Tiller vs. Wheel
During our process of shopping for a boat for the next chapter of our adventure, we’ve come across several boats with a tiller for steering as opposed to a wheel. Each of these boats were in the 35-45 foot range, and almost all of them had crossed the Atlantic at least once.
In the past, I have been quick to look past boats with tiller steering. Perhaps I shouldn’t discount them so easily though? I recently mentioned our friends’ boat Galadriel. It has tiller steering and has both crossed the Atlantic at least a couple of times, and now sits in the the Beagle Channel in southern Chile.
If you have experience with boats with tiller steering, larger than a little sailing dinghy, please share your thoughts. I’m specifically interested in comfort under passages, sailing in heavier weather, autopilots, maintenance, etc.
Obviously not a cruising sized boat.
Most of the boats I’ve sailed has had tiller sailing. Currently own a J30, also with a tiller. You will not find a more responsive method of steering, or way to get a really good feel for the boat that is somewhat lost with a wheel. For example the balance of the boat under sail is very easily felt through a tiller (If sailing with just one sail vs. two (Or more). For racing this is an advantage. Cruising on the other hand, it may be a bit more easier with a wheel, (Locking off the wheel while you attend to something). However of course with the advent of tiller auto pilots, this helps a lot. I haven’t had a chance to use one of these, however they look like they may require a bit more of setup than a wheel autopilot.
Of course you can do other tricks with the tiller that you can’t with the wheel, such as sheet to tiller steering, something I want to try this season…..
I’m not so sure an auto pilot for a tiller would be more complicated. I’ve heard that they are a lot cheaper! That I need to research.
Mike,
Convivia has a tiller. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Our last boat had a wheel, so I have a pretty good reference for both. I love the simplicity of a tiller. I love that when our’s delaminated we had a Samoan woodworker make us a new one out of exotic woods. I love that it doesn’t segment the cockpit; when we are in port, on anchor, we just tip it up and have the whole cockpit to entertain in.
I love that tiller-pilot and monitor steering is just dead simple to set up. Need to push your rudder full over, snap, it’s done. I really can’t think of a single negative. If you see a cruising sailboat that you like, and it has a tiller, consider yourself lucky!
Nice endorsement! Thanks, Tucker.
I may have mentioned to you the adventures of Miles and Beryl Smeeton. Their 47′ double ender, double planked teak, “Tsu Hang”, was tiller steered.
One advantage of a tiller is that you can rig sheet to tiller steering quite easily on convenient points of sail thus saving man power and battery drain.
I don’t know what that means (you can rig sheet to tiller steering) but I’m sure I could figure it out. 🙂
Sheet to tiller steering is tying of the headsail sheet to the tiller arm. This lets you create an autopilot of sorts that lets you sail to the same wind angle sometimes for days on end.
Overall, the arguments on favor of a tiller are that it is mechanically simpler to set up and therefore easier to maintain and inspect. When hand-steering, a tiller provides the most direct feedback to the helms-person. Tillers are also wonderful for setting up a Monitor-style wind-vane (great for long passages in steady winds).
The disadvantages are that as you get a larger boat, you need to have a larger tiller to provide the proper leverage that prevents fatigue when hand-steering. This then, adds to the cockpit space that has to be dedicated to accommodate the sweep of the tiller arm when tacking/gybing. You may also find that depending on the boat, you may find yourself more exposed to the elements with a tiller (there is no bulkhead steering with a tiller). Finally, if you are having guests on board for charter experiences, there is a learning curve to overcome. In certain conditions and with certain people, that learning curve may be extremely steep.
The learning curve for ME might be steep. 🙂
Here is one link, it shows the rig, I have seen about 10 different ways to do this here’s one, http://www.jsward.com/steering/index.shtml, we were just off coast in the Gulf 100 miles just overnighting fishing not a big crossing..
Thanks!
Tiller steering is an option, but only if you plan to use a wind vane. With a boat as large as you are inquiring about, an autopilot would take a huge amount of power, which is not a commodity in large supply on a self sufficient boat. A wine vane on the other hand will do things an autopilot can never do, but does rely on some in frequent monitoring (should be monitoring your boat at all times underway any how).
Steering a tiller by hand can be quite tiring, but gets easier in lighter wind.
Sheet to tiller steering works ok, but is the least reliable way to steer a boat by tiller.
I won’t cover wheel steering, as you are familiar with it.
I’ve never cruised, so my opinions should be taken with that information.
James L.
Are you saying that a tiller pilot requires more power than a wheel pilot?
The power taken will be independent of tiller vs wheel, but will depend on rudder balance (how much of the rudder is forward of vs behind the rudder pivot axis and also on sail balance – how much weather or lee helm the boat has and that the rudder has to fight
Before we had Unicorn we owned a 33 ft boat with tillersteering. Like other already said here, nothing beats the feeling you get for the boat with a tiller. You know instantly if the boat is not well balanced.
A tiller system is easy to maintain and not at all as complicated as wheelsystem.
The feeling you get with a wheel depends much on which system you have. Absolut worse is a hydraulic system, almost no feeling at all. I hate sailing boats with that. Better are wires, a lot more feeling. Best are link arms Many newer boats comes with it, gives you a very good feeling.
I have installed autopilots on both Unicorn and the previous boat. It was about 10 times more complex to do it on Unicorn with wheelsteering. I’m talking about an inboard pilot that works directly on the quadrant. The price was also 10 times higher than for a tillerpilot. With a tillerpilot you can afford to keep at least one spare.
Thanks, Hakan. Maybe I’ll call you to come help with installing one, if it comes to that. 🙂
My experience cruising in Patagonia and surrounding areas is that you spend quite a bit of time under power and autopilot. Some of the canals are narrow and the wind follows the canals, either hard on the bow, or hard on the stern. You are going to want a good autopilot regardless of what type of steering you choose. Also look to what type of cockpit layout, wheel or tiller, that lets you escape the elements.
Understood!
One comment about power for an electric or hydraulic autopilot. We have crossed oceans a number of times with our electromechanically autopilot. We always had enough power for it thanks to our towed generator. When the speed gets above 4 kt it gives us Amp/kt through the water. Sailing at 6 kt that gives us 144 ah in 24 hours.
We usually run it wanemode on passages. Meaning that it takes information from the masthead little electronical wane and from the electronic compass. That is very powerefficient since the boat follows the wind and the pilot does not have “fight” when the wind changes in direction. Nothing beats this sailing closehauled. That electronic brain never gets tired and keep the same angle to wind at all times. Especially helpful at nighttime. But of course you need to have a system where all the units talk to each other.
We have sailed 35 000 miles with our system and never had a problem with it.
Good info.
I loved sailing with a tiller, simple, easily put away in the cockpit, great “feel” of how well balanced you have sails set, wind vane hooks-up easily and was able to straddle the tiller and steer while multitasking in the cockpit. Not familiar with a tiller pilot, but they do, to me, look susceptible to damage from a fall or something dropping on them. Surfing down the face of an unexpected monster I’d sure feel safer with a tiller in my hand than thinking about all the cables and connections that make up a typical cable steered wheel.
And yet your new boat has a wheel! 🙂
My Stiletto had both autopilot and tiller steering. The boat was very well balanced with a light helm, but only about 1400 pounds.
Often I would go for hours at a time, steering with my leg draped over the tiller. Very laid back and very efficient.
But when the wind got up, whether arm or leg, it started to get a little physical. Not a problem during the first hour, or even the second, but eventually it was a drag, and sometimes my leg would be tired the next day!
I think I could be happy with a tiller up to the mid-30s, but past that a wheel is probably going to be better on passages. Cats I would say low 30s, and day sailing and racing bump those numbers up a few feet too (A tiller can be more nimble up-wind).
I would definitely keep a spare tiller pilot; they are out in the weather an I had a few failures. Not hard to fix, but still.
Spares are good, especially if not super expensive.
I agree with all the comments above for smaller boats. Tiller steering is more direct, provides good ‘feel’ for the balance of the boat and the sails. It is simple, easy to maintain and robust. The linear autopilot is relatively cheap, easy to set-up and easy to use.
On these grounds, for a small cruising boat, tiller steering is good for short cruises. I was brought up on tiller steering in 30ft ish boats, but we generally did coastal cruising.
The largest boat I have sailed with tiller steering was 38ft. An old long keeled boat. In light conditions all was well. However in strong winds, and worse still quartering seas, the effort of maintaining control nearly pulled your arms out of their sockets! 2 hours on watch was the maximum for even the strongest people. The forces were way beyond anything a linear auto-pilot could handle.
Another snag with tiller steering is the position. You are almost always sitting sideways on a hard seat, with your legs braced and you are trying to see forwards from a low position with a poor view forward. It is also likely to be cold, windy and wet. This far from comfortable or ideal. Half day cruises are fine, long legs to Patagonia would be very different.
You know all about wheel steering and its many benefits, drawbacks and higher costs.
Overall, for long distance cruising, I would consider that well set up wheel steering would be far preferable.
Cheers! Mike
Thanks for your input.
Mike,
I have done a few passages on boats with tiller steering. I would say I prefer it. In addition to all the positive comments already made, I would add how it can be really nice to be able to sit and hand steer or just be on watch (with the tiller within easy reach) and still be sitting up near the companionway hatch. You can be under the dodger, pass things back and forth with the crew who are still standing below, etc.
I’m not sure I understand exactly what you’re saying. How would that be different that if you had a wheel? On ZTC for example, the wheel is very close to the companion way. It is on the Amels too.
Personally I wouldn’t own a boat with a wheel. Real sailboat have tillers (this statement is taken from Webb Chiles who has circumnavigated solo 6 times and is on his 7th at age 74). I suspect this is like multi-mono hull question. You will get passionate answers both ways.
I use a Raymarine SPX-5 with a custom linear actuator made by Brian Boschma, the raymarine drive unit is my backup. I draw 0.5 amp to 2 amps/hour depending on weather. My boat surfs easily and a wind vane is simply not responsive enough downwind at racing speeds. Monohulls that don’t surf can easily use a wind vane, there are many units available that are extremely reliable (monitor etc). You can also hook up a tiller autopilot to a wind vane for more precise steering, drawing very little current.
Other readers have suggested good strategies to use when every thing else dies. Most can be used with wheel or tiller with a a little fiddling. Parts and service are a must for whatever system you choose, you know that already.
Bill
http://pelagicautopilot.com
http://www.selfsteer.com
Thanks, Bill!
Mike, Fatty Goodlander would be a good resource. His old boat had a tiller but I think the new one has a wheel.
I wonder the difference in size between the two boats.
I’m in the market for a monohull in the 25-30′ range and am only looking at boats with a tiller. For me is all about the ease of steering with the tiller between my knees keeping both hands free to multitask. I currently do this with my 15′ dingy both while sailing and paddling. I’ve also had great success with sheet to tiller steering being able to relax on the bow while the boat streers itself for hours at a time.
For a 25-30 foot boat, definitely a tiller.
We went from a 32′ tiller steered to a 36′ wheel steered boat and WE MISS THE TILLER SOOOO MUCH!!! Wheels are complicated, temperamental, they break down (we broke one of the cables in the middle of the ocean) and provide little feedback. While cruising there is very little hand steering so for a medium size cruising boat I don’t see the need for the wheel. Best of all, if you have a tiller, you can take advantage of the cheapest autopilot in the world, the sheet-to-tiller self steering. If you dont know what it is, check out our video… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQNBlrg0VyI
Thanks Jasna, I’ll check that out.
Just finished your second charter and going to now read at January 1st, 2014! ONLY one more year and 6 months to go. WHEW! I have purposely not read this post but wanted to let you know, I’M HOOKED! Great blog! We love you guys! Just letting you know. I’m going back in time now. Will tell you more about us when we come “Back To The Future”.
Wishing you future people all the best!
Chuck and Maria
Way Northern Indiana (GO IRISH!)
hehe… thanks for putting in the effort to read the entire blog. That takes some work!
I wouldn’t consider a wheel until the steering forces require their mechanical advantage – maybe those close to and over 40 feet? Otherwise, for those of us on “small” boats, a tiller is the only way to go. I’ve actually never owned a sailboat with a wheel, come to think of it. I love the feel of the tiller, the responsiveness and their simplicity. Autopilots and wind vanes are natural upgrades (Hydrovane being my No. 1 choice if I had $5k to spend)…
I like the idea of a wind vane too.
Going from a catamaran with a wheel to a monohull with a tiller – you are changing for the better!!! Oh the feel as she heels over and you steer through a set of waves! Magic.
Change is good.
We have a wheel with worm gear steering on our boat, an Allied Princess 36′. As wheels go, that is a very robust system. Heavy, but without the risk of breakage other people have described. My next boat will be a little smaller and definitely with a tiller. I agree with everyone else that, depending on the weight of the boat, somewhere near 40′ is the limit what what can be comfortably driven with a tiller. Maybe a 10 ton boat? I suspect a big fancy amel won’t have an option for a tiller.
Have a great time down south, I’m jealous!
No, no tillers on the Amels we have been looking at. We have been keeping our eyes open for other boats though.
Assuming the boat’s inherent balance is reasonably good, tiller steering has a lot of advantages over wheel steering, at least up to 10 or 15 tonnes displacement.
It’s cheaper, it’s more responsive, there are a lot fewer parts that could break and ruin your day….
If the boat’s a bit of a brat, she may be easier to wrestle around with a wheel. But why would you want such a boat anyway? 😉
As for automatic steering….. Wind vane steering gears (whether servo-pendulum, trim tab or something weird) aren’t cheap, but I’m convinced they’re very much worth it.
Once you have a wind vane gear, you can get full computerized autopilot capability by fabricating a little bracket to mount a low power tillerpilot in place of the vane blade (on a servo-pendulum unit) or directly actuating the trim tab linkage (on a trim-tab unit). The vane gear plus three spare tillerpilots will usually come to about half the cost of a good under-deck autopilot. This setup uses no power when the wind is right, and will use about one-fifth as much power as the conventional autopilot when you’re using it in computerized mode.
As always, thanks for sharing your thoughts, Matt.
Top on my list of sailboats right now is a Hirondelle 24 Mk I catamaran. It has tiller steering.
Except for sailing a friend’s Gemini 105MC, all of my sailing has been with tiller boats.
As mentioned previously, steady as she goes on a tiller boat is easier because you can rig the tiller to the sheets. Of course, sailing by the wind can put you off-course relative to your intended destination if the wind shifts and you don’t account for it.
I would still probably look for a way to rig a wheel to the tiller using some running rigging. I think it would offer better visibility when working in tighter quarters.
-Dave
Good luck with your catamaran shopping.