Where can I find one of these....

[Flapjack]

I’m thinking of putting my boat back to wheel steering after the former owner removed the wheel and replaced it with a tiller, does anyone know where I could source one from and roughly how much they cost as it may beyond my budget but I can’t find any info so have no idea how much they are. The picture below is how she used to look before the conversion.

Any input gratefully received

 

[CreakyDecks]

Have you asked the former owner if it is collecting cobwebs in his shed?

 

[Flapjack]

Have you asked the former owner if it is collecting cobwebs in his shed?

Unfortunately he sold it when he took it off, I did ask when we got her

 

[Talulah]

The second hand barge at Burlesdon might be the place to go.
The trouble with them is I can never work out when they are open.

 

[Tranona]

The two most common makes of wheel steering are Whitlock/Lewmar and Edson from the US. The one in your photo looks like a Whitlock and is still available from Lewmar. Would guess in the region of £2-3k (depending on what you need to do with the stock) for new bits. Lewmar have a very good technical department and will advise what you need - there are two types, cable and rod. Edson have a comprehensive website with lots of detailed technical information to help you choose an appropriate system, but you will probably need to order it.

 

[Flapjack]

The two most common makes of wheel steering are Whitlock/Lewmar and Edson from the US. The one in your photo looks like a Whitlock and is still available from Lewmar. Would guess in the region of £2-3k (depending on what you need to do with the stock) for new bits. Lewmar have a very good technical department and will advise what you need - there are two types, cable and rod. Edson have a comprehensive website with lots of detailed technical information to help you choose an appropriate system, but you will probably need to order it.

thanks Tranona, what I have now is a square rod that comes through the cockpit floor which the tiller fits over, so I am guessing that this was a rod version, but I don’t know if this has been modified by the previous owner

 

[Tranona]

thanks Tranona, what I have now is a square rod that comes through the cockpit floor which the tiller fits over, so I am guessing that this was a rod version, but I don’t know if this has been modified by the previous owner

No, don't think so. The square is the top of the rudder stock - you would have something like that anyway for your emergency tiller. On many boats that is accessed through a removable cover of some sort. You could probably still leave that in place after you convert to wheel. You need to look under the deck to see if the quadrant is still there for cable steering or an arm off the stock for rod. Have a look at the schematics on the Edson and Lewmar sites to get an idea how they work.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I made mine from a piece of stainless steel tube with a plate bolted on top to mount my steering compass. the bearings were flanges pillow blocks with a 1 " shaft with a chain drive sprocket (similar to bicycle wheel sprocket but bigger) and some chain.

Ask you local bearing supplier like Fenner.

 

[Bobobolinsky]

Hydraulic might be a lot cheaper, see Vetus catalogue

 

[DaveS]

Could I ask a genuine question?

In second hand boat reviews in sailing comics the remark is occasionally made that when the same boat is available with wheel or tiller steering the former is more desirable and sells more readily. I've never understood this as, unless the boat is very big, IMHO a tiller has significant advantages over a wheel. It's cheaper, simpler, less to go wrong, more intuitive to use (though that might be experience biased) and it always displays the rudder position instantly and unambiguously.

This view is clearly not universal. Since you're contemplating spending serious money to replace a tiller with a wheel you obviously feel that you will gain worthwhile advantage(s) by doing so. Could you explain what these are?

 

[Seajet]

DaveS,

I agree completely, for all the reasons you give.

When on a course with the great but now defunct Solent School of Yachting - which had a lot more experienced instructors than the average sailing school - they had 2 Yamaha 33's, one with tiller, one with wheel.

They were planning to convert the wheel one to a tiller, again for all the reasons mentioned.

I suspect wheel steering, until one really requires the mechanical advantage on distinctly large boats, is very much an exercise in posing; especially now one can get those nice instrument pods to go on the binnacle !

 

[Quandary]

Wheel steering

If you want a fright, go to the Jefa website, lots of options, nice detailed drawings and the impressive prices alongside.(In Euros ex. Denmark). Their stuff is used on a considerable number of European boats these days. It is an fascinating site to browse if you are interested in the engineering of steering systems autopilots etc. and their after sales service is superb.
Jefa and Lewmar share a lot of their product range, I suspect Jefa is the designer/manufacturer.

 

[Flapjack]

Could I ask a genuine question?

In second hand boat reviews in sailing comics the remark is occasionally made that when the same boat is available with wheel or tiller steering the former is more desirable and sells more readily. I've never understood this as, unless the boat is very big, IMHO a tiller has significant advantages over a wheel. It's cheaper, simpler, less to go wrong, more intuitive to use (though that might be experience biased) and it always displays the rudder position instantly and unambiguously.

This view is clearly not universal. Since you're contemplating spending serious money to replace a tiller with a wheel you obviously feel that you will gain worthwhile advantage(s) by doing so. Could you explain what these are?

Hi Dave
Strange as it seems seeing as it’s my post I completely agree with you, I actually prefer a tiller and have no issues with it however after 8 years of boat ownership (both tiller steered) the wife still can’t get to grips with a tiller and still turns the boat the wrong way when trying to do close quarters manoeuvring. She always turns the boat the wrong way first and then has to correct it. So the feeling is that if it’s a wheel like a car then she wouldn’t have a problem. As far as any advantages apart from making it easier for the wife I don’t think there will be any Flapjack’s only 34’ long so you don’t need any mechanical assistance to steer her.

As for the intuitive bit I think that differs from person to person I have come across people before who just could not get to grips with using a tiller and I must admit that as it feels completely natural to me I struggle to understand how anyone can’t get it, it’s so simple.

Going forward as I now have an idea of how much it’s going to cost I think we will be sticking with the tiller because there are far more useful things I can spend that sort of money on rather than replacing something that works perfectly already.

 

[Quandary]

DaveS,
I suspect wheel steering, until one really requires the mechanical advantage on distinctly large boats, is very much an exercise in posing; especially now one can get those nice instrument pods to go on the binnacle !

Oooooh!!!!!!! A lot of us posers on here then?

The shape of boats and cockpits have changed over time, as has the efficiency of the steering systems. I downsized a few years ago and tried to find a 33/34 footer with a tiller, the Dufour option I inspected was a particular disaster with completely unusable mainsheet controls and no traveller. I finished up with a wheel steered boat, the wheel is incongruously large with a trench in the floor but allows me sit comfortable on a ergonomically designed coaming where I can see well ahead of the genny. (I thought I was avoiding the 'poser' label by changing the carbon fibre offering to steel). It takes only 1/2 turn to full lock and is fingertip with no friction inducing cables or complex linkages and I can play the traveller and sheet without moving and I do not have any lifelines poking me in the back. Binnacle mounted instruments are fine for motor sailers but not a lot of use I you are looking ahead of your sails.
So having spent most of my sailing life with a tiller I am now very happy that I was forced to become a 'poser'

 

[Tranona]

DaveS,


I suspect wheel steering, until one really requires the mechanical advantage on distinctly large boats, is very much an exercise in posing; especially now one can get those nice instrument pods to go on the binnacle !

Like most things where there are alternatives you can construct convincing arguments in favour of both, particularly if you have a subjective preference for one rather than the other. As you know I have two boats - one with a tiller and the other with a wheel. I would not change either of them as the systems are well matched to the individual boats - their size, layout and complexity.

Of course there are boats that are on the margins - typically around 30-32ft where either would be suitable and feasible, and probably most would be better with a tiller. However once you get larger (with modern shaped boats anyway) a wheel makes much more sense.

It is nothing to do with "posing" - just having the most appropriate equipment for the job, just as the instrument pod on the binnacle is a sensible solution to being able to see the instruments when you are at the wheel.