Wheel cover or not?

[forestguardian]

What are the advantages of a suede wheel-cover? What is the upside of a shiny chrome wheel without a cover? Our last boat (1984-7) had a cover and we sailed 10,000 miles in cold and wet and hot and dry.

New (to us) 1990 boat has a bare wheel. Leave it shiny or cover it? There may be lots more important upgrades before lacing on a wheel cover.
(New horseshoe, 2nd anchor, LED Tri-color, jack lines, netting, lea cloth, storm cloth, repair or replace head). Taking inventory tomorrow with surveyor.

[Paul L]

I think the leather covered wheels are much more comfortable on the grip. Of course the autopilot doesn',t really care either way.

[DDabs]

I have a bare wheel and it is never too hot or too slippery to handle. The covers are pretty much just for feel/aesthetic. Your list of other upgrades has a few things I would definitely do first

[zeehag]

sailed electrical storms in gom-- i truly wished that big stainless wheel had been covered. it was just too METAL with lightning everywhere... my boat has wood wheel. i like that much better. comfy, not slick, and not METAL!!!!!

[Sandero]

hahahaha... I barely spend time holding the helm... but it's teak wood so it's neither cold nor hot... It looks fine and feels fine... but it requires maintenance!

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by Sandero

hahahaha... I barely spend time holding the helm... but it's teak wood so it's neither cold nor hot... It looks fine and feels fine... but it requires maintenance!

i donot know if my wood wheel is teak or oak--acts like oak--i treat it like my teak--wash in sea water, nada mas. is just fine. no varnish. perfect.
the suede covers get filthy so they need to be cleaned occasionally. nothing nastier than dirty wet suede in a storm. except bare metal.

[Sandero]

Originally Posted by zeehag

i donot know if my wood wheel is teak or oak--acts like oak--i treat it like my teak--wash in sea water, nada mas. is just fine. no varnish. perfect.
the suede covers get filthy so they need to be cleaned occasionally. nothing nastier than dirty wet suede in a storm. except bare metal.

Lucky you... I varnish.... buts it's not much of an effort.

[reed1v]

Nothing quite like steering with a bird pooped wheel.

[DDabs]

Can a metal wheel really be a problem in a storm? If lightning were to strike the mast or even the water near the boat, would it really go into the wheel? And even if that happened, would a suede cover on the wheel really protect you from electrocution?

[sailon46]

Originally Posted by forestguardian

What are the advantages of a suede wheel-cover? What is the upside of a shiny chrome wheel without a cover? Our last boat (1984-7) had a cover and we sailed 10,000 miles in cold and wet and hot and dry.

New (to us) 1990 boat has a bare wheel. Leave it shiny or cover it? There may be lots more important upgrades before lacing on a wheel cover.
(New horseshoe, 2nd anchor, LED Tri-color, jack lines, netting, lea cloth, storm cloth, repair or replace head). Taking inventory tomorrow with surveyor.

I covered my wheels (2) with braided 1/2 hitch twine otherwise when the wheel is wet from rain or taking water over the bow going to windward it is slippery. I do not like bare wheels, they are not nautical enough but that's what I prefer.
Ernie on the Mary Jane

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by DDabs

I have a bare wheel and it is never too hot or too slippery to handle. The covers are pretty much just for feel/aesthetic. Your list of other upgrades has a few things I would definitely do first

Even when the sun shines around here that uncovered wheel is damn cold. One of the very first things we did 18 years ago. Do it.

[DDabs]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Even when the sun shines around here that uncovered wheel is damn cold. One of the very first things we did 18 years ago. Do it.

I live in Florida

[reed1v]

Originally Posted by DDabs

Can a metal wheel really be a problem in a storm? If lightning were to strike the mast or even the water near the boat, would it really go into the wheel? And even if that happened, would a suede cover on the wheel really protect you from electrocution?

Try it and let us know how it turned out.

[DDabs]

Originally Posted by reed1v

Try it and let us know how it turned out.

[drpaoletta]

Mine came with a bare metal wheel and I found it both cold and slippery. Being a bit light in the wallet and not willing to shell out $300 (US) for the real thing, I ordered some tennis racquet wrapping stuff from Amazon. It's more comfortable, easily replaceable when it gets dirty and doesn't look half-bad. Maybe I'll get the leather one when I grow up?
- Just a thought!


http://www.amazon.com/HEAD-285088-bl...rch_detailpage