Project M - Doubling the Size of the Cockpit

[aya16]

a hydraulic steering system with a tilt steering wheel, I think, would eliminate the need to swivel the head, as the head is at a backwards angle anyway, on the new fiberglass console, it would be about straight up and down or a little lean to the back when the post is tilted. Then the steering wheel that has the adustment can be tilted up.

By using the newer console you can move that back with out all the mechanical devices you plan to have machined, just by cutting and using a hinge (substantial one) and a spring as well as some kind of lock fore and aft. Just a thought...
Mike

[Currie]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the info. I thought a lot about tilt wheels. That would be great. But it blows away my ability to add an S1 or X5 wheel pilot next year. Otherwise, I'd definitely do it. Also, the bend radius due to the pivoting pedestel is well within the range of the cable system. I see where the Mac factory has really stretched the limits with the radius under the existing pedestel. I'll do much more of a gentle sweep.

Cheers,
~Bob

[aya16]

well now you have it figured out, what is the best system s1 or x5, money aside whats the best way to go?
Mike

[Currie]

well now you have it figured out, what is the best system s1 or x5, money aside whats the best way to go?
Mike

I wish I knew. I've seen that people here like both of them. More decisions

[rockman]

What about one of those dished wheels - where the wheel dishes back over the pedestal?

I also thought about just permanently swinging the stainless steel tube on my 2006M backwards, and adding the dished wheel. This would create a bit more room.

[Currie]

The boat is back in the shed, so it'll be project time again soon - hooray!

I've been giving the pedestel some serious thought. I even kind of prototyped the lever-lock in hardwood. That part was fine but I just don't like the whole thing anymore . I did purchase the new planetary steering cable, but I'm worried it would kink over time and use. I was sitting in the boat the other day and man, I still want that space!

I've come up with a new dream . I'm pretty confident this one will work and will be much simpler (but still involved).

I'm still going to make a new pedestel - but a it's a fixed one. It's mounted aft of the original giving me the room I want. But now I'm going to change the helm seat. Here's the project...

1.) Permanently remove the helm seat.
2.) Remove the existing pedestel and replace it with a new one.
(The new pedestel stands as far back as possible, just forward of the engine well.)
3.) Add a new helm seat that flips around and locks, making room for the raised engine.
4.) Extend the cockpit floor part-way into the engine well, leaving a space for the engine to sit in when it's raised.
5.) Cover the entire cockpit floor with dri-decking.
6.) Move the throttle control to the top/side of the starboard seat-back.

Here a side view...


(The pedestel looks gargantuan, but it's slightly narrower and not as deep as the original factory one)

From the top...


The new pedestel (I might re-use parts of the existing one)...


Here's an animation of the seat and engine.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u200 ... 212/HS.gif

(The new helm-seat is cushioned on both sides)

Still a whole bunch of work making the mounts and the seat lock. I show the relocated throttle in the first pic. Note, when sailing, the seat becomes kind of like a rail-seat (it moves up about 4" and aftward about 2"), but I can still steer from it easily. Usually I sail from the side anyway and that's very comfortable with this setup. The new wheel will be 18", and there's plenty of room to scoot around it where the old helm seat used to be.

This will be my big project this winter. I really really want the freedom to move around the cockpit. I'm getting psyched! I'll keep you posted.

Cheers,
~Bob

[Currie]

Hello,

I'm not sure if anyone's really following this, but just in case - I'm now committed (or should be committed )



I ran into my first snafu. From tapping, it sounds like the floor isn't reinforced where I'm going to mount the new pedestel, . It's not a big deal to reinforce it, but it involves more cutting . I'll know more when I drill some exploratory holes.

I'll send an occasional update with progress.

Cheers,

~Bob

[Québec 1]

Contact Geoges Xenos , looks like he did it and it looks really great!

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1249
Q1

[Currie]

I saw that! It looks fantastic!! I'd be happy if mine looked half that good.

This project's a bit different. My entire pedestel is getting relocated, and the boat is getting an extra foot added to the upper stern for a new helm seat. I'm molding the entire thing out of fiberglass layup.

[Québec 1]

I saw that! It looks fantastic!! I'd be happy if mine looked half that good.

This project's a bit different. My entire pedestel is getting relocated, and the boat is getting an extra foot added to the upper stern for a new helm seat. I'm molding the entire thing out of fiberglass layup.

HOLY COW thats a real big job! Keep us posted eh!
Q1

[Currie]

Making some progress...





This is the new pedestal-upper-portion. It's made from 3/4" plywood (framing and helm mount) with 1/4" plywood in the less-critical areas. It's ready to be glassed-in with West System epoxy and fiberglass. The combination of 3/4" and 1/4" makes it fairly lightweight and gives the GRP layup lots of turns on the inside to add strength. All of the edges are rounded but the inside first needs to be filleted with epoxy filler to make everything smooth for the layup. I'll wrap the entire inside and outside in many layers of 6 oz glass, apply a West System filler, and gelcoat the whole thing. The stainless-steel pedestal mount (the Mac-standard issue) goes to the metal-shop tommorow to get cut and re-flanged.

Happy New Year!

~Bob

[Highlander]

Bob

Nice project looking very sharp , looking forward to seeing the final results

J

[Harrison]

Would anyone see a problem with just rotating the existing SS pedestal mount 180 degrees on its base? Basically turning it from leaning 77 degrees forward, to 77 degrees aft? From the drawings on the Mac website, the flanges are parallel to each other and the rotation should move the wheel approximately 10-11 inches aft. If it would work, one could use the same holes and nothing else to purchase. Just a thought.

---Harrison

[Currie]

Hi Harrison,

That's a good thought - I thought about that too. You can gain about 8-10 inches that way, and maybe do a simpler mod on the helm seat similar to what Geroge Xenos did. I'm not sure the Detmar steering would allow that with the current pedestal box, but one could do some upgrading there too.

The real problem that I had with that is - I greedily wanted even more room. I'm moving the pedestal back about 13", making it straight up and down, with the box only half as deep, so I'll gain the 13" on the floor for foot-room, and about 2 feet in the cockpit where the pedestel box is.

Cheers,
~Bob

[Harrison]

Hi Harrison,

That's a good thought - I thought about that too. You can gain about 8-10 inches that way, and maybe do a simpler mod on the helm seat similar to what Geroge Xenos did. I'm not sure the Detmar steering would allow that with the current pedestal box, but one could do some upgrading there too.

The real problem that I had with that is - I greedily wanted even more room. I'm moving the pedestal back about 13", making it straight up and down, with the box only half as deep, so I'll gain the 13" on the floor for foot-room, and about 2 feet in the cockpit where the pedestel box is.

Cheers,
~Bob

Since I'm not familiar with the Detmar steering, what would hinder the steering functionality by the reversal of the pedestal mount tube? (I'm not anyway near my boat to open it up and take a look) What kind of upgrading would be required?

Thanks,
Harrison