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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Tiller to wheel conversion

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raulpou
Navigator

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144 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/27/2006 : 14:01:13

I am considering purchasing a catalina and a sticking point that "the boss" has is that she wants a wheel. I know that it canbe expensive to change but does anyone have estimates on how much it would cost (parts only)?

Any help would be great.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/27/2006 : 14:34:11

If you really want a wheel, take your money and buy an older boat that is large enough to justify a wheel. For me the only justification for a wheel is that the autopilots are nicer than the ones for tillers, I just can't imagine a wheel under 30 ft. Wives often do not understand things, buy her shoes instead.

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JohnMD
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts

Response Posted - 01/27/2006 : 14:46:47

My better half wanted a wheel when we first began looking at 250's. When she found out how much of the cockpit area we were going to lose she decided we should get a tiller instead.

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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts

Response Posted - 01/27/2006 : 15:01:05

I LOVE my wheel, as do many others on this forum. Besides the wheel, the pedestal guard provides a handhold and is a perfect place to mount electronics. Yes, it takes up cockpit space, but the wheel removes easily, which opens things back up.

What I don't like is squeezing between the wheel and the backstay (which will be rectified this weekend...)

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 01/27/2006 : 16:00:44

I can not give you the price for the wheel conversion but I expect unless you found one that someone was selling used it would be over $1000 easily and closer to $2000 if not more. In my experience you are better off finding a boat in which it exists. Then you can spend a few hundred more to upgrade the system with Aryln's open cable system.

I like having a wheel same as Al.

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2006 : 03:59:05

Some thoughts on [url="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/wheelornot.html"]Wheel or Not.[/url]

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2006 : 10:40:01

FYI...Another ancillary cost (if applicable) is an autopilot. The cost of a wheel autopilot can be double that of a tiller pilot.

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welshoff
Captain

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USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2006 : 11:52:04

Al,
What changes are you making to the backstay? I don't like the arobics involved in getting around the wheel between the backstay.

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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2006 : 15:35:41

I was wondering if anybody would take the bait....

You'll have to wait till my post Sunday night

I'll include pics. For now, all I'll say is that it costs about $45, installs in about 20 minutes (I hope...) and solves the problem completely....

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2006 : 17:03:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Al
 For now, all I'll say is that it costs about $45, installs in about 20 minutes (I hope...) and solves the problem completely....
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hmmmm...Lemme, guess!...You're installing a $45.00 arch, right?

I'm curious, so I'll be checking back.

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2006 : 19:11:12

I'm putting my money on moving them to the stern pulpits and then shortening the single stay to the masthead.

Something like this.

Haven't come close to hanging myself yet in two years.

Edited by - frog0911 on 01/28/2006 19:12:13

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2006 : 19:32:16

Holding my breath!
The backstay is a major pain.

Hope your solution is doable with a bimini installed!

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reuben
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2006 : 19:57:11

I was on the fence about wheels, never having sailed with one, but our used 250K was equipped with one. Though at first it seemed less intuitive than a tiller I have indeed come to like it since we often sail with a cockpit full of visitors. My brother in law has a Hunter 25 one slip over -- tiller steering -- and there's no question our boat is happier with a large crew. Nor have I ever had difficulty with the backstays; in fact they offer something to hold onto when heeling.

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Tradewind
Admiral

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USA
531 Posts

Response Posted - 01/28/2006 : 21:19:17

I have thought about swapping the tiller for a wheel, I used a wheel for 26 years on my Cal. First boat was a Pearson Triton 28 with a tiller, it's what I learned on. I may stick with the tiller for a while and make a decision later. This is a great thought provoking thread.

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moserd
Navigator

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USA
149 Posts

Response Posted - 01/29/2006 : 11:59:44

I have the wheel option on my 2005 WK and my wife (and teenage son) LOVE IT! We have much more room in the cockpit when sailing with multiple crew, no one gets banged in the knee by the tiller and I for one really like the fact that I can lock the wheel (not always needed), go forward and do what ever I need without the boat wandering. I have tried this (single handed) in 15 knots of wind and the boat just kind of drove on by itself (a little scary if you think about falling off eh?) My only thought of modification is to upgrade to Arlyn's modification. It is on my 'long' list when I get the other 'short' list items installed (radio etc).

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Cavitating
1st Mate

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USA
47 Posts

Response Posted - 01/29/2006 : 15:22:29

Sorry, I did not mean to start a tiller vs. wheel poll :) But regardless, I will be purchasing a sailboat and a happy wife is a wife that will sail more often.

I just want to knoe if anyone has done it and if it has been priced by forum members.

ps- The shoes idea does not work so easily.

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welshoff
Captain

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USA
253 Posts

Response Posted - 01/29/2006 : 16:03:25

Frog and General,
I like your approach! I was wondering if the stern pulpits would take the load? Appears they do.

How did you go about welding the brackets for the backstay to the stern pulpits?

Looking forward to Al's ideas as well.

Edited by - on

frogger
Navigator

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USA
184 Posts

Response Posted - 01/29/2006 : 20:59:13

I love my wheel! Wife loves wheel!! Kids and Grandkid loves wheel!!!

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raulpou
Navigator

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144 Posts

Response Posted - 01/29/2006 : 22:40:00

His Sailboat came that way, I'm pretty sure.

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 01/30/2006 : 00:23:00

Raul, is correct. PennyII came with the backstays attached to the rear pulpits. I was curious as to them holding so I checked the attachment points and Catalina added some 4x4 plates to the mount points. When I first saw the 250 with wheel, the only thing I did not like about the dual backstay was they were attached to the transom and I had to really watch out or get hung. When mine came that way, both the dealer and I were supprised, but it sure made a difference when having to transition from behind the wheel for sheet adjustment and then back. No more wire neck encounter.

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americanrascal
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2006 : 05:26:40

Our 250 WK has a wheel. Thought we wanted a wheel having moved from a tiller in our boat of the past. I am a bit on the chubby side so doing the contortion act between the backstays or swapping out helmsman duty to get behind the wheel isn't that fun. Also seeing over the cabin when sitting on the rear fuel locker doesn't give enough vision ( would have that problem with a tiller too). I do miss the feel and sensitivity of a tiller and the ease at single handing with a tiller , which is very difficult due to winch and wheel locations. Other than that we still love our baby the way she is!

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2006 : 10:37:13

Frog, can you post a pic of your backstay setup. Do you have a bimini too, and if so, how do the split stays get 'around' it?

TIA.

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2006 : 22:52:07

Paul, pictures of my backstay setup are posted in this thread the 10th post from the top. Yes, I have a Bimini and I installed it like Keith did on his WB model. Here is his post.

http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6289

I did not do as clean a job as Keith since I did not have a gromment set that size. So I will take it off and get the gromment cut repaired and then the gromments installed by a canvas shop. Read Keiths' entire thread and he gives instructions on how to insure the gromments are in the correct location. I also got a 7 foot long x 54" wide bimini so it would cover the entire cockpit side to side and the pulpit seats up to about a foot of the boom.
I will take pictures if you want more detail.

Edited by - frog0911 on 01/31/2006 22:53:50

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