When I go below deck or let the boat sail on her own, I tie my tiller from both sides or attach a forespar. I noticed, however, that I can't quite keep the boat on the same course for more than 30 - 40 seconds. If the tiller is secured and is in a straight back position, and the winds are constant, how can I improve my ability to keep the boat moving in a straight line w/o any supervision. Am I not adjusting the sails correctly? I am familiar with weather helm and I try to minimize the force on the rudder, that said, I still cant control the boat when the tiller is tied off. Thanx for all of your responses.
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You'll need to hit the books
Tony, self-steering is a subject that's had a lot written about it. The bible on the subject, which should be available from libraries through interlibrary loan (or buy used at Alibris.com) is "Self-steering without a windvane : a comprehensive manual of natural and sheet-to-tiller steering systems" by Lee Woas. A title search for "Self Steering" on Alibris also produces a number of titles which you can buy or try to borrow from libraries. To give you an idea of what will be suggested, Woas gives schematics for rigging up a number of different kinds of arrangement where the tiller is stopped from moving too far in one direction by lines while being allowed to move within a range by other lines, blocks, and flexible tubing. The flexible tubing he suggests instead of bungee cord is now available in the plumbing section of Home Depot stores and is really the same stuff as the medical tubing he mentions.
Tony, self-steering is a subject that's had a lot written about it. The bible on the subject, which should be available from libraries through interlibrary loan (or buy used at Alibris.com) is "Self-steering without a windvane : a comprehensive manual of natural and sheet-to-tiller steering systems" by Lee Woas. A title search for "Self Steering" on Alibris also produces a number of titles which you can buy or try to borrow from libraries. To give you an idea of what will be suggested, Woas gives schematics for rigging up a number of different kinds of arrangement where the tiller is stopped from moving too far in one direction by lines while being allowed to move within a range by other lines, blocks, and flexible tubing. The flexible tubing he suggests instead of bungee cord is now available in the plumbing section of Home Depot stores and is really the same stuff as the medical tubing he mentions.
better link
Sorry, the link I gave in the first response was to another widely available book on the subject by Fletcher. The link I meant to give is below:
Sorry, the link I gave in the first response was to another widely available book on the subject by Fletcher. The link I meant to give is below:
extra equipment
Rich, Thanx for the quick feedback. I've already started the search and found 2 good sites that I've attached as links. It seems that the sheet to tiller model requires additional equipment which although not expensive, I dont have at my disposal. Until I can get the necessary hardware, any other suggestions? http://www.jsward.com/steering/index.shtml http://www.todspages.net/SSa-SelfSteering.html
Rich, Thanx for the quick feedback. I've already started the search and found 2 good sites that I've attached as links. It seems that the sheet to tiller model requires additional equipment which although not expensive, I dont have at my disposal. Until I can get the necessary hardware, any other suggestions? http://www.jsward.com/steering/index.shtml http://www.todspages.net/SSa-SelfSteering.html
Tony, You didn't mention the size of your boat, but something else to consider is when you go forward, you change the balance of the boat. Moving weight forward will give it a tendency to round up some. Or at least I know(the hard way) that what seems to happen on a Catalina22. I'm still pretty new to sailing and there's been a couple times sailing with a friend, that I'd be at the helm and he would go to the bow to - well, get rid of some excess beer- (wink) - that the boat would start rounding up even though I thought I was holding my course. Just about threw him off a couple times before I figured out what I was doing wrong. So you might try setting your trim to bear off a little more and see if that helps any.
CAJUN TILLER TAMER
Tony... If you're looking for something not high tech that works like a charm, look up CAJUN TILLER TAMER on the Internet. I'd send you a photo but haven't brought myself to buy a didgital camera yet. Paul s/v The Lord Nelson
Tony... If you're looking for something not high tech that works like a charm, look up CAJUN TILLER TAMER on the Internet. I'd send you a photo but haven't brought myself to buy a didgital camera yet. Paul s/v The Lord Nelson
Clue for David
David-a quick lesson. From you post, you indicated you were rounding up when you friend went to the bow to get rid of excess beer. That would imply that you were sailing into the wind. Glad I do not sail in your cockpit.
David-a quick lesson. From you post, you indicated you were rounding up when you friend went to the bow to get rid of excess beer. That would imply that you were sailing into the wind. Glad I do not sail in your cockpit.
Letcher's 'Self-Steering'
Besides Woas' book there is the 'grandaddy' John Letchers' book 'Self-Steering' about half is devoted to various self-steering configurations using the sheet to tiller method. I tried some and they do work, in fact twoard the wind works remarkably well and I can go forward for extended periods when set up properly and balanced. g'Luk
Besides Woas' book there is the 'grandaddy' John Letchers' book 'Self-Steering' about half is devoted to various self-steering configurations using the sheet to tiller method. I tried some and they do work, in fact twoard the wind works remarkably well and I can go forward for extended periods when set up properly and balanced. g'Luk
Not so much additional equipment needed
Tony, I think if you have a chance to dip into the Woas book You'll see that the non-windvane system at its bare minimum only requires a certain amount of spare line, perhaps a snatch block, and an understanding of which point of sail you're trying to stay on. (It will work best for long distances with the flexible tubing, but hey, we're not crossing oceans here). Woas gives diagrams for line setups for different points of sail.
Tony, I think if you have a chance to dip into the Woas book You'll see that the non-windvane system at its bare minimum only requires a certain amount of spare line, perhaps a snatch block, and an understanding of which point of sail you're trying to stay on. (It will work best for long distances with the flexible tubing, but hey, we're not crossing oceans here). Woas gives diagrams for line setups for different points of sail.
oh yeah, nearly forgot the easiest...
I put small padeyes on the cockpit benches either side of the tiller. When I need to go forward for only short periods I simply stretch a bungee across, wrapping it once around the tiller then to the opposite side. center the tiller and then the bungee allows some 'play' for puffs and waves. On a close reach it will sail that way for quite a long time. My boat is a moderate displacement full keel, a cape dory. That dshould work as well on most other boats though. g'Luk
I put small padeyes on the cockpit benches either side of the tiller. When I need to go forward for only short periods I simply stretch a bungee across, wrapping it once around the tiller then to the opposite side. center the tiller and then the bungee allows some 'play' for puffs and waves. On a close reach it will sail that way for quite a long time. My boat is a moderate displacement full keel, a cape dory. That dshould work as well on most other boats though. g'Luk
hands free
I also have a tiller tamer (mine is made by davis I think) that works pretty well. I also have autopilot for tiller that I get out when doing longer sails. It works amazingly well except in high winds. Actually 30 or 40 seconds isn't too bad but it does go by fast. I sail solo a lot and like to put up sails, remove fenders etc before I get out of marina. Hope I never go overboard!
I also have a tiller tamer (mine is made by davis I think) that works pretty well. I also have autopilot for tiller that I get out when doing longer sails. It works amazingly well except in high winds. Actually 30 or 40 seconds isn't too bad but it does go by fast. I sail solo a lot and like to put up sails, remove fenders etc before I get out of marina. Hope I never go overboard!
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