SeaStar Tilt Steering for a CD-22?
- Thread starter Bill3558
- Start date
Bill-
You get an "A" for creative thinking out of the box, at least as far as boats go!
I don't believe I've ever seen a tilt wheel on a boat, but why not?
Where would you get a tilt mechanism, from a car?
Or make it yourself? Wouldn't be very hard to make a fork to fit over the existing hub with a removable second rearward pin to allow the wheel to tilt up or to the side and out of the way.
Might also borrow the set up from the NASCAR world where they have a quick release hub and simply remove the wheel and lay it on the dash to get in and out. Wouldn't want to get caught in an emergency, like a dock fire, with my wheel off, though! Might have to practice the wheel on / wheel off maneuver to get proficient at quick change operations.*
They also make smaller steering wheels, as small as 11" diameter, like for rear helm trolling stations. Would work as long as you're strong enough to turn the low leverage wheel. I think most average wheels run about 14-15 inches or so, plus or minus an inch.
How about a Joy Stick and Fly-By-Wire set up? Just add an autopilot and tap into the signal to the hydraulic steering pump? Would be fine until an electrical power failure! Learning to dock might be a fun experience or two!
Another idea: lower the helm seat and move it back, and make it swivel, and then slide it backward up against the starboard hull wall. With a somewhat smaller wheel, maybe ......
Lotsa ideas, others will chime in, I'm sure!
Cheers!
Joe. :teeth :thup
*Philosophy question: caught with your wheel off, your pants down, and the dock on fire, which takes precedence?
A. Get the wheel, you gotta get outta here, it's a fire, for cripes sake!
B. Pull up your pants, you rude idiot! (Don't want to frighten the firemen away, either!) (DaveS is a bit squeemish, you know.)
C. Yell "Abandon Ship" and make sue the Captain beats the crew over the side and then you both get to swim with the F-D dolphins!
D. Doesn't matter, the economy makes all other struggles moot. Have another beer and turn up the Pink Floyd!
How'd ya' do on the quiz, wanna check your credit rating too???????
You get an "A" for creative thinking out of the box, at least as far as boats go!
I don't believe I've ever seen a tilt wheel on a boat, but why not?
Where would you get a tilt mechanism, from a car?
Or make it yourself? Wouldn't be very hard to make a fork to fit over the existing hub with a removable second rearward pin to allow the wheel to tilt up or to the side and out of the way.
Might also borrow the set up from the NASCAR world where they have a quick release hub and simply remove the wheel and lay it on the dash to get in and out. Wouldn't want to get caught in an emergency, like a dock fire, with my wheel off, though! Might have to practice the wheel on / wheel off maneuver to get proficient at quick change operations.*
They also make smaller steering wheels, as small as 11" diameter, like for rear helm trolling stations. Would work as long as you're strong enough to turn the low leverage wheel. I think most average wheels run about 14-15 inches or so, plus or minus an inch.
How about a Joy Stick and Fly-By-Wire set up? Just add an autopilot and tap into the signal to the hydraulic steering pump? Would be fine until an electrical power failure! Learning to dock might be a fun experience or two!
Another idea: lower the helm seat and move it back, and make it swivel, and then slide it backward up against the starboard hull wall. With a somewhat smaller wheel, maybe ......
Lotsa ideas, others will chime in, I'm sure!
Cheers!
Joe. :teeth :thup
*Philosophy question: caught with your wheel off, your pants down, and the dock on fire, which takes precedence?
A. Get the wheel, you gotta get outta here, it's a fire, for cripes sake!
B. Pull up your pants, you rude idiot! (Don't want to frighten the firemen away, either!) (DaveS is a bit squeemish, you know.)
C. Yell "Abandon Ship" and make sue the Captain beats the crew over the side and then you both get to swim with the F-D dolphins!
D. Doesn't matter, the economy makes all other struggles moot. Have another beer and turn up the Pink Floyd!
How'd ya' do on the quiz, wanna check your credit rating too???????
Joe, they are made for the SeaStar system. I wish I had got one when I did the hydraulic conversion. Here's where I would buy it.
I was also thinking of installing the SeaStar tilt wheel because after raising my helm seat about an inch it was a little tight getting in behind the wheel. What I did was raise the wheel about 1.5 inches by extending the mounting hole and re-drilling the top built holes. Then I had to make a cross member to bridge the gap where the bottom mounting holes now where. The sweet part about this process was I didn’t have to detach the hydraulic lines.
In the end it came out fine but now had a nasty looking hole under the wheel column with drill holes to either side, so I build a little something to cover the hole and mounted in place using the exiting drill holes.
I modified the helm seat hinge so the seat now folds flat and attached a cutting board to its back, creating about 50% more usable counter space for the galley. See photo album..
When I get time I’ll post some detailed photos of the project.
In the end it came out fine but now had a nasty looking hole under the wheel column with drill holes to either side, so I build a little something to cover the hole and mounted in place using the exiting drill holes.
I modified the helm seat hinge so the seat now folds flat and attached a cutting board to its back, creating about 50% more usable counter space for the galley. See photo album..
When I get time I’ll post some detailed photos of the project.
Gosh Joe, I think it works great! The tilt feature on Seastar Steering is a standard feature on the 23' Venture. I love it! 
I also added a rear steering station (no, it doesn't tilt) with a slightly smaller wheel and Morse Controls. Sportscraft Marina in Oregon did it for me and they did a great job!
I'll post pictures as soon as I learn how.
KMcClish
MARCIA JANE
I also added a rear steering station (no, it doesn't tilt) with a slightly smaller wheel and Morse Controls. Sportscraft Marina in Oregon did it for me and they did a great job!I'll post pictures as soon as I learn how.
KMcClish
MARCIA JANE
TyBoo and Marcia Jane-
Shows what I know! Never noticed it before on any of the boats.
Guess I spent too much time trying to come up with crazy off-shoot ( or shoot-off) remarks about whatever.
Looks like a nice unit. I wonder how far it tilts and how much space you'd gain?
I remember back a few years ago when the entire SeaStar steering package cost about $600, the cost of this tilt unit. The Sea Star System now lists at about $1400 and goes for $1000 at West Marine. Times change. Progress!.....
The exact solution could be a little different for different people, using the tilt unit, a change in wheel size, seat configuration, and whatever else in combination to get the desired effect.
Probably ought to also plan on a little extra room as well for "growth" in the future, unless one can get on board with Roger / SeaDNA's Biggest Loser Program!
Joe. :teeth :thup
Shows what I know! Never noticed it before on any of the boats.
Guess I spent too much time trying to come up with crazy off-shoot ( or shoot-off) remarks about whatever.
Looks like a nice unit. I wonder how far it tilts and how much space you'd gain?
I remember back a few years ago when the entire SeaStar steering package cost about $600, the cost of this tilt unit. The Sea Star System now lists at about $1400 and goes for $1000 at West Marine. Times change. Progress!.....
The exact solution could be a little different for different people, using the tilt unit, a change in wheel size, seat configuration, and whatever else in combination to get the desired effect.
Probably ought to also plan on a little extra room as well for "growth" in the future, unless one can get on board with Roger / SeaDNA's Biggest Loser Program!
Joe. :teeth :thup
Bill3558":3jhhhb2n said:
Bill,
I was also concerned about the tight fit behind the wheel and thought the tilt wheel would be the answer. The new 22's have that as an option and I saw one. Problem is as Dr. Bob pointed out the wheel is much closer, at least three inches, closer to the helm seat.
The new models without the tilt feature have the hydraulic component behind the dash instead of in front of it. Thus, this provides significant additional room between wheel and seat.
Harper
EQ installed a SeaStar tilt helm on my C-D 22 last year. The steering was rather heavy so I replaced the stock wheel with a larger diameter, 15.5 " destroyer type wheel with spinner from WM. Works great -- lots of room and now the wheel doesn't get in my way. Not the cheapest way to go however.
John
John
I looked at that when I installed my steering...but decided that "tilt" helm was more money than I wanted to spend.... so I made some shims and mounted the steering pump at a steeper angle.... I have a sport pilot auto pilot unit mounted on there so that raises the wheel...worked well... I wanted to sit higher in the helm seat so I could see over the bow...
Joel
SEA3PO
Joel
SEA3PO
I also thought the extra cost of the tilt helm too much when I bought the system so I went with the fixed. The wheel ended up a little low and close to the seat (which I raised an inch a long time ago). Joel has the right idea here, and I think I am going to do the shim tilt trick myself. When you stop and think about it, the chances of ever moving the wheel once the best spot is found are pretty slim. At least for me. I have the wheels in the car and truck set in one spot and they don't get moved. In fact, it bugs me when someone else drives and messes up my setting. Cool. Thanks Joel. Such a simple solution. One of them slap myself upalongside the head and wonder why I didn't think of it things.
Captains Cat
New member
I've got the tilt system on the TC255, never really paid much attention, it's just like the car. I just put it in the most comfortable position and then forgot about it. Works fine though, never noticed the increased space it takes, probably because I never had the other one on the Cat to compare it with.
Charlie
Charlie
The Tom Cat 255 has the wheel signficantly higher from the seat than the 22 does. As Charlie, I just leave it in the most comfortable position, unless I am driving standing. In that case, I put the wheel at it lowest position--and that gives a little more room between the seat and the wheel. But I have a spinner, and it tends to hang up a bit when in this position.
Bill from your photos it looks as if you have an older style of wheel, where the newer ones, tend to fit almost flush. Again, look at the specs to see what you have and then compare with what is available today.
Bill from your photos it looks as if you have an older style of wheel, where the newer ones, tend to fit almost flush. Again, look at the specs to see what you have and then compare with what is available today.
Comfortably Numb
New member
I have a fairly good picture of the tilt wheel option in my album (I believe it is Picture Eight). The caption explains the motivation. It is a totally useful option...I am one of the ample figure guys Marc @ Wefings describes, and it does position the wheel closer to the seat. At times, it kinda runs counter-productive. BUT, most of the time, it serves its intended purpose well. I find I actually use the different settings for different circumstances; I don't constantly fiddle with it, now that it has become more second nature.
Mark
Comfortably Numb
Mark
Comfortably Numb