26M Steering pedestal rotation

[edurbin]

Having lived with the 26M cockpit for a while now, it is a bit squeezy getting around the steering wheel and pedestal. Also, the wheel position, for me at least, is just a bit too far forward when sitting down motoring/sailing.

I thought about the tiller option - but looks a bit complicated and expensive to refit. Another possibility is perhaps to rotate the steering pedestal by 90 degrees. That would move the wheel position by about 125mm left or right of centre, and 125mm aft. Wondering if anybody has tried that mod ? Rotate the pedestal base 90 degrees, and then rotate the steering wheel box 90 degrees so everything still points straight ahead.

Doesn't look like it would be so hard to do. Anyway, keen to hear from any who have played with the steering and pedestal.

Cheers
Craig

[richandlori]

That would be interesting...

One potential negitive I see is that when sailing I usually sit on the windward side of the boat, would that make the wheel either too close or too far away?

[They Theirs]

Edurbin


I have been under the same opinion for quite some time. The Helm post is very difficult to move around. Big feet and adults tangle with it in the center of the cockpit floor. Part of my posting of the VITA German/Polish water Ballasted Powersailor, was to bring the versatile Sailboat Tiller to the interest of the those who feel the same. I really like the wheel on the rear bulkhead of cabin house. The use of a Dual helm provides lots of cockpit room to move around when tacking avoiding the Helm Wheel Dance.


Open Tiller Cockpit of the A25

Open Cockpit of Parker 235 w/tiller

[Frank C]

... I really like the wheel on the rear bulkhead of cabin house. The use of a “Dual” helm provides lots of cockpit room to move around when tacking avoiding the “Helm Wheel Dance”.

I can see (agree with) the problem ... helm is a cockpit obstacle. However, I've made peace with the helm, since my preferred sailing seat is forward of the pedestal where I can manipulate all lines. FWIW, I don't want a helm on the cabin bulkhead where it could trap or tangle jibsheets, CB line, and/or other control lines. It could really interfere with the lead of my Genny sheets.

This same issue bears on locating my removable traveler upgrade. I have two choices for this mod, bridging the coamings at companionway, or bridging the cockpit seats at the pedestal. With same logic that applies above, I'll first install the traveler at the pedestal (aft of my trimmer's position), keeping the mainsheet well separated from the cabintop lines.

[edurbin]

yeah - the double helm looks good - but making it work on a Mac looks not so easy to me.

I was thinking that taking the wheel offcentre and to aft would give that extra few inches along oneside of the wheel. From there, options to make a few subtle mods to the helm seat are created. Take it right out even. Also, options to then go a little larger in size with the steering wheel (helps get it a little higher, and a little closer to the far side). Its all a compromise.

Craig

[They Theirs]

Frank C

Youre correct. That Bulkhead wheel would interfere with the seating and the sheets on the Mac. As Moe has said before, he did not want his bulkhead compass there, as it would impair his comfort leaning on the cockpit bulkhead.

The Traveler is something I have been working on prior to purchasing the Mac. I have enlarged photos of the cockpit of the Etap24i, with its removable cross-cockpit traveler, on of their promotional items featured in their sales brochure. I too sail from forward of the helm and would like a tiller to free the cockpit for a similar full-length seat cross-cockpit traveler. Maybe I could secure it where the hinges break the cockpit seats for lifting seat over the fuel tanks, while still maintaining the factory simulated traveler/cockpit support ladder mounts, maintaining the original mainsheet position for light air and general boating. I would like to be able to sit on the cockpit combings, while handling the tiller with an extension, heeled over with traveler close to work to windward (were dreaming here) and the mainsheet secured at the forward original position, such as the A25.

Another clever detail of the Etap 24i is the removable mainsheet traveler that opens the cockpit for more apr�-voile leisure space.

Sorry about the photo, as I still do not know how to pull them off the PDF files. See link below:
Etap 24i removable mainsheet traveler

[Zavala]

Rotate the pedestal base 90 degrees, and then rotate the steering wheel box 90 degrees so everything still points straight ahead.

Craig, based on installing a 26M pedestal in my M19, I don't think what you are proposing is possible. I say this because of how the steering rack mounts in the base and box are alighned. MacGregor designed the setup to just barely fit the rack inside -- and if you rotated either component, it wouldn't fit at all. Sorry to be a pessimist, but I don't think it will work.

[They Theirs]

Zavala edurbin

I actually considered turning the support post 180 degrees to move the wheel helm forward, but realized the cockpit floor would still be the same place and would be little improvement to free up cockpit for movement.

[richandlori]

While on the Great Channel Island Loop trip of 05 (you can read all about it in a different thread) Tim Z removed the wheel while at anchor and it freed up lots of room in the cockpit. He has an X, but the same could be done to an M. Just something to think about.

[They Theirs]

RichandLori

Happy New Year Rich!

I would like to remove the wheel, but it's the pedestal I have a problem with on the cockpit floor. Seems Im continually burdened working around the cockpit leg and foot restrictions. I like the Wheel Helm when motoring and my mate loves the raised helm seat as she can see over the high cabin (with a cushion). I like the looks of the cockpit, the feel and operation under power, but I just cannot get what I would feel comfortable with in the cockpit and wheel that I feel I could get from a tiller when sailing. (I must be spoiled from experience in another boat). Can this be Possible? The best of both worlds.

[richandlori]

Come to think of it, I always walk around the helm up on the seats....it is a PITA to get around it trying to remain on the cockpit sole...no doubt!

[Frank C]

TT,

I plan to do something very similar just forward of the 26X pedestal. Unfortunately, the traveler picture in that PDF was too small to be useful. I searched for a better shot, but found nothing at Etap's webpage nor in any boat review. Should you find another link to related pictures, I'd like to see more detail on how they mount the removable traveler.

[They Theirs]

Frank C

Wow! How do you get those photos off the files? Thats the picture I was unable to capture. Your Good.

I think this would do the Macs Justice in our cockpits, and the X, even more so, as I believe it is wider. It should make sailing in the Bay a real kick to play the main while keeping your Mac scooting on its best lines. And you could still have your mainsheet lead off your helm pedestal.

I notice the track is possibly a low beam track and requires a support bridge to span the cockpit. I might go for the mid-range Hi-Beam track that will span approximately 3 to 5 unsupported. You may just tie this whole Removable unit into the pedestal for extra load and support in that big wind on the bay.

The Harken Windward Sheeting Traveler cars are fantastic, and provide a new sensation for automatically holding the mainsheet setting when tacking with the ease of pulling the car/boom to windward by automatically releasing the leeward cleat, and just as easily allows you to drop the boom down without changing your leech tension on the main. So Cool, like an accelerator pedal~~Throttle up in lulls and power down in the puffs.

[edurbin]

Arhh, I see Zavala (as much as I can with not having pulled mine apart). The rack must go down some way into the pedestal tube. Suppose the pedestal only is rotated, could the rack attachment be modified to reattach in some way. Then, suppose I had to make a new box for the steering wheel and outboard connections. Might that work ? I guess that steering wheel is not straight up and down, but is the steering wheel shaft perpendicular to the rack ?

Craig

[Frank C]

TT,
I already have Harken's track (low profile), their windward sheeting car, one dual-block end control, and an oaken bridge that will mount the track (oaken bridge = the banister top rail from a staircase ... available at Home Depot for ~ two bucks per foot.)

I was hoping to learn how they attach, detach the bridge to the cockpit seats. Looks like padeyes on the seat vertical, but I don't want padeyes sticking out there - shin-busters! I may just use some folding padeyes (read as "expensive") or maybe ski-tow hooks. I plan to just use a lashing between the bridge and the hooks. (Center-lashed at the pedestal base is an easier alternative, but IMO, the pedestal itself is too flimsy.) I want some simple method to affix the end points too ... still pondering.



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