wheel tamer

A forum for discussing topics relating to MacGregor Powersailor Sailboats
Wayne nicol
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by Wayne nicol »

sound advice mastreb, i will be doing that, i was thinking about using that "never sieze" goop, but i seem to remember something about it and salt water- am i right or wrong here?- maybe just use grease :?
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u12fly
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by u12fly »

Hmmm, I took my wheel off a few years ago. Yes it took more than five minuets :P
But I guess I should have used some anti seize on re-assembly :|
DaveC426913
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by DaveC426913 »

S'OK. There's more thna one way to skin this Mac. I can get at the pedestal another way.

My design failed. Ultimately, the confounding fact is that and arm long enough to reach the wheel rim is too long to lie flat against the pedestal.

Back to the drawing board.
drams_1999
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by drams_1999 »

Ron, I like what you did with the DIY adjustable friction wheel brake, do you have any pictures?
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J--
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by J-- »

Maybe I'm under thinking this, but wouldn't just a bungie cord work?
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Russ
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by Russ »

J-- wrote:Maybe I'm under thinking this, but wouldn't just a bungie cord work?
+1

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1401

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DaveC426913
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by DaveC426913 »

J-- wrote:Maybe I'm under thinking this, but wouldn't just a bungie cord work?
Historically, I have had a tendency to leap from the helm to attend to something or other, esp. when single-handing. eg. an accidental tack, or docking. Additionally, I need to disengage the tamer from forward of the helm, and usually with one hand.

So I'm looking for something that I can reach from anywhere and set/unset with just a flip. Imagine being forward of the helm, manning a jib sheet around a winch, and trying to reach under the aft-side of the helm for two dangling ends of that bungie, and putting them on the wheel. Not a chance.


(That being said, I'm finding my sailing style changing. A big help is my EZ cleats, mounted right on the tracks. My jib sheets are manageable right from the helm. I spend a lot less time rushing around the boat.)
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Max Entropy
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by Max Entropy »

Tomfoolery wrote:
Or adapt a bicycle disk brake to the backside of the wheel, mounted to the spokes and spaced far enough back to fit a caliper, if there's enough room.
That's a good refinement
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Nick
ronacarme
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by ronacarme »

drams.. sorry, no photos...Ron
wcole
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by wcole »

You didn't specify if your interest in a "wheel tamer" is under sail or under power. If under sail, I have learned to balance the sails and the boat (2000 26X) will hold course for several minutes without correction, allowing me to go below briefly. If under power, I just put the engine in neutral and let the boat drift while I go below.

Bill
DaveC426913
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by DaveC426913 »

wcole wrote:You didn't specify if your interest in a "wheel tamer" is under sail or under power.
Lordy-lord, I won't even take ONE hand off the wheel when motoring, for fear of doing a triple-lutz and finishing with keel-to-sky! :o
wcole wrote:If under sail, I have learned to balance the sails and the boat (2000 26X) will hold course for several minutes without correction, allowing me to go below briefly.
Yes. My need for the wheel tamer is when my sails are NOT balanced, because I need to run forward to free a caught sheet or furler line while halfway through a tack, or some other such thing.
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Highlander
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by Highlander »

wcole
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Re: wheel tamer

Post by wcole »

When I have a problem with the boat that requires attention, hoving to settles things down quickly. The boat drifts about 2 knots to leeward very sedately even in 25 knot breezes.

Bill
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