Retrofitting a wheel to a tiller

[Jim Parmentier]

I am considering retrofitting my 1984 CD 31 to a tiller, both because I like the feel of tiller steering and because it should provide more room for movement in and around the cockpit. The rudder head is accessible through the emergency tiller mount. The binnacle and instruments would have to be re-mounted, and I realize I should re-install the wheel if I ever want to re-sell it, but aside from these things, what have I not thought of? is this a mistake? How can I determine the necessary size of the tiller to install?

Jim Parmentier
CD 31 ALINE



jellicoe@aol.com

[John Baker]

Jim:
Let me speak against your proposal. I also have a 1984 CD31. I agree that getting around the binnacle and wheel can be a little burdensome and I agree that simply flipping the tiller up out of the way would create considerable usable cockpit space in what is a rather tight cockpit (although rather roomy considering that it's part of a 31 ft. boat.) when in port. While underway, I think tillers get more in the way of guests in the cockpit.
The other boat I sail regularly is a Pacific Seacraft 27 equiped with a tiller and owned by a friend. On short tacks the tiller has a "livlier feel" and a sense of finer increments of control than the wheel, but I also find a tiller more tiring. On a long tack holding a tiller gets boring. I have an Autohelm 400 on my CD31 and find that I use it more and more, using the freedom to trim the sails for maximum performance. I know that there are automatic tillers but I have never used one and the photos I have seen indicates that they also take up cockpit space.
If you should go with the tiller, please let me know how it turns out.

John Baker
"Solana"
CD31 hull #31

I am considering retrofitting my 1984 CD 31 to a tiller, both because I like the feel of tiller steering and because it should provide more room for movement in and around the cockpit. The rudder head is accessible through the emergency tiller mount. The binnacle and instruments would have to be re-mounted, and I realize I should re-install the wheel if I ever want to re-sell it, but aside from these things, what have I not thought of? is this a mistake? How can I determine the necessary size of the tiller to install?

Jim Parmentier
CD 31 ALINE

poblana@juno.com

[John Nuttall]

Jim

I too have considered the same retrofit, and will probably do it someday. My reasons are much the same as yours. While I agree with John Bakers comments, for me mostly a day weekender and daysailor with kids, opening up the cockpit is worth the tradeoffs. I recently met a gentleman cruising on an Alberg 37 Ketch (by Whitby) which was tiller equipped and he preferred the tiller.
Some of my main concerns re the retrofit are not about the pedestal removal (seal the hole with a deck plate and modify my teak cockpit grate to cover it), but rather getting a watertight seal at the deck where the tiller would come through.
Additionally I'd like to find a below decks autopilot that would work on my CD31.
Keep me posted on your progress !

John Nuttall
s/v "Aimless"
CD31 #28
Oriental, NC

I am considering retrofitting my 1984 CD 31 to a tiller, both because I like the feel of tiller steering and because it should provide more room for movement in and around the cockpit. The rudder head is accessible through the emergency tiller mount. The binnacle and instruments would have to be re-mounted, and I realize I should re-install the wheel if I ever want to re-sell it, but aside from these things, what have I not thought of? is this a mistake? How can I determine the necessary size of the tiller to install?

Jim Parmentier
CD 31 ALINE

nuttallj@msn.com