Hunter 23' Self Steering

[carboman]

saw this video on youtube and it looks cool. just want to see if others have tried it. guy was using the movement of the boom to move the tiller/boat into and off the wind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQNBlrg0VyI

 

[inarathree]

I have used it, and various other tiller-to-sheet/boom methods. How well they work depends on how well your sails are balanced, and the sea state. So you find out pretty quickly how good of a sail trimmer your are. In a small boat you get knocked around a bit.

I have sailed from Dunedin causeway all the way past the north end of Anclote Is. this way. No problem. You end up sailing a big lazy 's'. You just have to resist the urge to make corrections.

 

[twodzusfittings]

I know it was mentioned that the auto pilots don't work well in certain situations, however, I disagree. I choose to buy an ST 2000 instead of the ST 1000 for my Hunter 25.5 and find having gone with the more powerful model, I have avoided the pitfalls. Would this unit work as well on a bigger boat with tiller steering, I don"t know, but I do know mine works well.

 

[carboman]

interesting. i am going to give it a shot. i bought a book by john lechter so i will try one of his methods and re post.

thanks!

 

[minosdis]

I've messed around with sheet to tiller systems a fair bit on my Hunter 23. They do work well when the sails are balanced and the winds are constant, however, in my area at least, the winds are never constant. It is a fun exercise though, and you will learn a good deal about proper sail trim.
I've found the best way to rig things on my '23 is to clip a looped end of a medium diameter line (about 3/8") to the traveler/mainsheet block, then detach the block from the traveler car. With a pully attached to the traveler car, route the new line back to where the mainsheet attaches to the boom, to the end of the boom, down to a pulley on the leeward side of the boat, and finally to a cam-cleat on the tiller. This line is then counter-balanced by the elastics on the windward side of the tiller. Preferably, use 4-6 short lengths of surgical tubing. Attach/dettach tubing as needed to account for wind strength.
If you are curious I can take a picture of the setup when I'm at the boat this week. Its pretty slick when routed this way, mainly out of the way of crew, and finger-adjustable with the mainsheet vang.

 

[carboman]

A picture would be awesome! The book I bought by John Lechter (Hanibal's brother) is good, but sort of vague and a "catch all" for all types of boats.

Thanks!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

minosdis;

Are you at steel creek and has the ownership changed yet.

crazy dave

 

[minosdis]

Hey Dave,
I'm out at Satterwhite Point.
I'm not sure if the ownership there has changed, but I believe the ownership has changed at Satterwhite maybe 5 years ago.

Carboman,
I'll take some pictures of the rig probably Friday or Saturday, and post for you. Good luck!

 

[minosdis]

I went up and took a few pictures of the self steering system on my Hunter 23. This is a mainsheet to tiller system, with the original mainsheet vang providing tension on the leeward side of the tiller.
You can see I initially hitched the two lines on the tiller, but eventually finished the mechanism by attaching two cam cleats on either side of the tiller. This allows you to adjust the dead zone of control, so that there is more/less precession when the boat luffs.
I would recommend the elastics to be slightly stretched when the tiller is neutral, and trim the mainsail to luff slightly off the course you would like to hold.
Tacking can be tricky, I recommend to remove the pulley and elastics completely, tack, then reattach and readjust.

 

[carboman]

Too cool!

Thanks!!!!!!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I was referring to Steele Creek and have been advised that management has changed there. I am in the phone book and call anytime but can you send those photos to me at davecondon@mindspring.com Many thanks sir.

dave condon