Knobs Anyone?

[limeydal]

Saw a small center console skiff manouvering at the dock today, which had a steering knob mounted on the wheel.
Seemed to make the job of getting into the floating dock very easy, as made turning the wheel very fast when backing to and fro.
Maybe in the way a little for normal cruising use, so anyone use one of these?
Any major drawbacks?
cheers Dal

[IanE]

[limeydal]

OOps missed that; thanks will search again

[limeydal]

Found the problem. I was searching by steering knob instead of steering Assistors!

Originally Posted by Jimbo
Playground humour? How old are you!!

Those sooper dooper assistors are fantastic, had one on a rib I used for dinghy safety cover in london docks, you could do some serious emergency stop turns!

Going to try one, as it makes you seem a lot less "frantic" and more in control when manouvering
cheers Dal

[Nos4r2]

have you seen one in stainless? Most I've seen are chromed mild steel.

[limeydal]

Yes,
went out to get one yesterday;but the stainless was over $60.00
Opted for the black finish for $45.00 instead. (Matched the wheel better anyway).
Will fit it today and try it out this afternoon.
Great day forecast, with clear blue skies and 75' plus temps
cheers Dal

[widey]

used these knobs (assistors) for years on inboard waterski boats (ski nautique and Mastercraft) and were brill. So easy to control.

[Jelly]

These are great great for flat water use, but have one major draw back in rough weather.
Imagine hitting a big wave and your body is thrown against the stearing wheel, you just get the energy spread over a larger area.
Then Imagine the same force being impacted on a stearing ball of 2" diameter, I suspect that would be a broken rib or alteast extreamely painful.

Jelly

[codprawn]

Buses and lorries tend to have them - Ferraris and Astons don't - wonder why???

[roycruse]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Buses and lorries tend to have them - Ferraris and Astons don't - wonder why???

err because lock to lock on a sports car is very small and on a lorry/bus very large

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by roycruse

....... and on a lorry/bus very large

and a RIB

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Scary Des

and a RIB

Why is the lock so bad on a Rib? With hydraulic steering there is no need - 2 turns lock to lock no probs!!!

[Scary Des]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Why is the lock so bad on a Rib? With hydraulic steering there is no need - 2 turns lock to lock no probs!!!

Cos it is displacement and not power steering you’ve got a big piston/small piston hydraulic set-up, like a jack, so lots of turns moves a heave load a short way. To reduce the number of turns you need to power the system, complicated and expensive for a one off set-up. I keep meaning to look at the MG electric steering to see if that could be useful. Des

[JIY]

The big Humbers I drive commercially are equipped with steering knobs, and they are hugely useful when maneuvring the boat at slow speeds. However, they do have a habit of catching kill cords, which can be rather embarassing at higher speeds. Imagine the asotnishment on my 12 passengers faces when we slowed from 40 knots to nothing in about 3 seconds flat!

[limeydal]

Fitted one anyway and tried it out yesterday!
Loved it
The ramps are always busy at the weekend and very crowded.So mooring between two boats was always a 'frantic'to and fro or having to result in springing in.
The knob makes lock to lock so easy ;especially with hydraulic steering; and made the whole process much easier.
Does get in the way a little when bouncing over waves and hanging on as normal to the wheel;but in all ,well worth it.

Knob was the one made by Edson with two sets of Delrin ball races and was smooth and solid.
No issue with kill cords as wear that around the knee
cheers Dal