ships steering wheel

[Don Rafferty]

Lots here: 5.5 foot Ships Wheel Manchester Dry Docks Co, Ships Wheels & Steering Pedestals


Well worth having a browse around the above site

[Captain Kong]

Three kinds of wheels,.....

A very tiny one like a tiller on QE2
.
Brass one on old QUEEN MARY.

Traditional one on Liberty ship, SAM , Jeremiah O`Brien.
Cheers

Brian.

[Roger Dyer]

Hi Don,.........your # 16 refers.

Your mention of the 'King Spoke' was correct, mate, because that is what it
was known as. The spoke that would rest in a vertical position when the wheel was released, denoting 'Midships. Generally speaking, it would rest comfortably in my abdomen when I leaned forward against the wheel, or, on some ships, against my rib-cage.

Captain John Arton made the point that we could all steer and he was right, but, John, some of us were better than others and I like to think I was one of them. In rough weather I was taught the art of steering a ship through the soles of my feet, to hasten my ability to correct any deviation from course. I am not familiar with the modern methods of steering a ship, but I say this with pride and belief. As an A.B. in the 60's, I was comfortable steering a ship by quarter-points or by any other method. When called upon to steer a vessel, I did so in the belief that I had the ability to maintain a course with greater speed and accuracy than technology of the day could achieve. Perhaps, that belief would still apply, I don't know. I now await incoming from my brother seamen who know better.

.........Roger.

[John Arton]

Roger, in my post I was trying to make the point that the helmsmen who grew up steering ships that had the old fashioned telemotor system or rod and chain were better helmsmen as they did have the feel of the ship.
Once the electronics came in you were removed from the ship in a similar way to modern cars with all there electronic gadgets remove the driver from the feel of the road.
rgds
JA

[john sutton]

does anyone remember letting the boat drift off course about lunchtime the bringing her qhickly back and getting hr to wallow and send the meal flying.
I sailed with some roght barstewards
john sutton

[Ivan Cloherty]

Hi Don,.........your # 16 refers.

Your mention of the 'King Spoke' was correct, mate, because that is what it
was known as. The spoke that would rest in a vertical position when the wheel was released, denoting 'Midships. Generally speaking, it would rest comfortably in my abdomen when I leaned forward against the wheel, or, on some ships, against my rib-cage.

Captain John Arton made the point that we could all steer and he was right, but, John, some of us were better than others and I like to think I was one of them. In rough weather I was taught the art of steering a ship through the soles of my feet, to hasten my ability to correct any deviation from course. I am not familiar with the modern methods of steering a ship, but I say this with pride and belief. As an A.B. in the 60's, I was comfortable steering a ship by quarter-points or by any other method. When called upon to steer a vessel, I did so in the belief that I had the ability to maintain a course with greater speed and accuracy than technology of the day could achieve. Perhaps, that belief would still apply, I don't know. I now await incoming from my brother seamen who know better.

.........Roger.

Agree with all that Roger, it was an art, though some considered it a boring chore,(some have the same attitude towards driving which is also an art). I found great satisfaction in learning how a particular ship behaved and anticipating its movement. Even sister ships didn't act the same. PSNC had six sister ships the "S" Class all built in the 40's with B& W diesels and same pitch screw and all same screw rotation, five of them canted to Starboard when half ahead was rung from stop, the other one canted to port. Learnt that from a very early age when I heard the Pilot ask the Captain, "Which way does she go sir?" On the coast going up and down like a bucking bronco quarter points were the appropriate headings, as most ships didn't have gyros anyway, the constant clicking would have driven you mad. A good QM is as good as an auto pilot but sad to say a lot on the wheel did consider it a chore, I never did and enjoyed my tricks on the wheel even as OOW. It was always nice to get compliments from the Pilots. Now look what you've done Roger, more memories and tears

[Bob Hollis]

Hi Don,.........your # 16 refers.

Your mention of the 'King Spoke' was correct, mate, because that is what it
was known as. The spoke that would rest in a vertical position when the wheel was released, denoting 'Midships. Generally speaking, it would rest comfortably in my abdomen when I leaned forward against the wheel, or, on some ships, against my rib-cage.

Captain John Arton made the point that we could all steer and he was right, but, John, some of us were better than others and I like to think I was one of them. In rough weather I was taught the art of steering a ship through the soles of my feet, to hasten my ability to correct any deviation from course. I am not familiar with the modern methods of steering a ship, but I say this with pride and belief. As an A.B. in the 60's, I was comfortable steering a ship by quarter-points or by any other method. When called upon to steer a vessel, I did so in the belief that I had the ability to maintain a course with greater speed and accuracy than technology of the day could achieve. Perhaps, that belief would still apply, I don't know. I now await incoming from my brother seamen who know better.

.........Roger.

Used to do all that Roger and on a few ships some of us would compete to see who steered the best during the night. We would go and relieve a bit early so as to examine the course recorder and often the oow would join in and tell the others he had the best helmsman/men. It was good sport the following day between all who participated.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, King spokes on Cargo ships and tankers and coasters and trawlers, But did the passengers ships have Queen spokes?????

[John Arton]

Somewhere in the back of my mind I can recall that the last of the tradional ships wheel makers closed down a few years back. My be telling an untruth but I have the idea that they were based in the North East.
rgds
JA

[Trader]

Hi Keith (Bill),

Having read your post I took the liberty of checking the ships on which you served and am inclined to think that both the 'Baltic Trader' and the 'Baltic
Exporter' (both U.B.C.) would have had the push button system or a similar system requiring a regular watch on the helm (or rudder) indicator as well as the compass or course indicator. The 'Verdaguer' (one of mine - I missed you by two months) as one of MacAndrew's ships, was probably from the same
German shipyards as the U.B.C. boats, where, in those days, there seemed to be a tendency to use all manner of helm controls other than the conventional wheel. As much as I've tried I cannot remember what system was adopted on the 'Verdaguer'. Having sailed in a number of 'Baltic Boats' and 'Mac Boats' I came across various types of helm controls. Apart from the push-button system, there was another that consisted of a small half-wheel about the size of a small car steering wheel( but shaped like that of an aircraft pilot's), which was operated by steering right (S) or left (P) 1-5 notches depending on the degree of rudder required. One other was simply a small vertical pole (about 2 feet high) that was pushed to P or S , again with 1-5 notches as mentioned above. All required a watchful eye on the rudder indicator. I didn't mind them once I got used to them, but they didn't have the 'feel' one got from a conventional wheel. I raise the matter, Keith, not in any way doubting your word, but it would have been interesting to find out what system these three ships were fitted with and besides that old mate, it was all fifty years ago and memory dims One of our members, Alec (Trader), was also on the 'Baltic Trader' at one time, so hopefully he may read this and be able to help us.

.....regards Roger.

Roger, nice to hear from you again. I wasn't on the 'Baltic Trader' but I was on the 'Express', 'Sprite' and 'Viking' and cannot honestly remember the wheel arrangements. I think we had the small tiller on the 'Viking' and the half wheel on the others.

Regards..........Alec.