple, cheap autopilot for motoring, and, of course, you will have a wind vane self-steering system for long distance sailing. Against, the tiller is about six feet long, and yes, it takes up half the cockpit. If your sailing is firstly a social event, with a crowded cockpit, and some priority given to letting non-sailors 'drive' the boat, [Notice, I haven't inferred that perhaps the non sailor is the owner!] then you need a wheel.

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[david_e]

Tiller is the better for 'sailing' the boat. Big advantage of a wheel is auotpilot is easier to have and use. Tillerpilots much fussier.

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[Ric]

I have a 32ft boat with wheel steering, and now much prefer the wheel over my last boat which was same size but tiller. I single-hand almost exclusively and the principal advantages for me are:
1) Instruments by helm
2) Autopilot much easier to flick on and off
3) Better all round viz when manouvring in close quarters as I now steer stood up and facing forwards instead of sitting sideways or crouched.
4) More positions to steer the boat - standing, sitting behind or either side of the wheel, standing in front of the wheel sometimes. With tiller I was limited to one sitting position.
5) Lastly and most importantly, I find the cockpit a much more secure environment with the large wheel and binnacle to grab hold of and steady myself when moving about in the cockpit, especially when rough or heeled over. I feel very exposed now going back to a tiller boat as there is nothing to hold onto.

I think you should keep your wheel.

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[polarity]

Tillers are good enough for 95% of the Open 50's and 60's!

Ultimate in reliability really.

Dont know if I will go so far as to rip out the wheel I have though.

Paul

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OSTAR 2005