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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;afantiques, post: 152247, member: 25&quot;]It&#039;s a thing shaped like a ship&#039;s wheel for decoration.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here are some features of the real wheel.</p><p><br /></p><p>The centre is fitted with a metal, keyed boss to fit on the spline of the winch that operates the steering ropes or chains, it has to be really stong at the center as a wheel that can slip without moving the rudder is useless. Typically it has about 8 spokes, which continue through the built up rim to end as the hand grips, another point that needs strength. Lots of grips are no better than 8, usually worse. Typically it is plain, it is a tool, not a toy.</p><p><br /></p><p>Wheels can run up to 6 feet diameter and even be doubled on the same axis, if the steering system is simple machanical, the wheel has to haul on wires or chains that go all the way to the rudder, which itself has high hydrostatic loads on it resiting turning. 4 foot would probably be as small as is really practical and that on a fairly small fishing vessel.</p><p><br /></p><p>Private touring or day cruisers have small wheels, usually about 2 feet overall. My 80 foot ship had about a 3 foot wheel.</p><p>Nowadays if a wheel is used it is like a car steering wheel moving an actuator for a servo motor.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is why I think your wheel was probably made for a fish restaurant or similar.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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