Posted by vwfreshness on 04/15/11 - 11:55 AM
#1
I have a ss 5 spoke wheel with a chrome lower base. This is on a 1980, I think its called a destroyer steering wheel. I was told that the chrome lower base is a rarer part to see on the 13's. Were ss steering wheels optional? I love that its tilted and not mounted straight up and down like my old plastic steering wheel. thanks
Posted by Tom W Clark on 04/15/11 - 12:03 PM
#2
You are mixing up a few things. The type of wheel has nothing to do with the helm it is mounted on.
A 1980 Sport 13 came standard with a five spoke Destroyer steering wheel. Earlier models were offered with plastic steering wheels with the stainless steel Destroyer wheel as an extra cost option.
The chromed bezel you refer to was part of the cable and pulley steering systems used in Sport 13s up until 1982. The mechanical Teleflex steering systems used after that has a black plastic bezel.
Both 90 degree (flat) and 20 degree (tilted backwards) helm bezels are offered by Teleflex. Whaler NEVER installed a steering wheel in a Sport 13 of any year with the steering wheel mounted flat. That is ALWAYS a sign of a new steering system installed by somebody who did not know better.