Emergency Tiller

[BobM]

Have you ever had to use your emergency tiller? Was it adequate? What were conditions at the time? Did you end up rigging something to help out?

It is one of those things I have been thinking I should think about on a rainy day. It would be nice to have use of the emergency tiller sorted before an emergency. On my old boat I could just grab start the engine and grab outboards tiller, but those days are gone now.

I know there was a thread about steering with sails already, so I'd like to stick to emergency tiller use on this thread, if possible ;-)

 

[Paul Akers]

I Recently Did And...

...it was not easy. I always advocate that the emergency tiller be tested at spring commissioning for form, fit and function. I always fit it, but having never test it for function, has always been a problem. I recently had to be towed because of a "grounding" on granite in which I was "pushed" by a wind squall while at anchor. My steering was lost when the chain jumped the sprocket. And when I was towed by Boat/US to a local boat yard, it was extremely heavy to use. Given the very large Hunter rudder, the very large emergency tiller was very heavy to use for the 20 miles that I was towed. BUT IT DID WORK!!!!

 

[Brian D]

I'm concerned that...

Using the ET when all the hardware is still functional on the wheel might be hard to use. Not only do you have to turn the rudder you also have to turn the wheel. I too need to test my ET when out and about but I'm concerned I could do damage to the wheel/cables.

 

[Paul Akers]

No Need to Worry!

Just test that it fits properly into the receptical. Do this at the dock. Then chances of needing it are very remote, so just ensure that it fits. Worry about function at the time. You will only need it when the rudder is disconnected, anyway.

 

[Honeyman]

On my 35.5...

my cable jumped out of one of the sheaves in some pretty high winds and load on the rudder. Boat did not want to come around through a tack. Asked my 1st mate for the ET, unscrewed the deck access, inserted the tiller and found it was fairly difficult to use. It stuck through the wheel spokes and offered much less leverage than the wheel. Was able to get the boat to head up enough to roll in the genoa and it became easier to steer the boat. Definite learning experience. Important points: 1) know where it is, 2) make sure the deck plate will open easily, 3) definitely test fit it and see what issues might affect it's use.

 

[BobM]

At a minimum

I'd feel more comfortable to at least open my access cover, fit the tiller and get an handle on whether or not it interferes with the wheel. I don't think it will. From there I want to eyeball it and get an idea of how I would rig lines to it to gain a mechanical advantage, just in case one is needed. I'd far rather have a rig figured out than try to figure one out on the fly when the you know what hits the fan. Off the top of my head I am thinking that it would be helpful to have an attachment point on the end on of the tiller so I can run some lines to my sheet winches.

 

[Manny]

I've used mine, not easy but do-able

Sort of the same situation as Honeyman, the cable jumped out of the sheaves. High winds and I was over canvassed. We were only about a mile out of the marina, we were getting close to shore, my friend was at the helm, and we needed to tack. I went to take over the helm and the wheel spun freely. We got the tiller on and it took a lot of effort to use it. We definitely had to reef to get the situation a little more manageable. The emergency tiller definitely lacks leverage. My friend and I took turns - one of us would pull the tiller with our hands while the other pushed with a foot...
Ended sailing for a few hours that way and had a nice time.
Two things I recommend:
1) At least spend a few minutes at some point and make sure the emergency tiller fits in place. Ours took enough force to engage that we were concerned about damaging the rudder.
2) It's hard enough to hold the tiller going forward, but it gets exponentially harder if you need go in reverse. Backing into a slip would be a major challenge.

Manny

 

[BobM]

My emergency tiller

The tiller that I have on my boat lacks any sort of transverse piece, as you show in your photo. It is merely a fitting to go over the head of the rudder shaft and an 18 or so inch piece of steel pipe, if I recall correctly. That is what has me concerned. I can't imagine being able to steer effectively with it, especially if I were alone and needed to employ it.

 

[Manny]

Bob, maybe you can modify it?

Maybe you could bolt on an extra section to add some leverage. Here's a picture of mine in the folded position. the top bar is just bolted to the bottom bar. Both are just square hollow stock. I can't remember if the little handle is welded or attached in some other manner. The top bar is just short enough that it can be swung to either side of the pedestal without hitting the rear bench.

Manny

 

[AXEL]

Add a cleat

I had a cable snap on my C30 years ago. Fortunately the conditions were moderate, I was in the bay, winds around 10 knots. The ET is short and does not offer much leverage. I made it back ok but while I was underway I kept trying to lash the tiller in position. Being that it's short it was hard to get a good knot on it. I have since bolted a large cleat to the top. Although I have not tested it since I believe that I would have very little trouble lashing it in position now.

 

[BobM]

A cleat sounds good.

I am thinking that a fixed attachment like a cleat, or even a strong eye, would work with steering essentially being accomplished by running the line to a winch. Of course, using up the sheet winches for steering presumes that the genoa is not in use, but it seems like that would not be a big sacrafice as many are indicating that they reduced sail to facilitate steering anyway.

Regarding an extension, as the current handle is a pipe, I imagine it would be fairly easy to find an elbow or tee fitting I can adapt to it.

Both sound viable.

So we have two cases of jumping a sheave, at the base of the pedestal I presume, and one case of jumping a sprocket, at the top of the pedestal I presume. No cases of broken cables.

Edson recommends that you replace cables on the order of every five years. I bet most don't get replaced every ten. Given the somewhat reasonable cost, I am considering whether or not to replace the cable as a maintenance item. It is my first year with the boat, and the cable seems fine. I lubricated it this spring and there are no meathooks or any evidence of a problem. I haven't removed the top of the pedestal to lub the chain/sprocket at the top though. Do you folks perform routine maintenance annually or have you replaced a cable? Especially after you had the issues reported?

Thanks for your input.

 

[newly anonymous]

If I was far from port...

...I'd be inclined to use the emergency tiller to lock the rudder amidships, and then deploy my emergency rudder, which is actually easier to steer than the main rudder is while using the emergency tiller. Either way, I'd use the spinnaker winches to adjust steering.

I carry four heavy-duty snatch blocks aboard, and when practicing with both the emergency tiller and emergency rudder I've found them to be essential equipment.

 

[ScottyIrwin]

The chances of needing it are very remote, so just ensure that it fits. Worry about function at the time. You will only need it when the rudder is disconnected, anyway.

Ah I remember hearing this....about 2 weeks before my cables let go...haha. I found out really quick that its better to test ahead of time then trial by fire. I had to use a screw driver as the pin to hold the tiller on. Good thing I had 3 screw drivers. I broke 2 on the way in!
Never say never.
This reminds me to teach the new owner how to use the emergency tiller.
On my new boat the tiller ends up below decks. So it would take 2 people to run the boat, one to move the tiller and one to tell ou where to go! hopefully with a below decks AP I will never need to do this!

 

[Jim5569]

Bob,

I too have a S2 9.2A and I got to use the emergency tiller last winter. Was out with friends on a Sunday afternoon when the chain slipped off of the sprocket on the Edson steering (the cables had stretched and were too loose). Could not get the chain back onto the sprocket, so disconnected the chain from the cable and put in the emergency tiller. Due to it's short length, the tiller had much less mechanical advantage than the wheel, but was able to steer the boat and get it back to it's home harbor without further incident. Getting the chain back onto the sprocket and adjusting the cable tension later, turned out to be more difficult than I would have guessed.

 

[BobM]

ScottyIrwin...your experience is exactly what I'd like to be prepared for. When you least expect it...

Jim. Thanks for the direct report of experience on a 9.2A. What were conditions when you used the tiller? What was difficult about the repair...besides the first steps...cleaning the locker and then pouring yourself into a small area. I got VERY up close and personal with my drivetrain this year, so I can relate.

 

[ScottyIrwin]

ScottyIrwin...your experience is exactly what I'd like to be prepared for. When you least expect it...

Heh it was really funny, my friend in the boat behind me tell it much better than I do but he said "I couldn't figure out what happened, we were beating up into the wind then all of a sudden you started going in circles!!!" LOL