Hello Passporters,
This quarantine business has given me some time to indulge in some boat projects. One of them involves the main steering wheel.
I know some of you have gone smaller to make more room in the cockpit. I have gone the other way, quite a spell!!! I found that while steering from the rail, I had trouble sitting comfortably and also reaching the wheel. And I have a half a foot on my wife who is still on the front end of her sailing skill development and I want her to learn what I consider proper helming position: from the rail. She has never been comfortable with the reach to the standard 40" wheel.
So, I first built a mock up of a larger wheel diameter, first 44", then 48" out of pex plumbing tubing and taped it all clumsily to the existing 40" wheel (see pics) and found that the 48" makes the reach much more manageable without cramping our movement around the cockpit. It also makes steering while standing on the lazarette covers to see over the dodger much more comfortable.
Once I decided on the 48", I researched the options and found a used 48" destroyer wheel with a 1" straight shaft and a mostly intact leather cover (needs a few feet of restitching) for $300 at a marine consignment shop within a 2 hour drive (each way). I picked the wheel up today and had to tie it on the roof, but made it back and I really like the results.
I plan to build fillers for the space between the coaming and the wheel so the whole walking surface around the cockpit will be at the same level. Our boat came with the hinged grate that covers the cockpit well just aft of the bridge deck and I've found I really like the "one level" space. I've miss-stepped many times when going from the forward seat to the lazarette cover and almost taken very bad falls. It's one level for me,.
Keep the faith that spring is springing and sailing is still sailing even in these unusual times!!!
Jim Henerberry