Wheel sizes ?
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- Full Steam Ahead
- Posts: 154
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2017 12:30 pm
- Boat Name: Isambard
- Location: Calstock, Cornwall, UK
Wheel sizes ?
Thinking ahead a bit now and on the lookout for a second hand wheel, but what overall diameter would be best for my 15 ft launch.
Many thanks as always
Ian
Many thanks as always
Ian
- Lopez Mike
- Full Steam Ahead
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- Boat Name: S.L. Spiffy
- Location: Lopez Island, Washington State, USA
Re: Wheel sizes ?
The biggest thing you can swing with decent tip clearance.
Most of us have props with maybe too much blade area. I'm fairly sure I do. In my case because it was intended for a motor with easily ten to a hundred times greater power! I took what I could find.
I'm not sure but I think that at the low r.p.m. we turn our engines that we can get away with less tip clearance. On my sailboat I have a 15" prop with maybe 1 to 1.5 inch clearance and it is not enough but it is turning as much as 2000 r.p.m. My launch seldom sees 400 r.p.m. so I'm hoping that with my new hull I can get away with less than two inches on an 18" diameter, 24" pitch wheel.
Now I'll find out that you were asking about a steering wheel.
Most of us have props with maybe too much blade area. I'm fairly sure I do. In my case because it was intended for a motor with easily ten to a hundred times greater power! I took what I could find.
I'm not sure but I think that at the low r.p.m. we turn our engines that we can get away with less tip clearance. On my sailboat I have a 15" prop with maybe 1 to 1.5 inch clearance and it is not enough but it is turning as much as 2000 r.p.m. My launch seldom sees 400 r.p.m. so I'm hoping that with my new hull I can get away with less than two inches on an 18" diameter, 24" pitch wheel.
Now I'll find out that you were asking about a steering wheel.
If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.
Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
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- Full Steam Ahead
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- Location: Calstock, Cornwall, UK
Re: Wheel sizes ?
Umm ... yes actually.
Prop all sorted.
Due to falling temperatures and my workshop being unheated the use of adhesives and resins has pretty much come to a halt until the spring. So I’m now focussing on anything metallic that needs preparing.
I need to fit a slip eccentric to my WW2 auxiliary engine, modify a stuffing box and numerous other little jobs. Meanwhile a few second hand and rather cheap steering wheels have appeared on eBay and I just wanted Nader what is a comfortable size for a small launch.
Best wishes
Ian
Prop all sorted.
Due to falling temperatures and my workshop being unheated the use of adhesives and resins has pretty much come to a halt until the spring. So I’m now focussing on anything metallic that needs preparing.
I need to fit a slip eccentric to my WW2 auxiliary engine, modify a stuffing box and numerous other little jobs. Meanwhile a few second hand and rather cheap steering wheels have appeared on eBay and I just wanted Nader what is a comfortable size for a small launch.
Best wishes
Ian
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- Full Steam Ahead
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- Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2015 2:12 pm
- Boat Name: Platypus, Shelduck
- Location: Very eastern England
Re: Wheel sizes ?
I think you can set limits reasonably easily: anything less than 12" diameter is probably too small, and anything over 24" is going to get in the way in a smallish launch. My memory isn't calibrated that well, but most wheels I can think of in steamboats are in the 14" to 16" range, and work perfectly well - the number of turns from full port to full starboard is another choice which does vary quite a lot, but as a starting point about 4 full turns is what I have, and it isn't silly.
The other thing about my own boat is that the wheel has its axis athwartships rather than longitudinal, and is sited just below the port gunwale. The arrangement certainly saves some space in the boat, and works well enough, but not everyone likes it.
The other thing about my own boat is that the wheel has its axis athwartships rather than longitudinal, and is sited just below the port gunwale. The arrangement certainly saves some space in the boat, and works well enough, but not everyone likes it.
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- Location: Calstock, Cornwall, UK
Re: Wheel sizes ?
Excellent, thanks.
The wheel I’m looking at is 16” diameter and like you I’m planning on fitting the wheel athwartships, port side.
Many thanks
Kian
The wheel I’m looking at is 16” diameter and like you I’m planning on fitting the wheel athwartships, port side.
Many thanks
Kian
- PeteThePen1
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Re: Wheel sizes ?
Hi Ian
If you are not in a tearing hurry Paul Smith, son of Brian Smith of SBA fame, had a pattern for a nice steering wheel. I seem to recall that he arranged to get one cast for me in bronze and I have been very pleased with it. That was quite a long time ago so he may have had a clear out and dumped it. Still it might be worth the effort of an email if you like the look of it. Photo below if I can master the new system...
Regards
Pete
If you are not in a tearing hurry Paul Smith, son of Brian Smith of SBA fame, had a pattern for a nice steering wheel. I seem to recall that he arranged to get one cast for me in bronze and I have been very pleased with it. That was quite a long time ago so he may have had a clear out and dumped it. Still it might be worth the effort of an email if you like the look of it. Photo below if I can master the new system...
Regards
Pete
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- Full Steam Ahead
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Re: Wheel sizes ?
Thanks for that.
The one I’m looking at on eBay s quite similar to yours.
I plan to fit mine exactly like yours.
Merry Christmas
Mian
The one I’m looking at on eBay s quite similar to yours.
I plan to fit mine exactly like yours.
Merry Christmas
Mian
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- Full Steam Ahead
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Re: Wheel sizes ?
All sorted, just picked this up for £16.
Thanks for the advice.
Ian
Thanks for the advice.
Ian
- PeteThePen1
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Re: Wheel sizes ?
Wow, the real thing! That looks nice and should polish up beautifully.
If you want a laugh about how those of us who bumble through this hobby do things, I wrote up my experiences in Funnel, Issue No. 144 : Spring 2010. I am sure that you know perfectly well how to set it all up.
Regards
Pete
If you want a laugh about how those of us who bumble through this hobby do things, I wrote up my experiences in Funnel, Issue No. 144 : Spring 2010. I am sure that you know perfectly well how to set it all up.
Regards
Pete
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- Full Steam Ahead
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- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2017 12:30 pm
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- Location: Calstock, Cornwall, UK
Re: Wheel sizes ?
Oooo ... I must try and get hold of a copy.
Meanwhile I’ll bumble along as per normal.
Merry Christmas
Meanwhile I’ll bumble along as per normal.
Merry Christmas