steering pedestal on a 26 C or D

[rygobus]

I plan to buy a 26 d or c and I wonder if anyone has ever installed a pedestal on one. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Scotty

[Rick Westlake]

I plan to buy a 26 d or c and I wonder if anyone has ever installed a pedestal on one. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Scotty

Why would you want to do that?

My experience, going from a Mac 19 to a 26X, is that tiller steering has real advantages over wheel steering. A tiller is stick-simple, obviously; it's frictionless and needs lubrication only at the rudder pintles; it's so immediately responsive that you can actually move your boat by lashing it like a fish's tail; you can feel what your rudder is doing; once you're at the dock or on the hook, you can clear it out of the cockpit instantly and have all the room in your cockpit "open" for socializing. If you want an autopilot, the tiller pilots cost half as much as the wheel pilot I just put in Bossa Nova, and it's much less complicated to install. And as a theft-prevention device, it beats "The Club" - heck, it IS a club if you're boarded.

The biggest advantage to a wheel is that the boat "steers just like a car" and you can connect the outboard to the steering system. Plus, you may feel more like a "big-boat skipper" when you're standing behind the wheel.

If you aren't used to tiller steering, give it a serious try before you dismiss it ....

[madguy]

Just wanted to add..

I have a 26S and found that the rudder seems to be stronger and more substantial than on newer boats, also you can fabricate a simple bracket from the rudder mount to the motor to give engine stearing from the tiller...

Madguy

[rygobus]

Thanks for the input about the steering pedestal. A bracket from the tiller to the motor would work just fine and sure have more room on the deck with tiller steering.
Thanks sailors : )