Sailing with a tiller... what is the most comfortable way??

[damoses1]

This is my first year owning a sailboat, so I could use some advice. What is the most comfortable way to sail with a tiller? After a few hours of sailing, my neck becomes stiff and sore. The tiller I currently have is just a straight tiller, but I've noticed they make them in all different shapes and sizes. Also, I've noticed extensions that are supposed to make things more maneuverable, and comfortable.

I am in the process of purchasing an ez steer system which links my rudder to my outboard, so that should make things easier. I am having trouble finding a place that sells it though. The sailing kit number for 19'-22' sailboats is #70001 fyi. If anyone could share where they bought theirs, I'd appreciate it. So far my Cabelas doesn't sell the sailing kit and my Bass Pro Shop also does not carry it. It looks like ez steer was purchased by Marinetech, so maybe there are distribution problems in changing things over...

Anyway, I am interested to know what YOU do to make sailing with a tiller more comfortable. Pictures of your setup are always appreciated!

 

[1977oday22]

I use a tiller tamer, not fancy, but when I tension it up a bit, it takes alot of the effort away.

 

[Joe11688]

This is my first year owning a sailboat, so I could use some advice. What is the most comfortable way to sail with a tiller? After a few hours of sailing, my neck becomes stiff and sore. The tiller I currently have is just a straight tiller, but I've noticed they make them in all different shapes and sizes. Also, I've noticed extensions that are supposed to make things more maneuverable, and comfortable.

I am in the process of purchasing an ez steer system which links my rudder to my outboard, so that should make things easier. I am having trouble finding a place that sells it though. The sailing kit number for 19'-22' sailboats is #70001 fyi. If anyone could share where they bought theirs, I'd appreciate it. So far my Cabelas doesn't sell the sailing kit and my Bass Pro Shop also does not carry it. It looks like ez steer was purchased by Marinetech, so maybe there are distribution problems in changing things over...

Anyway, I am interested to know what YOU do to make sailing with a tiller more comfortable. Pictures of your setup are always appreciated!

I use an Autohelm ST 1000+ autopilot. This gadget frees me up to heat water for coffee down below, or do anything I want. I've been using autopilots for years now and I wouldn't sail anywhere without it.

 

[RichBone]

Why do you need your tiller connected to the outboard?

 

[LordNelson]

i used a hiking stick attached to the tiller so i can sit back in the seat and be more comfortable. an autopilot sounds great, but would probably cost more than my boat is worth : )

i've never used an ez steer system but i'm not sure you need or want to link the outboard to the tiller/rudder. in fact, there have been times that i have needed to turn the outboard to make tight turns to get into a dock as the rudder makes a wider radius turn.

 

[emergpa1]

I am not happy with my tiller either. It rubs the top of the transom when i move it. When i pull the boat this winter i want to try to put a Stainless Steel cap on the top of my rudder like trinkka did, and hopefully raise my tiller up a bit. I recently ordered a tiller tamer but it hasn't come yet. I think it was 28$ at defender marine. it seems like an extension would be usefull, but i looked online at tiller extensions and couldn't find anything that looked like it would work. But i have never seen on so i really didn't know what i was looking for.
No sailing this weekend, I have been working since the middle of last week, and through tonight. I hope to get out to the boat on thursday.
keith

 

[Joe11688]

I am not happy with my tiller either. It rubs the top of the transom when i move it. When i pull the boat this winter i want to try to put a Stainless Steel cap on the top of my rudder like trinkka did, and hopefully raise my tiller up a bit. I recently ordered a tiller tamer but it hasn't come yet. I think it was 28$ at defender marine. it seems like an extension would be usefull, but i looked online at tiller extensions and couldn't find anything that looked like it would work. But i have never seen on so i really didn't know what i was looking for.
No sailing this weekend, I have been working since the middle of last week, and through tonight. I hope to get out to the boat on thursday.
keith

Keith,
All you have to do is lower your pintles one hole on your rudder and drill a new hole if you have room to do it of course. In other words, use the lower holes for each of your pintles as your top hole and drill a new hole through the rudder for the bottom hole in each pintle. This is what I did. Your rudder head will be a little higher by an inch or so which may give you about 1/4" space between the bottom of your tiller, and the top of your transom. Just for the heck of it, remove the retaining pin on your top pintle and raise your rudder out of the gudgion about the distance of the bolt holes on your pintles and see if this is feasible on your boat. It was on mine. Some rudder blades including mine, protrude under the hull of the boat a few inches. I had enough room above that protrusion to allow me to raise my rudder without any interference. Rudy told me that raising the rudder head on my boat about an inch or so would have no negligible effect on her steering and handling whatsoever. You don't want the bottom of your tiller rubbing on your transom at all. Give that trail run a shot. You have nothing to lose. Check out the pic of my rudder and look closely at my pintles and you can see that I moved them both down on the rudder head. By moving the pintles down, the rudder head is moved up enough to provide room for a wide tiller.
Joe

 

[emergpa1]

Keith,
All you have to do is lower your pintles one hole on your rudder and drill a new hole if you have room to do it of course. In other words, use the lower holes for each of your pintles as your top hole and drill a new hole through the rudder for the bottom hole in each pintle. This is what I did. Your rudder head will be a little higher by an inch or so which may give you about 1/4" space between the bottom of your tiller, and the top of your transom. Just for the heck of it, remove the retaining pin on your top pintle and raise your rudder out of the gudgion about the distance of the bolt holes on your pintles and see if this is feasible on your boat. It was on mine. Some rudder blades including mine, protrude under the hull of the boat a few inches. I had enough room above that protrusion to allow me to raise my rudder without any interference. Rudy told me that raising the rudder head on my boat about an inch or so would have no negligible effect on her steering and handling whatsoever. You don't want the bottom of your tiller rubbing on your transom at all. Give that trail run a shot. You have nothing to lose. Check out the pic of my rudder and look closely at my pintles and you can see that I moved them both down on the rudder head. By moving the pintles down, the rudder head is moved up enough to provide room for a wide tiller.
Joe

thanks Joe. When Last at the boat I looked over my rudder assembly and my impression was that the part of the rudder that extends forward below the bottom of the transom only had about a half inch gap before I would be robbing. So it did not appear to me that I could raise the rudder itself but intend to give it another look. Thanks for the help
Keith.

 

[Joe11688]

You may be able to have a stainless steel bracket made up to fit over the top of your rudder head that could provide the height needed and also receive your tiller. This bracket could bolt right through the side of your rudder head. Any good welder could make one of these up for you. I don't know if your tiller handle has side plates that fit over the rudder head like mine, but that's what you would need to make it work. Also, "L" shaped stops would be needed to hold the tiller up in the same way mine is set up. It's something to think about.

 

[JonnyQuest]

Autohelms are expensive, but my boat came with one (yay!). It is hugely useful even for general straight line cruising. My last boat (when I was young and, well, young) was a Cal 21' trailer sailer and was easy to manage the tiller. My Oday 27 is a lot heaftier and I use the autotiller more than I originally throught I would. My old boat did have an extender attached to the end of the tiller and that helped put the tiller control at the right location for sitting comfortably on either bench in the cockpit. I may add one to the new boat after a bit. (new boat, still have to get used to it).

Good luck!

 

[Joe11688]

Autohelms are expensive, but my boat came with one (yay!). It is hugely useful even for general straight line cruising. My last boat (when I was young and, well, young) was a Cal 21' trailer sailer and was easy to manage the tiller. My Oday 27 is a lot heaftier and I use the autotiller more than I originally throught I would. My old boat did have an extender attached to the end of the tiller and that helped put the tiller control at the right location for sitting comfortably on either bench in the cockpit. I may add one to the new boat after a bit. (new boat, still have to get used to it).

Good luck!

Jonny,
I wouldn't sail without one. I've been spoiled for years. There's no limit to the things you can do while the boat is being steered by an autopilot. I won't go into any specifics here for fear of corrupting anyone's sailing etiquette. All I can say is, an autopilot really frees you up to do what you want when you want to do it.

 

[JonnyQuest]

Hi Joe,
Your experience and reliance on the autopilot tells me that I'll be doing the same thing in short order--once I get comfortable with trusting it and my footing. I could just see myself falling overboard and watching the autopilot sail my boat off into the sunset without me! I guess no climbing around topside while sailing solo, unless tethered? Or are you comfortable enough to do that?

(I know I'll get the hang of my comfort level, but the boat is too new to me right now)

 

[Joe11688]

Hi Joe,
Your experience and reliance on the autopilot tells me that I'll be doing the same thing in short order--once I get comfortable with trusting it and my footing. I could just see myself falling overboard and watching the autopilot sail my boat off into the sunset without me! I guess no climbing around topside while sailing solo, unless tethered? Or are you comfortable enough to do that?

(I know I'll get the hang of my comfort level, but the boat is too new to me right now)

In spite of the fact that I'm not as young as I used to be, I'm still kind of a nut. I don't think about falling overboard and when I move about on the deck while she's sailing, I always keep one hand for the ship and one hand for myself. I don't wear a tether harness or a PFD. If it gets rough I'll wear a PFD though. Autopilots are pretty trust worthy unless you're sailing near large masses of metal like bridge abutments or if someone puts the boom box next to it. The speakers are magnetic and can cause the pilot to deviate.
Years ago, my wife and I used to sail the Elizabeth Is. of MA. and Martha's Vineyard and it was so hot that I would climb down my swim ladder while she was sailing along, and hang off it. Then one day we saw a large shark basking near the surface of the water near Cuttyhunk Is. and I figured that it was about time that I curtailed that practice
Last week I sailed out to Bristol RI for a couple of days and nature called as I was sailing before the wind, so I took advantage of the pilot. There wasn't any boats in the area and it was pretty clear. Sometimes, I hoist the shower bag up on the Jib halyard and take a cool shower on the bow while she's sailing downwind. I've sprauled out on the V birth and pointed my mirror through the forward hatch to be able to see through the bow pulpit for on coming craft. These are just some of the foolish things I've done while she sailed under the autopilot and the old caution should hold true when they say, "Don't try this at home." But, I still cook on board and heat up my water for coffee while she's sailing along. I'm always poking my head out to see what's coming. There's always that possibility that I could fall overboard and watch her sail off without me and I still haven't gotten around to teaching Penelope the "Man Overboard" drill.

 

[JonnyQuest]

Cool stories Joe, you are a nut!

 

[Joe11688]

Cool stories Joe, you are a nut!

I don't want to corrupt you Jonny. Just do what feels safe and comfortable to you. It's always better to be safe than sorry. Have a great sailing season!
Joe

 

[JonnyQuest]

When the guy I bought my boat from took me out for a shake-down cruise he hooked up the auto-tiller and hopped up top to raise the sails too; once I've had more sails under my belt I'm sure I'll feel comfortable doing that in due time. That is if I can get back to the Coast any time soon!

 

[Joe11688]

When the guy I bought my boat from took me out for a shake-down cruise he hooked up the auto-tiller and hopped up top to raise the sails too; once I've had more sails under my belt I'm sure I'll feel comfortable doing that in due time. That is if I can get back to the Coast any time soon!

I do that very same thing a good percentage of the time myself. I really don't know how to explain it to you Jonny, but I think it has a lot to do with self confidence. I've always been a good swimmer so I don't have any fear of the water. Don't get me wrong. At my age I know that I'm more prone to stumble and fall so I take extra precautions like holding on to the grab rails or a stay as I move forward. I also lean forward toward the center of the boat. I've owned my boat since 1986 and I've grown quite used to walking all over it whether it be on the water, or sitting on the trailer next to my house working on the deck. I really think that this has a lot to do with my confidence. Look at this way. If you plan on cruising and anchoring in quiet coves, at some point in time you will need to move to the bow and handle your anchor, or pick up a mooring line with your boat pole. It's going to be necessary at some point in time for you to reef your Mainsail in conditions that are not so ideal, or make your way forward to clear a snagged sheet with your bow riding up and down through the waves and your Gennie flapping away in the wind. I'm sure that as time goes by you'll get into the swing of things and it will become automatic.

 

[emergpa1]

it seems like an autopilot could come with a remote control device that you clip onto your life jacket, and if you fall into the water, it senses the water and puts the tiller hard to port.
they have something like that to set off an locator beacon i heard.
keith

 

[damoses1]

I don't know how you hardcore sailors sail by yourselves!

I can always use the extra help!

A roller furler probably makes a world of difference!

 

[damoses1]

(as an update...) I am leaving the rudder in while I motor out. After getting the hang of it, it is much easier. Thanks to everyone for all the comments and suggestions!