TOPIC: Wheels

Bob Marsland wrote: I think the lower body parts here referred to would be more at risk from the sticky-out handle that enabled high speed turning of the wheel. I removed the one on the wheel we fitted to La Chouette right at installation. — Bob

Ah yes... that little thing-y. It had a particular name amongst skippers 🤔... something with ball and cr.....

😂

I recall something about no spokes in early 2000s. When I built my own 1m diameter wheel, I made it with a chunky laminated rim.

Hello John,

No - nor CEVNI - I suspect it was an NL initiative.

We have the outer rim wheel and a folding ball-breaker - best or worst of both worlds!

I've got a vague recollection of something to that effect in the rcd, is there anything in trin?

> I think the lower body parts here referred to would be more at risk from the sticky-out handle that enabled high speed turning of the wheel. I removed the one on the wheel we fitted to La Chouette right at installation.

Another potential danger with sticky-out handles is that they can catch in trouser pockets at just the moment you have to dash to attend a rope. Ripped trousers may not be quite so catastrophic but still a potential embarrassment.

Peter

Tam Murrell wrote: Certainly a lot of Dutch barges built in the 20s with a spoked wheel subsequently had an outer rim added. I associate it with risk to wrists getting broken rather than lower parts of the body, but who can tell?
Tam

I think the lower body parts here referred to would be more at risk from the sticky-out handle that enabled high speed turning of the wheel. I removed the one on the wheel we fitted to La Chouette right at installation.

Bob

I too recall that provision. I think it was something introduced post 1930s applicable to commercial vessels rather than pleasure craft, but I can't remember where I saw it. Certainly a lot of Dutch barges built in the 20s with a spoked wheel subsequently had an outer rim added. I associate it with risk to wrists getting broken rather than lower parts of the body, but who can tell?

Certification has changed substantially in the past 20 years or so, and I can't immediately see anything to that effect in ES-TRIN, and certainly not in UK Boat Safety Scheme rules. Even if such requirement does still exist somewhere, your boat at 16.5m is almost certainly exempt.

Tam

I believe that there might have been a regulation at some time that required an outer rim covering the exposed spokes on ships' wheels, possibly prompted by the low geared steering on many barges and the increasing use of mechanical assistance to existing steering systems in the later half of the last century, that may have perceived exposed spokes to be a risk to the birth rate.

My ship has an outer rim which was almost certainly retrofitted. However, I have never seen any official reference to this anecdotal regulation and have never heard of anybody being keel hauled for the offence, which is not to say that the regulation may not still be lying on the statute books somewhere, un-repealed.

I wouldn't worry too much, but would be interested to hear if anybody knows any different.

Balliol.

I am preparing my river barge "Cordelia" to take across the Channel to Europe. It currently has a small ships wheel; but I've heard that it may be a requirement to have one that is purely circular, without the traditional projections. Is this a strict requirement, please, or can I keep the existing wheel? Thanks in anticipation!