Moving aft the central wheel of a 40DS

[gutta]

Hi all,
as you can see (?), my boat's cockpit allows but a breakfast-for-two table, so I’m thinking of moving back about 40 cm the wheel, after reducing the depth of the locker behind it (and moving the manual bilge pump and the instruments panel).
I suppose that the main issues should be the work on the fiberglass and splitting the backstay.
Assuming that I succeded in expressing myself with my rusty English (and in inserting the image), may I have your point of view?
 

www.23hq.com/Jeanneau/photo/39533042/original   


www.23hq.com/Jeanneau/photo/39533045/original

[MalcolmP]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Seems like a LOT of work to increase the size of the table.... I expect one of the big additional considerations should be the room underneath the pedestal and how the cables will then align with the rudder quadrant. It will of course be critical that you can get straight lines with clearance to avoid risk of steering problem/failure.  You will also have the cockpit floor to refinish.

I know the 40DS also had the option of the wheel being mounted forward on the starboard side - hence the reason for the odd fibreglass design on that side, so Jeanneau must have found a reasonable route for the steering cables on that option - attach below another image of your layout. 

I would think there must be some other better folding/fixed table arrangement that would allow you to improve the number of seating options at mealtimes, without such a major project.  Hopefully others with a 40DS and similar will share their thoughts

Best wishes

[MalcolmP]

I now realise that the 40DS had yet another cockpit variation...

The image in my previous post is from the one: www.devalk.nl/en/yachtbrokerage/420028/JEANNEAU-SUN-ODYSSEY-40-DS.html

which does not have the large fibreglass moulding and addition hatch so there is more space on the starboard side.

The image below I think is the same as yours currently.

[gutta]

thank you for the help!
Yes I have the 3 cabins layout, born with central wheel.
I had a look undeneath, not yet measured, but for the rudder I think I just have to reduce the length of the steel cable.
Another option may consist in a removable table in order to use the aft seats too, to be used only at anchor removing the wheel.
That would mean less work now, but more work on holiday...

[super g]

interesting project. I had a 40ds and two other considerations are the back stay and access through from the stern. If stood behind the wheel I used bang my head on the back stay so I suspect you would need to fit a split one.

[sailbleu]

And what about removing the wheel & pedestal completely ?
Switch over to hydraulic steering with a joystick .Throttle can be put anywhere .
I wouldn't mind as I never find any pleasure in navigating manually , my AP is my best accessory on board . Well , next to my wife that is .
I do understand your concern though , having the wheel ( let for all 2 of them !!) in the middle of the cockpit is a pain in the .......cockpit .
We have the 40DS version with the wheel on the starboard side , and nevertheless i ripped the original cockpit table out and make/install a swing able one instead .
I can assure you its a huge improvement to have an open spaced cockpit .
I often ask myself how uncomfortable it must be to always have that table and wheel(s) solidly standing in the way.
Sorry gentlemen , I'm not patronizing here but I guess you have to experience what kind of an improvement it is to have the table-unit & wheel(s) gone .

Regards

[Trevor]

Hello gutta,

That job would be just too difficult for me to even contemplate however I would consider a quick removable helm wheel and a table that could be fashioned around the pedestal. When the wheel is removed it would allow the table to be configured to include the aft helm seat for dining seating and would increase the size of the dining area considerably. The leaves of the table could possibly be stored within the existing table structure. It would take quite a lot of inventive thinking but would not jeopardise the integrity of the original vessel.

Regards and good luck.

Trevor

[Spritz]

I agree with Trevor!
modify the whole streering system is potentially dangerous (to me). Try to find another allocation for electronics , then a removable stereing wheel and a simplified mounting.