Sheet to steering

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

Hi....
Looking for a book by John Lexa on self syeering, if anyine knows that system or a simple system to do this pls let me know.
Thx a bunch as always
C

 

[jssailem]

This isn’t John Lexa’s ideas but it is similar material. It may resolve your quest.

Simple Self Steering | Cruising World

For boats equipped with a good old tiller, a sheet-to-tiller rig is the easiest, simplest, most satisfying way to tick off self-steering miles.

www.cruisingworld.com

When I had a tiller on my boat, I trimmed the sails to balance the helm, then engaged a “tiller clutch” to hold the tiller in place.

https://defender.com/en_us/wavefront-tillerclutchx-kit

Something like that should work on your Bristol. The long keel and a balanced sail set can maintain a straight course for long periods.

 

[Joe]

This vid explains how it works.

I did a search asking for DIY sailboat self steering systems and got quite a few hits.
The best resource I can recall was part of a series on single handed sailing for racers and cruisers. I wish I could remember the author by browsing the first dozen hits or so, then I remembered this was a book that read at least 30 years ago, before YouTube. Anyway, in the book... a number of methods were discussed... from the very basic mainsheet and bungee cord to tiller which worked well but was easy to set up, but much more difficult when it came to making adjustments when responding to changing points of sail and sea conditions. From that initial basic set up, the author progressed through a number of designs to improve its efficiency and ease of operation. His design finally evolved into a JIB sheet driven self steering system that used an ingenious, wooden plaque device that straddled the sheet. It allowed tension levels to be quickly adjusted instead of fiddling with the bungee cord array and the cumbersome boom in the cockpit. If I can find the book's author I'll be quick to pass it on. I am also thinking this could have been a sailing magazine article...but it was much longer than the pieces you see in print these days. Sorry this response ended up being somewhat anti climatic. Good look anyway.

 

[Stu Jackson]

The author's correct last name is Letcher. Great book if you can find it, long out of print. I still have my copy. Cruising World also did a few presentations of the concepts, could try there, too. I used it for years on my Catalina 25.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

This isn’t John Lexa’s ideas but it is similar material. It may resolve your quest.

Simple Self Steering | Cruising World

For boats equipped with a good old tiller, a sheet-to-tiller rig is the easiest, simplest, most satisfying way to tick off self-steering miles.

www.cruisingworld.com

When I had a tiller on my boat, I trimmed the sails to balance the helm, then engaged a “tiller clutch” to hold the tiller in place.

https://defender.com/en_us/wavefront-tillerclutchx-kit

Something like that should work on your Bristol. The long keel and a balanced sail set can maintain a straight course for long periods.

I do the same. The tiller clutch was hands down my favorite upgrade

 

[stickinthemud57]

I do the same. The tiller clutch was hands down my favorite upgrade

To the Tiller Tamer. I was out on the lake and after coming in another sailor who was out that day asked if I had an autopilot. I frankly cannot imagine single-handing without one. As the video that Joe linked to states, a well balanced boat close hauled will practically steer itself by only locking the tiller down. I have found this to be true in consistent gentle to moderate breezes and have enjoyed standing at the bow for minutes at a time in such conditions.

Sheet to tiller steering is and intriguing concept, and one I might look into one day. Thanks all for the resources!

 

[garymalmgren]

This is how I actually got my boat's sheet to tiller steering to work WELL!

 

[Joe]

To the Tiller Tamer. I was out on the lake and after coming in another sailor who was out that day asked if I had an autopilot. I frankly cannot imagine single-handing without one. As the video that Joe linked to states, a well balanced boat close hauled will practically steer itself by only locking the tiller down. I have found this to be true in consistent gentle to moderate breezes and have enjoyed standing at the bow for minutes at a time in such conditions.

Sheet to tiller steering is and intriguing concept, and one I might look into one day. Thanks all for the resources!

Speaking of well balanced boats..... for me, the example that always flashes immediately is "Spray", Josh Slocum's famous ride. One leg of his circumnavigation he describes staying on the same tack all the way from Isle Juan Fernandes (Robinson Crusoe) to Tahiti (I think, it was tahiti. correct me if I'm wrong) Anyway, not important. What is cool is that he never steered the boat himself the entire time, like 30 days or more) and hit his destination point by less than 5 miles. He had that long, low aspect yawl style sail plan, a very long bowprit with a couple headsail options and the small mizzen, of course. Navigation tools....... a compass, a tin clock, and a simple sextant, and probably a chart. What a boat, what a sailor!.