Wooden wheel, yeah or nay

[Indulgence]

Ordered this wheel from Lat's and Att's. It was only eighty bucks or so and
I thought it might look kind of neat. If not on the boat then on a wall in the
basement or something. I can't decide whether to go ahead and install it or not.

It's a bit much. Any opinions or comments appreciated.

[kmclemore]

I dunno. After bruising my thigh after bumping into one of those spokes for the n-hundreth time, I think I'd be ready to heave it overboard! Besides, I'm not sure it really fits the 'look' of a Mac anyway - i.e. simplicity/clean/modern - I'd stick with the stainless and perhaps get it covered with elk hide or something. Maybe use a wood center if you need a touch of wood in the cockpit.

[Terry]

For eight bucks I would put it up in my den to add to my already nautical decor. As for the cockpit, I agree with Kevin, it is not in keeping with the existing cockpit decor. There are some who have installed a larger SS wheel in the 18" - 24" sizes but I find it difficult enough to manuever around the little 15" oem wheel. It is a nice looking wheel but it would look nicer up ony our wall than on your boat.

[Pete]

Looks like an ornamant rather then a real helm for actual use. Best to keep that one the wall in the den IMO. But do you like it? Thats what really matters.

Pete

[Indulgence]

Yeah, you guys are right. It should be on a wall.
It doesn't really fit with the decor of the Mac.
And I already have a 18" SS wheel with a nice wooden center hub.
(And it's a bit of a waltz to get past it.)

I think I'll just take pictures for now and try to find a boat it'll fit on later!

Ah well. It was winter time in mod-ville, what can I say?

[Hardcrab]

On top of all that, I'd hate to resand and refinish that thing every couple of years.
Thank Goodness for Rogers "no wood" concept.

Been there, done that.
No thanks.

[Rick Westlake]

If you're looking for something "old-time-nautical" to dress up your wheel, I just posted a mod that might suit you. It's labor-intensive, but it's cheap and it doesn't need varnishing - it's just a fancy braided wrapping that an old-time bos'un might have applied. (I would have posted the photos here in this track, but ... how do I upload them to the site?)

[Russ]

It is my opinion that spoked wheels are dangerous. Too many things to get caught on (Lines etc.) I wouldn't do it.

[Hamin' X]

(I would have posted the photos here in this track, but ... how do I upload them to the site?)

Images that you want to post must be hosted on another website, unless they appear in articles, or mods. Most of these photo hosting sites are free, after registration. After the photo has been uploaded to the host site, click on the Img button at the top of the editing window where you are making your post. [ img][/img ] appears where your cursor is. Then paste the link to the image between the ][ brackets. Please try to adhere to the three image/post limit.

~Rich

[2BonC]

I dunno. After bruising my thigh after bumping into one of those spokes for the n-hundreth time, I think I'd be ready to heave it overboard! Besides, I'm not sure it really fits the 'look' of a Mac anyway - i.e. simplicity/clean/modern - I'd stick with the stainless and perhaps get it covered with elk hide or something. Maybe use a wood center if you need a touch of wood in the cockpit.

..You changed Your mind?
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... ilit=wheel

Rainer

[bastonjock]

Its a no from me,i think that it looks totally out of context with the mac,and those spokes sticking out will leave you with a leg full of bruises.

i do however think that raniers wheel,the wooden one with the steel center is way too cool for his boat and he should drop it in the post to me

[kmclemore]

I dunno. After bruising my thigh after bumping into one of those spokes for the n-hundreth time, I think I'd be ready to heave it overboard! Besides, I'm not sure it really fits the 'look' of a Mac anyway - i.e. simplicity/clean/modern - I'd stick with the stainless and perhaps get it covered with elk hide or something. Maybe use a wood center if you need a touch of wood in the cockpit.

..You changed Your mind?
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... ilit=wheel
Rainer

Not at all! The wooden wheel in the pic I selected for that earlier post is indeed simple/clean/modern and as such it fits the Mac look quite well. And it has no annoying spokes sticking out to ram my leg on, either!

[Indulgence]

Rainer- That wheel is very classy indeed. Nice.
Rick- that's a smart lookin' bit of rope work. I like it.

One final, just for the heck of it, picture after I installed the spokes yesterday.
Now it's just funny.

[tangentair]

If you're looking for something "old-time-nautical" to dress up your wheel, I just posted a mod that might suit you. It's labor-intensive, but it's cheap and it doesn't need varnishing - it's just a fancy braided wrapping that an old-time bos'un might have applied. .......

I liked how you did that, although I use several different knots for these type of wraps and prefer the "knot" on the top of the wheel. Back in the early 70s, when I started playing on something bigger than a 16 ft fishing boat, the bosun and I would "pretty up" all kinds of boats at marinas around NYC for "fishing trip money" and often got taken out for a cruise as part of the deal. But I would recommend anyone doing this consider liberally applying a white epoxy deck paint over the line used - keeps it wrapped tightly and looking good.
Ron

[kmclemore]

Any internet resource to show us all how to do that, Ron?