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Wheel vs Tiller

6K views 28 replies 16 participants last post by  tager 
#1 ·
What are advantages/disadvantages of having a wheel vs. tiller? Does a wheel on a Pearson 303 have a locking mechanism?
Thanks
 
#2 · (Edited)
rpearlberg,
That topic has been flogged to death here, so you might be asked to do a search on the site :)
IMnsHO there's a lot to be said for a tiller in terms of control, and don't let anybody tell you that it is a requirement for anything below fifty feet.
Some newer wheel steerings are really nice though, while many older stinks - especially hydraulic ones.
Boats with big behinds (wide transoms) might benefit from double wheels, making sure the helmsman can see fwd when heeled over.
I've owned boats with tiller and wheel, and sailed many others, and it always depends :)
 
#3 ·
On boats large enough to have either - wheel or tiller is largely a matter of preference. From a practical standpoint, a tiller is simpler and has fewer moving parts to fail at the wrong time. On the other hand, a wheel is more convient for most people - it makes driving the boat, more like driving a carl.
 
#5 ·
tiller/ wheel

I agree, tiller = fewer moving parts, more responsive but still personal choice. If a boat has decent wheel steering leave it alone, My preference is tiller however my boat has a wheel. Fewer things to go wrong, however , a back up tiller is always available. Many new or inexperienced sailors find a wheel easire to steer by.

Have fun

Len
 
#6 ·
One major issue in favor of tillers is the simplicity of the system. A tiller is far less maintenance and far less complex. Also, many sailors feel that a tiller steered boat gives the sailor more feedback than a wheel-steered boat. Tillers can be used on even very large boats, given that they are designed for it. One of my favorite large trimarans is tiller steered and comes in at 18 meters long... seen below:



Also, you can setup sheet-to-tiller self-steering fairly simply, which is generally not an option with a wheel.
 
#14 ·
One of my favorite large trimarans is tiller steered and comes in at 18 meters long...
Thanks for the great picture Dog. A quick observation brings a few questions. I see only one crew member present. Is he truly singlehanding? I don't see control lines led to the helm. Also, does it have a tiller on the center hull so it can be steered from there as well?
 
#7 ·
A question Dog;
If monohulls have one rudder and sometimes two (like mine) and Catamarrans have two rudders, how many rudders does a Trimarran have? In the picture you posted I see the windward amas has what looks like a rudder but could be a fixed fin. Also see the windward daggerboard is retracted but not the rudder or fin. Would a tiller on a Trimarran operate all three rudders at once? Just curious because I am not familiar with trimarran designs.
 
#10 ·
Knowing very well that I'm not as knowledgeable as the Dog on Tri's, I'll just say that the ama's (the floats) are typically not built to support a rudder, also it would defeat the purpose of the tri to heel so much as to have the rudder out of the water (for longer periods). Cats are a different breed, obviously.
 
#8 ·
Looks like a fixed fin to me on the windward hull. Steering mechanism appears to connect only to the rudder on the main hull.
 
#9 ·
Wow! Wonderful photo, Dog. It took me a moment or two to orient myself and locate the steersman!

As to tiller vs wheel, well its largely a matter of taste and practicality and the important points have already been made here and elsewhere. I'm a tiller man myself.....

Stuart
 
#12 ·
Modern racing Tris are designed to sail with only
the leeward ama in the water, with the main hull
flying clear as much of the time as possible.
( See the BMW A Cup beast)
Thus all three rudders are steerable.
In the tri pictured you can see what look to be
either steering cables or hydraulic lines leading
to the amas. The center rudder also appears
to be retractable.
 
#16 ·
Izzy,
That guy is controling the tiller for the center/main hull, you can see what he is holding is connected to the rudder. You can also see the main hull is mostly airborne with the center daggerboard only partially submerged so I guess the rudder is only partly submerged. So what is steering that thing?... the leeward rudder???
 
#18 ·
Kermie,

I'm guessing that as a trimaran, you're going to be trimming your sails so as to minimize the time your rudder spends out of the water. :eek: I would also guess that this is at least one of the functions of the fin at the stern of the ama; to help keep the boat on course during periodic temporary loss of steering? My question about whether there is a center tiller is just that it seems like there would be conditions or issues that might arise where one might want to steer from the center hull.
 
#17 ·
Another consideration that was pointed out to me - and I have seen by comparing comparably-sized boats - is that a tiller gives you more cockpit space when anchored, docked or moored, as the tiller can be flipped up or folded out of the way.

Even the wheels that can be removed still require a post that sticks up from your cockpit sole.

I asked two experienced sailors at my marina the same question.

Each of them was equally convincing in their answer. One was a strong proponent of the wheel. The other was a strong proponent of the tiller. Both had very good reasons for their choice.
 
#19 · (Edited)
Izzy—

IIRC, Brossard was not designed specifically for singlehanding, but often is.

Brossard has only one rudder, the one on the main hull, but it is a pretty deep draft rudder, and works when the main hull is flying a bit... the fins on the aft end of the amas are to help shift the center of lateral resistance aft when flying the main hull IIRC.

As for the lines, I don't know if they're lead to the outboard steering positions, but believe the main sheet is, but not the jib sheets.

Brossard is a cutter rigged trimaran IIRC, not a sloop. Many of the larger racing trimarans are cutter rigged. You can see the multiple headsails on their individual roller furling units... :)
 
#20 ·
Don't know about the Pearson 303 but I prefer a tiller up to around 35'. Helps feel the boat better in my mind and past that the only option is a wheel. I would suggest trying a wheel and tiller if you are looking for something under 35' and determine what feels good for you.
 
#21 ·
Practically a wheel takes up less cockpit space. With a tiller you lose seating. I like the tiller because I further forward and closer to the dodger. A tiller has better feedback withe the boat. With wheels a cable system have some feedback. Hydraulic wheel systems have no feedback. I think for smaller boats 30 ft or so autopilots are more reliable and less costly than wheel autopilots.
 
#22 ·
I'd point out that with a tiller you may lose cockpit space while underway, but you have a lot more cockpit space when at anchor, since you can tilt the tiller back and out of the way...

Practically a wheel takes up less cockpit space. With a tiller you lose seating. I like the tiller because I further forward and closer to the dodger. A tiller has better feedback withe the boat. With wheels a cable system have some feedback. Hydraulic wheel systems have no feedback. I think for smaller boats 30 ft or so autopilots are more reliable and less costly than wheel autopilots.
 
#25 ·
BlackJenner—

What's wrong?? Impressive, ain't it...
 
#28 ·
Yes, I do... but it only works on intelligent life forms...for some reason it doesn't go off when you post. :D ::laugher :laugher
 
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