No one ever really pays much attention to the ships wheel but the fact of the matter is that it has a very interesting history and reveals a great deal about form and function. Even though the ships wheel does not have any added features other than steering, it plays a key role in design and has inspired many of today's technologies. In addition to its sleek design, the ships wheel's circular shape also performs a function aboard the ship. The circular shape allows the captain more maneuverability and better handling, resulting in smoother sailing and uninterrupted steering. Some designs extend beyond the circular shape and have wooden rods that jut out of the ships wheel to allow for better handling. The circular shape is integral to the design and has a very specific function.
In order to fully appreciate the ingenuity of the ships wheel it is important to understand how it works. The wheel works in conjunction with the rudder in order to steer and adjust the angle or direction of the ship. The rudder and the ships wheel form a steering mechanism that combine to create what is known as the helm.The word can be used as a verb as in "to helm the ship" or literally to steer. The helm can either function on a mechanical or hydraulic system and it simply depends upon how the ship is constructed. In some ships, the wheel is replaced with a toggle that remotely controls the rudder and alerts the helmsman.
It is not uncommon in older ships to find a tiller, which is a horizontal rod over the rudder. Older ships from the eighteenth century were designed to use the tiller in order to steer. In other words, if the captain turned the steering wheel to the right, the ship would turn left and vice versa. As the years progressed the ships design shifted from the older model to one that would be more intuitive and allow the captain to control the direction of the ship by the same direction that he turned the ships wheel. The ships wheel has played a critical role in influencing the modern steering wheel.
Although a cursory glance at the ship's wheel doesn't reveal a fascinating design or engineering ingenuity, it has definitely contributed to modern designs and represents simple and sleek planning. This distinctive design it what makes it such fantastic tropical decor. Large, congested cities often come replete with traffic and it can be really frustrating to be sitting at the wheel, waiting for the light to change when you are in a rush to go somewhere; The next time you find yourself in such a predicament let your imagination get the best of you and imagine the ships wheel steering you to a different place, one full of the excitement and adventure that captain's so often crave.
