Hunter 37C Emergency Tiller Experience?

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R

ReadyAbout

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Feb 12, 2012
21
Hunter 37C City Island
Hello Everyone,

I am curious to know what type of experience you may have had using your emergency tiller? I have seen examples of different types that were both basically pieces of welded pipe. They look like they are short so they fit inside the steering wheel but otherwise it looks like a straight forward installation.

Have you tried to use it as a safety preparedness exercise? Or did you actually have to use when your steering gear (not rudder) broke? It would be helpful to know the wind and wave conditions as well as any thought you might have about how 'balanced' you think the rudder is.

Thanks!
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,068
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Have you ever tried yours? I did on our boat and recognize it sure isn't the best. But it does work.

That would be in addition to feedback you get here. But whatever they suggest, you still have to try yours.
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
I'll be honest and tell you. No, I have not sailed my H37C with the emergency tiller in the twelve years I have owned her. I have tested my ability to insert it and know that it does turn the rudder. I keep it in the chart table and it is readily available. I have only read that the boat steers hard. Probably as you suggest because the tiller is short in order to clear the wheel. It is a flat bar with a "cup" on one end. The cup has two notches that fit over the pin that goes through the top of the rudder stock. Very simple.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Lets just say it is better than no rudder at all and leave it at that. You can't argue with success, you can question it but as Mr. Murphy says.
"If it is stupid but it works, it is not stupid"

Also note that
"There is always one mor idiot in the group than you planned for"
and
"No plan is fool proof when executed by a sufficiently demented fool"
So you might want to have a smidgen more of adult suppervision on emergency tiller operations ALL the time.
 
Johnb

Johnb

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Jan 22, 2008
1,462
Hunter 37-cutter Richmond CA
All the discussion compelled me to inspect my whole steering mechanism yesterday and I was pleased to find it was good.

Strange story. After we bought our boat in 1999 we were down at the dock and got a call from the boat next door. It was a friend from Livermore who I had sailed with several times, but not had contact with in some years. Turns out that the previous owner of our boat had punched a hole in his dodger whilst coming in to dock. He said it was because the steering had failed at the critical moment. Since that gear under the pedestal is obviously not original I wonder if it is connected.

My buddy wasn't too upset - he got a new dodger skin out of it.
 

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Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Looks different from my sheave plate on my 1979. I don't think that is original John.
 
Jim Legere

Jim Legere

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Jun 8, 2004
1,066
C&C Frigate 36 St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia
Ed Schenck said:
Looks different from my sheave plate on my 1979. I don't think that is original John.
Click to expand
Ed, I think it is the same sheaves as on mine, and John's is an '83 like mine...Maybe another difference? Do you have a picture of yours?

Edit: I just had a look at the picture of Richard's Shelby's and it had 45 deg. corners, as does mine. Guess John's is different.
 
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