I have always had boats with tillers and I like them. Not particularly wanting a wheel at all - I have a wheel that is pretty ununusual these days. The Ericson Cruising 36, while very modern below the waterline has the aft steering arrangements of working sail and sailing yachts from the turn of the century. I thought about tearing the whole thing out and that seemed like too much trouble. At least it is not sitting in the middle of the cockpit and at least it is not some huge monster. The wheel on TATOOSH2 is 36 inches in diameter, but I wasn't sure how I would like the old fashioned arrangement. Then I ran into this ad from Riley Marine who promised to add a stainless steel rim to the timelss style of the wheel. Seemed like a good idea, but I am in Boston and the boat is in California, and Riley is down in Long Beach. Hmm....
I sent an email to Glyn Judson whom I had met and coversed with last year when I was almost ready to go on the 36's smaller sister the Ericson Independence 31. Glyn owns Dawn Treader which is down in Marina Del Rey. Dawn Treader has one of the prettiest bows and sprit that I have ever seen. Glyn is the guy for information on those beautiful little yachts and has tracked almost all of the 70+ that were built. I just wanted to let him know about the new boat. Now it turns out that Glyn knew all about my boat, and offered to help out if something came up - well I guess something came up!
The wheel now has a nicely worked (and seamless!) stainless steel ring (and is more than two inches bigger) and Glyn not only provided the logistics on the whole thing, but then arranged for it to be stripped, did some basswood repair to the wheel, and put 5 coats of varnish on the darn thing! What a guy - I just hope he gives the wheel back to me....
