ISO 23411:2020

Overview

ISO 23411:2020 - "Small craft - Steering wheels" - specifies design and testing requirements for steering wheels used on small craft (recreational boats and similar vessels up to 24 m hull length). This first edition consolidates and updates steering wheel provisions previously found in ISO 8848:1990, ISO 9775:1990 and ISO 15652:2003, providing a single, current reference for manufacturers, designers and test laboratories.

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard defines terminology, marking, fitment and a program of mechanical, impact and fatigue tests to verify steering wheel integrity and safety. Important technical highlights include:

• Marking: Steering wheels must be permanently marked with actual diameter and dish dimensions.
• Fit configurations: Accepted shaft-to-hub fits (splines, tapered and square) and dimensional data are specified for correct fitment.
• Safety design: Guidance to avoid operator injury (sharp edges, pinch points) and to consider handgrip and spoke designs.
• Electronic devices: Any electronic steering/shifting/throttle controls built into the wheel must comply with ISO 25197:2020.
• Conditioning for plastics: Steering wheels relying on plastics for structural integrity require thermal cycling and 110 h UV exposure prior to mechanical/impact/fatigue tests.
• Mechanical tests:
  • Axial load: at least 670 N applied in cycles; limits on permanent deformation.
  • Tangential load: at least 450 N in each direction.
• Impact tests (for wheels ≤ 61 cm):
  • Impact No.1: 160 Nm; no crack propagation or loss of minimum retained system performance.
  • Impact No.2: 270 Nm; no complete rim-to-hub separation.
  • Specified test fixture (swinging heavy leather bag) and cold/hot conditioning for plastic wheels.
• Fatigue tests (for wheels ≤ 61 cm):
  • Metal/wood wheels: cyclic force 534 N, 50 000 cycles.
  • Plastic wheels: cyclic force 334 N, 50 000 cycles.
  • Post-test requirement: minimum retained system performance (90% of steering arm travel under ≤27 Nm torque).

Applications and who uses it

ISO 23411:2020 is intended for:

• Boat designers, naval architects and OEMs specifying steering systems.
• Steering wheel manufacturers and sub-suppliers (metal, wood, plastic, composite).
• Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies performing type or pre-production testing.
• Certification/inspection authorities, repair shops and retrofit specialists verifying safe replacement components.

Using ISO 23411 helps ensure reliable steering performance, safety under impact/fatigue conditions, and compatibility with steering mechanisms - improving product durability and regulatory compliance.

Related standards

• ISO 25197:2020 - electrical/electronic control systems for steering, shift and throttle (referenced for electronic devices).
• ISO 8666:2020 - small craft principal data (length of hull definition).
• Supersedes: ISO 8848:1990, ISO 9775:1990, ISO 15652:2003 (consolidated into ISO 23411:2020).