This season, I’ve been experimenting with self steering (unsuccessfully). I’m one step away from buying a tiller autopilot but would like to ask for help once more. I have a 24’ C&C with a tiller. I notice that regardless of if I lock the tiller in place or jury rig the tiller with sheet to tiller (or main sheet to tiller in my case) self steering (as documented in http://www.todspages.net/SSa-SelfSteering.html) I still can’t trust that the boat will move in a constant direction for more than a couple of minutes and this with relative fixed wind direction. I believe my sails are setup right, but then again, maybe not. I don’t have a lot of weather helm so that’s not an issue as well.
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self steer
Most boats will steer themselves somewhat as long as the wind is forward of the beam. For anything else, especially powering, you need an autopilot. The tiller models are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. They pay for themselves the first time you can eat a sandwich in peace while underway.
Most boats will steer themselves somewhat as long as the wind is forward of the beam. For anything else, especially powering, you need an autopilot. The tiller models are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. They pay for themselves the first time you can eat a sandwich in peace while underway.
The book," self steering for small sailing craft"
is the one you need to go to. I have a copy and it discribes about a hunnert different ways that the author has used with varying degrees of success. The link that you provided was by someone that had some success with a couple of them. Don't dispair there are still many more options, which means many more reasons to go sailing. As in "Hey honey, I just read a new set-up I want to try this weekend".
is the one you need to go to. I have a copy and it discribes about a hunnert different ways that the author has used with varying degrees of success. The link that you provided was by someone that had some success with a couple of them. Don't dispair there are still many more options, which means many more reasons to go sailing. As in "Hey honey, I just read a new set-up I want to try this weekend".
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