Downsizing in steering wheel

[HayesJJ]

Hi everyone,


I want to free up some space around the steering wheel of my Catalina 310 and decided to go with a folding steering wheel. Here's the one I am talking about. The original wheel on my boat is 40", and I want to downsize to 36". I realize that there will be slightly more input on the steering as the diameter is being smaller, but I wanted to ask if there are any other downsides of a smaller wheel that I should be aware of?

[Jim Cate]

According to some, it makes you appear less virile. Other than that, if the slightly reduced leverage on the rudder isn't a problem, you should be fine (unless the wheel folds up whilst surfing down a big wave!).

Jim

[ggray]

Maybe a smaller sprocket is available to maintain the mechanical advantage??

[GrowleyMonster]

From 40" to 36" is only a 10% reduction and so 10% less leverage. Noticeable, but not a deal killer. If you don't like it, you can always put the old wheel back on.

[a64pilot]

Have you thought about just removing it when your at anchor? Ours comes off very easily, just it’s so small I don’t bother, but it would be real easy to remove and hang on a rail.

[pcmm]

40" to 36" won't really be noticeable. I went from a 44" wheel to a 30 inch wheel. The original wheel was too large for the cockpit and made getting around the help difficult at best and dangerous in bad conditions. There was more input required at the helm, but nothing that was really too noticeable. The large wheel made the helm too light in my opinion

This was on a Grampian 34 with a skeg rudder. On a Catalina with a partially balance rudder you probably won't notice any difference. See if you can temp swap wheels with someone just to try!

[ZULU40]

40" on a 10,000+ lb boat seems a bit big anyway

I think mines 28" for a 18,000lb boat, but of course we dont know the diameter of your quadrant below ... otherwise we could work out the effort

[PuttingDoctor]

Better price from Defender.... and no sales tax. I love mine for the added room in the cockpit.
https://www.defender.com/product.jsp...331&id=3633307

[stormalong]

My big wheel lets me be on one side of the boat so I can have better visibility of what is ahead and it also makes docking easier. If that is not an issue for you go for it.

[picklesandjesse]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

According to some, it makes you appear less virile. Other than that, if the slightly reduced leverage on the rudder isn't a problem, you should be fine (unless the wheel folds up whilst surfing down a big wave!).

Jim

Now I'm confused. Are you more or less virile if you are holding on to a tiller ? Or is it how you use it ?

[ZULU40]

Originally Posted by picklesandjesse

Now I'm confused. Are you more or less virile if you are holding on to a tiller ? Or is it how you use it ?

well to compare with my wheel system and its 28" wheel, you would need an 11ft tiller to wield the same effort of 840 lbs

tillers rarely come more manly than that !

[malcolmlj]

Downsized the wheel on my Moody 38 by 25% fifteen years ago, increased effort was negligible.
Large wheels are more about ego and marketing than any practical need.
I also detached the wheel and hung it from the main boom in harbour for even more space in the cockpit.

[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.

[CFS Klopas]

Just ordered a 15" wheel to replace my 24" wheel. The only way to access the helm was to step up onto the lazarette. Boat originally had a tiller, but that's too big a project.

[jewt]

Had a folding wheel on my last boat and LOVED it, am in the process of replacing the wheel on my current boat with a folder. Makes the cockpit seem much roomer.

jewt S/V Bifrost
Morgan 44 CC
New Bern, NC