Wheel sizes ?

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ianrichards
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Wheel sizes ?

Post by ianrichards » Sat Dec 22, 2018 6:57 pm

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
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Lopez Mike
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Re: Wheel sizes ?

Post by Lopez Mike » Sun Dec 23, 2018 2:01 am

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.
If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.
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ianrichards
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Re: Wheel sizes ?

Post by ianrichards » Sun Dec 23, 2018 8:01 am

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
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Re: Wheel sizes ?

Post by RGSP » Sun Dec 23, 2018 8:45 am

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.
ianrichards
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Re: Wheel sizes ?

Post by ianrichards » Sun Dec 23, 2018 9:34 am

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
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Re: Wheel sizes ?

Post by PeteThePen1 » Sun Dec 23, 2018 2:09 pm

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...
IMG_1178.JPG
Regards

Pete
ianrichards
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Re: Wheel sizes ?

Post by ianrichards » Sun Dec 23, 2018 2:27 pm

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
ianrichards
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Re: Wheel sizes ?

Post by ianrichards » Sun Dec 23, 2018 6:12 pm

All sorted, just picked this up for £16.
Thanks for the advice.
Ian
BCE501BC-4991-466B-80F2-E337C17B57B3.jpeg
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PeteThePen1
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Re: Wheel sizes ?

Post by PeteThePen1 » Mon Dec 24, 2018 10:48 am

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
ianrichards
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Re: Wheel sizes ?

Post by ianrichards » Mon Dec 24, 2018 12:37 pm

Oooo ... I must try and get hold of a copy.
Meanwhile I’ll bumble along as per normal.
Merry Christmas
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