Sailing is regarded as a soothing and enjoyable activity all over the world. Many individuals appreciate being one with nature, witnessing spectacular vistas, and learning to navigate a sailboat. When you first start sailing, though, one of the most important things to learn is the anatomy of the boat. This gives you the finest understanding of how everything operates on the water. And, in order to achieve this, you will need some sailing courses but most importantly some practice. So, in this article, I will give you information about sailboats’ big steering wheels and answer the question of why they are so big. Keep reading!

Steering Wheels and Tillers on Sailboats

Most sailboats over 30 feet (9 meters) include a steering wheel, similar to a car. The wheel regulates the position of your rudder via a mechanical linkage. Turn the wheel to the left when driving ahead, and the boat will move to the left – and vice versa. You could assume that this is obvious, but when you compare turning the wheel to steering a sailboat with a tiller it’s different.

A tiller is used to steer most smaller sailboats. It takes some time to get used to using a tiller for the first time because the boat turns in the opposite direction as you move the tiller. If you move the tiller to the left, the boat will turn right; if you move it to the right, the boat will turn left.

Steering a sailboat is similar to driving a car in that turning gets more economical as the boat speeds up (and you can’t steer if you’re stopped). So you may turn the tiller or wheel less to attain the same turning arc when you’re traveling fast. But, when turning slowly, make a harder turn and maintain the rudder over for a longer period of time.
Some sailors prefer a tiller on any boat up to 40 feet in length for pure sailing pleasure. Although a wheel takes up less cockpit area, it detracts from the boat’s overall feel. Wheel steering has a lot higher internal friction because of all the accompanying parts and linkages. A tiller connects you directly to the rudder, allowing you to feel the water as it flows beneath the boat.

Steering Wheels on Sailboats

The steering wheel (also known as the helm) of a boat is perhaps one of the most well-known elements, aside from the sail itself. Many individuals outside of the sailing industry, however, are perplexed as to why these steering wheels are so large. Others helms are so big that they almost cover the whole stern of the boat, with some measuring nearly five feet in diameter!

A sailboat’s helm is huge for a variety of reasons, but the most important reason is that it allows the vessel’s helmsman to manage the vessel more easily. Here are some other explanations behind the large size of the steering wheel:

• Controlling the boat with minimum effort: If your boat has a large rudder that is unbalanced and runs around its center of effort, a lot of pressure and force can be generated. This will necessitate a large steering wheel to alleviate some of the strain. Because of the big diameter, you have more leverage to steer with less effort. A large wheel might also allow the helmsman to move further outboard to inspect the water or under the sails.
• Cockpit and steering wheels: The helm of a sailing boat is designed to be easy to use for the helmsman. From either side of the boat, you should be able to reach the steering wheel. Some smaller cockpits, on the other hand, will not be able to accommodate a huge one. When a huge steering wheel cannot be built into a boat, it may be designed with two. There will be one on each side this way. When the boat is healed over, the helmsman will usually steer from the higher side of the cockpit so that he can see well. So, whether your boat has one or two steering wheels, you want to be able to reach them from wherever. The easier it is to turn the helm’s wheel, the bigger it is. Moreover, the larger the force, the larger the wheel must be.
• Ease of access: The fact that you can reach the helm on a sailboat is one of the key reasons for its size. You sit on the high side of the boat when tacking. Moreover, sitting on either side of the boat and yet reach the steering wheel is possible thanks to the wide steering wheel. You don’t want to strain or reach too much while steering, therefore you want to be completely relaxed. Also, in case you’re straining while steering, it can be risky while on the water.
• Comfortable steering: When sailing, a large steering wheel can be useful in a variety of situations. These steering wheels allow for the helmsman to evaluate the distance and location of landmarks, other vessels, and other objects. This convenience would be impossible to achieve with a small steering wheel. Furthermore, larger sailboat steering wheels provide a less labor-intensive overall steering experience. The name of the game is leverage, and it takes a lot of strength to turn such a big mass of steel around once momentum has built up in a different direction. The huge steering wheel proves its worth in this situation.

Steering Wheels System

Firstly, a sailboat helm wheel has a larger diameter than a powerboat helm wheel. This is because navigating a sailboat involves more effort than steering a powerboat, which is faster and often incorporates hydraulic steering. Note that wheels can be made of stainless steel, aluminum, wood, or composite materials, most commonly carbon. To save space in the cockpit, certain models fold back on themselves. Wheel steering allows the helmsman to stand, providing a better forward vision and a better view of the sails while also needing less effort than tiller steering. The diameter of the wheel will be determined by the amount of cockpit space available and the force necessary to move the rudder blade. It’s worth mentioning that the larger the steering wheel, the more leverage it provides and the easier it is to steer.

It’s easy to overlook the finer points of boat steering, but knowing things about them gives you a significant advantage for navigation. Most importantly, keep in mind that a sailboat’s steering system is made up of various parts, including the wheel, the helm, the cables, and the steering cable. All of these components work together to allow sailors to modify the boat’s route whenever they want.

Let’s look at some details regarding how a boat’s steering wheel works. While one of the components stated previously would render the steering system unusable, the helm is arguably the most critical aspect of a sailboat’s steering system. This is because the helm converts the steering wheel’s turning motion into a push and pull motion that moves the rudder right, left, and so on. Why is it important for you to know this? Because knowing how the steering system works can be useful if you ever need to make repairs to it.

Maintenance of the Steering System

A boat’s steering system, as any experienced boater knows, requires regular maintenance. Periodic inspection of the steering system is important to ensure an effective steering system function. If there’s a problem, action must be taken to resolve the problem. Cleaning the system on a regular basis is particularly important.

When it comes to steering systems, the steering cable must be meticulously maintained. This is due to the fact that poorly maintained steering cables can seize or corrode. As a result, this would cause the steering system to malfunction and this could lead to dangers from being unable to steer the boat efficiently.

There are a few things you can do to keep your steering cables in good repair. For instance, once a month make a practical process for inspecting the steering cable. Along with the cables, look for evidence of wear or corrosion. Don’t forget to look at the cable connections as well. Clean and oil the cable connectors on a regular basis. Note that you’ll need a lithium-based grease for this.

Keep in mind that even when you’re not utilizing your steering system, it still needs to be maintained. There are some precautions to take when storing your boat for an extended period of time. You will have to disconnect the steering cord from the engine. This should be well cleaned and greased. When you’re ready to sail again, reconnect it.

Common Malfunctions

You’ll note that when your steering system is in good shape, it handles extremely smoothly at all speeds. Also, while steering, there won’t be much play in the wheel or cables.

It’s not always easy to overlook when something goes wrong with your steering system. The steering is not precise, as you will realize. The boat will not behave as expected if you turn the wheel one way. You can also have a problem with wheel resistance. While sailing, it may become more difficult to turn the wheel. You might see rust on the steering cables, which appears as cuts or holes on the surface.

Because of the risk that can arise if your steering system fails, it’s critical to examine and maintain it. A defective steering system can result in a variety of outcomes. These range from a stressful period spent attempting to safely maneuver the boat to a big crash with casualties.

If you’re going to be at the helm of a boat in the future, make sure you understand the various mechanisms that propel the vessel. Even if you aren’t going to be in charge, this knowledge is equally important even if you’re just part of the crew. You never know when you’ll need to put your knowledge to use.

How to Avoid Malfunctions

A chain and rope combination is used in the majority of sailboat steering systems. The steering wheel moves a short piece of chain that travels over a sprocket inside the steering pedestal. The chain’s ends are connected to stainless steel wire, which is normally routed through many sheaves before terminating on the steering quadrant above the rudder post. All of these sites of contact are susceptible to chafing and normal wear and tear. Even with proper maintenance, the cable will eventually wear out and need to be replaced.

Let’s see an example of the consequences of ignoring the steering system. You might be sailing in calm waters and suddenly the boat rounds up, the sails are flying, and heals into the wind. And, what caused this? Well, the steering cables broke which rendered the steering system inoperable. That’s why it’s advisable to carry a tiller on board so as to get back on your route. Also, note that this is the result of poor maintenance of the steering system even if it’s in proper shape. Probably the cable deteriorated gradually something that a yearly regular inspection would have detected.

Why Sailboats Have Big Steering Wheels? – Summary

• A large rudder, especially one that is unbalanced (turns about its center of effort), generates a great deal of pressure and force. Thus, it necessitates the use of a large wheel to make steering easier. A large wheel also allows the helmsman to get further outboard to view around or under the sails. To make things easier, many modern boats have two wheels.
• The huge size of a sailboat’s steering wheel allows the helmsman to have more control over the vessel and access it from either side of the vessel. In a mechanical sense, a large steering wheel also aids leverage. It makes it easier for the helmsman to turn the huge rudder without exerting too much effort.
• On the rudder, the forces at work are likewise extremely varied. In light conditions, the helmsman may use a sensitive touch to steer accurately with fine adjustments and minimal drag. But, in heavy conditions, he or she will need a lot of leverage. Simultaneously, the steering systems may be exposed to extreme environments and must be as simple and durable as feasible.
• Of course, basic ease of use is important, however, on sailing vessels, the cockpit size also influences the wheel size. Because the wheel must be reachable and usable from both sides, there are two options: A. a large wheel that spans the cockpit’s width, or B. two wheels, one on each side. This is because the helmsman will usually steer from the higher side of the cockpit when the boat is healed over, allowing him to see properly. Because most catamarans do not heal over, the wheel on most of them is significantly smaller. As a result, the helm does not need to be accessible from either side.
• While increasing the gear ratio can provide the same leverage, it comes at the cost of increased friction. While the issue of sightlines is obviously important, the purpose behind large wheels for cruising boats is to reduce frictional losses while retaining a light helm so that the helmsman and autopilot do not wear out.
• Another important factor in the simplicity of ‘leverage’ provided by the common large wheel system is what is known as ‘overhauling’. This means that when the boat is moving forward and the helmsman releases the wheel, the wheel will automatically return to center and the boat will come close to sailing in a straight line on its own. Automobiles use the same ‘overhauling’ design: force the wheel to complete the turn, relax pressure on the steering wheel, and the vehicle’s forward momentum restores the wheel to near ‘dead center.’ Imagine having to ‘actively’ steer an automobile in both directions, into the turn and then back to center; it’s impossible!