Mid Size Power Boats

The control interface between vessel and operator, called the helm station, is one of the most overlooked design features on boats.

On sport fishermen we typically find the most thoughtfully and ergonomically designed helm stations of all, no doubt because avid fishermen are usually more experienced and demanding.

Some of the poorest designs are to be found on stylish express cruisers and others wherein style takes precedence over practicality.

The importance of this point cannot be over stressed since the owner will spend more of his time at the helm than with any other boating activity, so if he gets stuck with a bad design, he's not going to be very happy about that.

Ergonomics at the Helm

Good ergonomic design includes the ability of the pilot to stand or sit at the helm station and control the boat comfortably for relatively long periods of time.

Much will depend on the physical size of the individual, for most designers will, or at least should be, thinking about how the set up fits the average sized person. Therefore, unusually tall or short people are likely to have problems with this.

Check the set up simply by standing behind the helm. Place your hands on the wheel at what would be the normal position.

There should be adequate clearance between the seat and the wheel. Whether the wheel is vertically or horizontally mounted, you arms should be able to rest comfortably on the wheel with hands in the normal position. If the wheel is too high, or low, this will cause discomfort over longer periods of time.

Note that on many flying bridges, the helm is placed very low where it is comfortable for the sitting position but not the standing position.

This is backwards: the wheel height should first be set for a comfortable standing position and the helm chair adjustable to that height because the reverse of this is not possible.

Getting adequate clearance between the seat and the wheel is always a problem, with no good solution other than with a seat that slides fore and aft, so check to see that it does.

Adequate clearance is important during docking operations, for example, when it may become necessary to get in and out from behind the wheel quickly. We don't want a fit so tight that we get hemmed in.

Wheels are routinely found mounted anywhere from vertical to horizontal and all angles in between. A horizontal mount means anywhere from horizontal to about 15 degrees.

The sport fisherman will do more maneuvering than any other type of boat owner, so it is important to note that the wheels of nearly all fishermen are to be found in the horizontal position by reason of the fact that the wheel can be turned easier and faster from this position.

Conversely, vertically mounted wheels tend to be better for straight-line steering - as in a sea way ? when constant course adjustments are needed. Hence, we always find vertical wheels on ships and larger motor yachts.