Is a tiller tamer worth it?
- Thread starter John rolka
- Start date
- Status
I have a tiller tamer of sorts that is made from a cam cleat controlled by a cable going to what looks like a bicycle brake. squeeze the brake move the tiller to the angle you need and let go the brake it holds that position. I use it when i need two hands free to handle a line or something that just takes a moment to do. It is real handy cause I mostly sail alone or with non sailors. For longer periods I have an old autohelm 1000 that still works good but takes a minute or two to set up and dial in.
My boat came with a tiller tamer. Generally it is a good thing. Being able to quickly adjust the friction is useful in several ways.
1. Single handed tacking. Tension the tamer, put the helm over. Both hands are free to work the sheets and it is easier to keep from over steering the tack.
2. In reasonably stable winds I can get the sails balanced and tension the tamer. The boat will follow small wind shifts due to sail balance and power boat wakes don't toss rudder about sending me off course. I can eat a sandwich and let the boat sail herself. This works on my flat water lake, I don't know how well it would work in ocean waves.
3. I don't have much luck holding course for long under power, but it is generally enough for raising sail, a quick trip to the mast, or standing in the companionway with a Gatorade bottle & doing a little recycling
(whilst still keeping "watch").If the boat did not come with the tamer I would have been tempted to try the various line and bungee suggestions. The tiller tamer is not an autopilot, but it is a reliable aid to single-handed sailing.
OC
I 100% agree with this. We added a Tiller Tamer to our small boat a couple of seasons ago, and this season I've been doing alot more singlehanding. The Tiller Tamer allows me to temporarily leave the tiller to raise/lower or adjust sails, to set/remove fenders, get a snack, etc.
I think it's reasonable value. I could probably make one for much less... until i factor my time in.
The tiller tamer may work better on your Catalina 27, but on my lightweight Mac 25 it didn't make raising sails much easier. My singlehanding became much more pleasurable after installing a tillerpilot. Steers better than me
I don't think the price is relevant. The OP wasn't asking for 300 responses, just however many replied. Turns out, people have a lot of opinions about this. If Internet fora like these are not for collecting input from a population of folks with common interests, what is their value? Certainly not perpetuating sailing snobbery, there is enough of that to go around.
Thirty six bucks isn't much to me either, but it might be to some. Plus, it may entail additional holes in the boat, even if only for cam cleats on the transom.
Thirty six bucks isn't much to me either, but it might be to some. Plus, it may entail additional holes in the boat, even if only for cam cleats on the transom.
So that's what I just tossed out...
You know for months I had been wondering what that goofy looking black cleat was that the PO had in a bin on my boat. I just tossed it out after concluding I'd never use whatever it was.
Wouldn't you know that less than a week later I ran across a description and photo of a Tiller Tamer-- Doh!
I have an St-2000+ but will likely get another TT and give it a whirl one day soon. Sorry I threw it away.
Curses!
You know for months I had been wondering what that goofy looking black cleat was that the PO had in a bin on my boat. I just tossed it out after concluding I'd never use whatever it was.
Wouldn't you know that less than a week later I ran across a description and photo of a Tiller Tamer-- Doh!
I have an St-2000+ but will likely get another TT and give it a whirl one day soon. Sorry I threw it away.
Curses!
Hi Capnkev25,
I really liked your idea with the rope and the bunge, but I also couldn't help noticing in your pictures that your bimini is under your boom. We just purchased our 25 in Apr. and the bimini that came with the boat is too high to raise with the boom in place. We have to raise the boom, but in doing that the sail cannot be raised to it's full height. We've been trying to determine if our sail is too big our our bimini too tall. Are you able to sail with your bimini up? Can you tell me how high your boom is set? Any info on this would be appreciated.
I really liked your idea with the rope and the bunge, but I also couldn't help noticing in your pictures that your bimini is under your boom. We just purchased our 25 in Apr. and the bimini that came with the boat is too high to raise with the boom in place. We have to raise the boom, but in doing that the sail cannot be raised to it's full height. We've been trying to determine if our sail is too big our our bimini too tall. Are you able to sail with your bimini up? Can you tell me how high your boom is set? Any info on this would be appreciated.
- Status