On Mon, 6 Sep 2004 09:52:11 -0400, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:

I though the purpose of two wheels is always for the helmsman
to have a better view. I doubt if easier access to the stern area
is really a motivation.

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Since the helmsman should ideally be sitting on the windward rail, the
alternative to two small wheels is one really large wheel. There are
several problems with really large wheels. One is access to the back
of the cockpit, but even more important is the depth of the cockpit
well that is required for clearance. On some large beamy boats it is
physically impossible to have a well deep enough to clear the bottom
of the wheel, and even if you could, it would create structural
compromises. Deep wheel wells are also notorious for accumulating
water, debris, lines and body parts.