Downsizing in steering wheel

[eyschulman]

Originally Posted by Aguabago

The reason for large steering wheels is for racing so you can see the sails and have your eyes glued to the telltales to adjust to minor wind shifts. That is why racing boats have two steering wheels.

My large wheel was in the way in the cockpit. I took it to a stainless guy and had him take a couple inches off the spokes and put on a new wheel. Its much better now.

Agree with one addition. while racing it is important not to oversteer and the larger wheel makes it easier to keep in a narrow groove. Flapping the rudder back and forth with oversteering slows a boat. I went to a large wheel on a boat that had a large powerful rudder and the race results were dramatic.

[gonesail]

why not just get a 40" folding wheel from Defender?

[HayesJJ]

Thanks everyone for the support! So I pulled the trigger on the 36" size (anyways 40" was out of stock). Somwherewithin a month or so I'll post a feedback, but I guess it will be positive