Stone21, Check p74 of your '08 Defender Catalog where you can purchase a Lewmar36" folding wheel for $756. I noticed at the Cleveland Boat Show two years back that Catalina was installing these wheels as optional equipment. The ones for Catalina appear special in that the leather wrap is purple while the ones from Defender and others have a brown leather wrap.
I found a one year old Lewmar 36" wheel for sale at the C34 site two years back for about $500. My reason for the change was to allow more room between the wheel and the lazarette edge which it does compared to my stock 32" wheel. It was also the Admirals X-Mas present that year. Only problem is you have to give the purple spoke grips a turn every now and then since they have a tendency to loosen.

Jack F Stewart
1993 C36 #1233 "Windancer"
Port Clinton, OH

A Catalina 32 next to Spanki in our marina bought the folding wheel and sold us his leather wrapped 40" wheel for $350.00! We love it, much lighter helm with the extra leverage, easier to reach when weated to the side. Only bad part is it is harder to get around but that is an easy compromise to adjust to!!:)

Spanki:

Something you might look at is by Edson marine. It is a stub post that holds the wheel of to the side of a Bimini frame or dodger frame if you have one. I machined one out of aluminum and each time I am done sailing. The wheel goes to the side of the rail on the outside. I have a 40 inch wheel as well and love it.

Randy