Wheel vs Tiller . . .

[foggysail]

You will probably find selling a boat with a wheel is easier than selling a similar boat with a tiller.

[boatman61]

Unless your in Europe... we prefer the stick to the wheel......

[Doodles]

Another vote for the tiller. ++

Ours was the only Pretorian on the market with a tiller and it was one of the selling factors for us, so a wheel isn't always a plus when selling.

[jdeatsch]

Doodles,

Any relation to Mr. Weever?

Jim

[muskoka]

Tillers are beautiful. Given the choice, you're choosing tactile handling versus mechanical handling. You know which will connect you to your boat better!

Granted, certain boats and certain sized boats require a wheel, but assuming all things are equal I'd always default to a tiller.

[nautical62]

I think boat in the 30ish size range can go either way.

Tillers are simpler, cheaper and less prone to break down and easier to jurry-rig a fix if they do. They are often less intuitive for new guests to learn. They also would not work well with many walk out transoms which I really like. (though a removable tiller to a rudder post might solve that). I feel a wheel mounted on a binnacle is more conducive to standing up and having a better field of view. Tillers, especially when tacking often can interfere with more sitting positions in the cockpit.

[witzgall]

One thing you can only do with a tiller - steer the boat with BOTH of your hands in your pockets!

I have steered Jubilee (the Westerly that High Heels mentioned), sitting on the combing, hand through the tiller extension handle, and in the jacket pocket. Simply rock your whole body back and forth to steer!!! Yeah! Warm hands!!!

Chris

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by jdeatsch

Doodles,

Any relation to Mr. Weever?

Jim

Don't think so ... who is Mr. Weever?

[Caldra]

If you are cruising any distance you wont be steering with a wheel or a tiller...The windvane/servo gear will do it all for you!
Happy Christmas
Nigel

[roverhi]

Pendulum Servo windvanes like the Aries/Monitor often don't interface well with a wheel. For some reason, steering inertria/friction, control line friction or whatever simply wouldn't steer my boat below four knots with a Monitor connected to the wheel. Had to switch to an auxillary rudder self steering to have self steering. The Aires on our W32 worked no problem with the tiller.

Personally don't like wheels in any case. Find them tiresome to use for long stints at the wheel. Almost have to have your hands on the wheel to steer. Could steer all of my tiller boats hands free with the tiller between my legs. Made short handed sailing a lot simpler as I could have both hands free to do things like crank and tail winches, etc. With a tiller you always know where the rudder is pointed and how much you have in. Find the wheel extremely slow to add input making sailing, especially downwind tiresome.

[David M]

Tiller = more feel
Wheel = more leverage

I'm not particularly a fan of either. It really depends on the boat as to which is better.

[jdeatsch]

Doodles,

"Doodles Weever" was a character that Spike Jones had on his shows back in the late 40's (I'm not THAT old, yet). He, Doodles, is the uncle of Sigorney Weaver as a matter of fact.

Jones was a funny guy. Here's an opportunity, if you like, to hear him at his VERY best (Weaver and Jones):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1fSn...eature=related

Jim

[boatman61]

Under 37 tiller........ over 37 wheel.... if you've got crew it don't matter...

[Pete7]

Or have both on a long trip we use the autopilot hooked up to the tiller and for inshore stuff or sailing in very crowded waters the wheel. The English Channel and the Solent are our home waters so sailing is like driving on the freeway, standing up with the wheel and the chart plotter in place of the compass useful. Tiller folds up out of the way when not needed and autopilot unclips.

Pete

[Connemara]

Just a comment. Connemara has a wheel and when I sail, I tend to sit down on the low side, so that I'm pulling the top of the wheel toward me, and I can see under the gennie. OTOH, I have no view at all of the other forequarter.

In a tiller-steered boat, I sit on the high side, again pulling the steering apparatus toward me. Now I can see where I'm going, but not the other forequarter.

Not sure which I prefer.

Connemara