Lewmar folding wheel...any reason why not?

[Mimsy]

The title pretty much sums it up. We do find the cockpit to be a bit cramped at times due to the wheel. A folding wheel seems like a great solution, just wondering if anyone has any caveats to replacing our wheel with the Lewmar folding. Any problems with installation? Durability? Performance?

[MMR]

We looked hard at the folding wheels when we had our Hunter for the same reason, but price then deterred us. No need on our Gemini, but I'll be curious to see the responses you get...

[Mimsy]

The price is the reason we are really, really thinking about it instead of just doing it and seeing how it goes.

[capttb]

You might consider a pulpit mount and the knurled quick release hub nut, even with just the nut you can easily remove wheel and store out of the way. They sell them here.
Edson - Wheel Storage Device/Quick Nut Combo Shop.Sailnet.com - sailing resources, shopping, sail, blogs

[trantor12020]

I swap my fix 32" steering wheel for the Lewmar Folding 36" and love it. With this 36" folding wheel, I increase my steering wheel diameter hence allowing me to sit and lean on side of cockpit coaming and yet able to hold the steering when before I cannot. And when folded, its easier to walk around the steering/cockpit. Its very easy to install, just remove the old wheel and put in the new. If you have Raymarine autopilot wheel, the folder comes with 6 spokes so may need to drill new mount holds on the wheel drive (easy to do anyway). Bought mine through Hunter Marine (comes suitable for tapered mount). You can get the wheel with dual mount type (taper and straight shaft hub) from chandler.

[windward54]

And I swapped my wheel out as well. With the wheel folded, it sure opens up the cockpit for guests. I thought about the quick release hub, but being the klutz that I am sometimes, I had visions of dropping the whole thing overboard. Well worth the money.

[jorgenl]

Mimsy,

I looked closely at a Tatoosh 42 in Charleston awhile ago. Loved it.

One thing that I found is that the distance from the wheel to the helmsman seat / rear cockpit locker (along the centerline of the boat) is very short.

I would check if you have enough distance to actually fold the wheel.

just my $0.02

[SVCarolena]

Originally Posted by capttb

You might consider a pulpit mount and the knurled quick release hub nut, even with just the nut you can easily remove wheel and store out of the way. They sell them here.
Edson - Wheel Storage Device/Quick Nut Combo Shop.Sailnet.com - sailing resources, shopping, sail, blogs

This is what we installed on Carolena. It works great, takes only a few seconds to remove and reinstall, and really opens the cockpit when at anchor or the marina. We found ours new on Ebay for about half the cost of retail. I would guess it is many multiples less than the cost of the folding wheel. As to the concern of something falling overboard, it really isn't possible as the nut comes off in the cockpit and we mount the wheel in the inside of the pushpit.

[agaliha]

I finally "bit the bullet" and ordered a folding wheel for my Beneteau 361 this summer. I wish I had done it earlier. It really makes life better when the boat is moored, anchored or at the dock. The "Admiral" loves it, too. Everything about the workmanship is impeccable (the suede cover, the hub, the twist-lock barrels, the s.s. hinges). Nothing but positive from this user.
Agaliha

[Siamese]

I see no reason why you shouldn't get it. Mine was already installed on our new Catalina 309.

The workmanship is fine. The hardware is robust, and there's absolutely no sense that the thing's going to fold at the wrong moment or fail.

I'll admit that we seldom fold it, though. The layout of our cockpit is such that there's plenty of room forward of the wheel.

Really depends on how many folks you have on your boat and your usage.