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Tiller tamer
I have the Tiller Tamer on my Oday 23. I have had it for about five years now, and I think it is the best $25 gizmo on the market. This is not an autopilot, but I can sail hands free in nice weather. In good conditions, I have gone twenty minutes without needing to touch the tiller. To a much lesser degree, it is also useful when leaving the cockpit to raise or lower sail. I have heard that others have seriously questioned its durability or usefulness, but I have been very pleased.
I have the Tiller Tamer on my Oday 23. I have had it for about five years now, and I think it is the best $25 gizmo on the market. This is not an autopilot, but I can sail hands free in nice weather. In good conditions, I have gone twenty minutes without needing to touch the tiller. To a much lesser degree, it is also useful when leaving the cockpit to raise or lower sail. I have heard that others have seriously questioned its durability or usefulness, but I have been very pleased.
I prefer the Tiller Tamer as opposed to the
cam lock type. The friction adjustment makes it nice to be able to tweak the tiller without having to unclamp and reclamp. However, an autopilot in combination is really the way to go. Frank
cam lock type. The friction adjustment makes it nice to be able to tweak the tiller without having to unclamp and reclamp. However, an autopilot in combination is really the way to go. Frank
I have a tiller tamer
and hate it. When it's not in use, the ropes are just annoying. and keeping it taught is a pain and a half, so it always has play. Then, on here about a week ago i found the "cajun tiller tamer"..which looks like a much better idea to me!
and hate it. When it's not in use, the ropes are just annoying. and keeping it taught is a pain and a half, so it always has play. Then, on here about a week ago i found the "cajun tiller tamer"..which looks like a much better idea to me!
How much do bungee cords cost?
I like the Cajun bungee approach and have used it before with reasonable success. This method is probably easier to stow and less expensive but you do need to try and balance your sails for this to work well. My Tartan 27' sails itself on some points of sail so I have not hooked up the Cajun tiller tamer yet. I can modify the heading a bit by adjusting the centerboard instead.
I like the Cajun bungee approach and have used it before with reasonable success. This method is probably easier to stow and less expensive but you do need to try and balance your sails for this to work well. My Tartan 27' sails itself on some points of sail so I have not hooked up the Cajun tiller tamer yet. I can modify the heading a bit by adjusting the centerboard instead.
Tiller extension
Use a tiller extension. Install a locking hub into the side of the cockpit. no other installation required. Set course, lock tiller extension, adjust with a slight twist-extent or retract. Easy. Set a little rudder to leeward and it will come up and fall off slightly in frequency while maintaining an impressive course. Also doubles as a tiller extension
Use a tiller extension. Install a locking hub into the side of the cockpit. no other installation required. Set course, lock tiller extension, adjust with a slight twist-extent or retract. Easy. Set a little rudder to leeward and it will come up and fall off slightly in frequency while maintaining an impressive course. Also doubles as a tiller extension
tamer tiller
i have used and broke two tiller tamers. They work ok when in light air. But when things get alittle rough they arnt too tough. I bought one of the stainless cam lock models from Canada. Hav'nt installed yet but looks much tougher. I tried a bungee cord and a cam cleet but thats not for me either. OH, Incidently, don't forget to unlock tiller tamer before hoisting sails. Was at the island and decided to sail away without iron genny. My inexpeirience girl saileds us into the beach while i was hoisting, so i had to get out and push off the bow from the beach. Wind was blowing stright off the beach. Well, when i got the bow away...the sails filled with wind (15kn) and took off like a rocket with me clinging to the transom comming and yelling at the admiral to turn to the beach...she could'nt cus the captain lokked the tiller midships to help with the sailing on anchor thing. So, instead of being a real salty sailor, i was a baffoon.
i have used and broke two tiller tamers. They work ok when in light air. But when things get alittle rough they arnt too tough. I bought one of the stainless cam lock models from Canada. Hav'nt installed yet but looks much tougher. I tried a bungee cord and a cam cleet but thats not for me either. OH, Incidently, don't forget to unlock tiller tamer before hoisting sails. Was at the island and decided to sail away without iron genny. My inexpeirience girl saileds us into the beach while i was hoisting, so i had to get out and push off the bow from the beach. Wind was blowing stright off the beach. Well, when i got the bow away...the sails filled with wind (15kn) and took off like a rocket with me clinging to the transom comming and yelling at the admiral to turn to the beach...she could'nt cus the captain lokked the tiller midships to help with the sailing on anchor thing. So, instead of being a real salty sailor, i was a baffoon.
I made my own but I think the best
tamer made ( so far) is tiller mate. The Davis tiller tamer is not well built, and after going through two in one season and rebuilding it for the next two season until it jambed while I was docking. That was it, I made my own years ago. This tiller mate is a fairly new product.(with in the last two years.) r.w.landau
tamer made ( so far) is tiller mate. The Davis tiller tamer is not well built, and after going through two in one season and rebuilding it for the next two season until it jambed while I was docking. That was it, I made my own years ago. This tiller mate is a fairly new product.(with in the last two years.) r.w.landau
The nice thing about a good tiller device is that
it works all the time to damper the tiller movement if you would like do other things, like duck below for a quick head trip/refill the drink cup, dip into the cooler for a treat, or just to keep things steady while you sheet in the jib. I really like to put a small amount of tension on the tiller damper so that I can do what I what when I want and know that the tiller is still moveable when I get back to it but also it is where I left it. I really dont care to sail on a boat with a tiller for a long period (ok short period also) without some type of hands off devise that allows me to other things. I am not always in a race but I can still do all the above while racing. r.w.landau
it works all the time to damper the tiller movement if you would like do other things, like duck below for a quick head trip/refill the drink cup, dip into the cooler for a treat, or just to keep things steady while you sheet in the jib. I really like to put a small amount of tension on the tiller damper so that I can do what I what when I want and know that the tiller is still moveable when I get back to it but also it is where I left it. I really dont care to sail on a boat with a tiller for a long period (ok short period also) without some type of hands off devise that allows me to other things. I am not always in a race but I can still do all the above while racing. r.w.landau
Tiller Comb
I tried one of those plastic types with the screw type tightener and tossed it. The plastic groove broke and it just did not work well. I then found a steel type with the handle to tighten or loosen which I liked so bought. Figured it would be a lot easier to loosen/tighten by just opening or closing the cam. Have not tried this yet. I then got the idea for a "tiller comb" from Don Casey's "100 Easy Boat Improvements". I really like this. A board bolted across the cockpit seats with many parallel grooves cut into it across the narrow making it look like a comb. On the bottom of the tiller a piece of metal or similar sticking down so it will fit into the grooves. When you get the tiller where you want just push it down into one of the grooves in the comb. When you want to adjust just lift the tiller, move it and set it down again. Simple, easy, foolproof. Even though I bought the other one I think I am going to try the tiller comb.
I tried one of those plastic types with the screw type tightener and tossed it. The plastic groove broke and it just did not work well. I then found a steel type with the handle to tighten or loosen which I liked so bought. Figured it would be a lot easier to loosen/tighten by just opening or closing the cam. Have not tried this yet. I then got the idea for a "tiller comb" from Don Casey's "100 Easy Boat Improvements". I really like this. A board bolted across the cockpit seats with many parallel grooves cut into it across the narrow making it look like a comb. On the bottom of the tiller a piece of metal or similar sticking down so it will fit into the grooves. When you get the tiller where you want just push it down into one of the grooves in the comb. When you want to adjust just lift the tiller, move it and set it down again. Simple, easy, foolproof. Even though I bought the other one I think I am going to try the tiller comb.
another vote for the cansail
Like Rob, I have the Cansail tiller lock. It's a GREAT piece of equipment. Couldn't be simpler; couldn't work better. Note that you have to get it from Canada mail order, using Rob's link. I single hand most of the time in my Cal 20. It would be much trickier without a tiller lock. I use it, for example, when hoisting or lowering sails; when doing a heave to; or when tacking (see my post in a separate thread). On days when the wind's not too heavy, I'll sail her for maybe 15 minutes at a time using the tiller lock, and just adjusting my position in the cockpit for any steering that's necessary due to apparent wind shifts. So: 1. I recommend you get some type of tiller controlling device; 2. that you seriously consider a Cansail as your choice.
Like Rob, I have the Cansail tiller lock. It's a GREAT piece of equipment. Couldn't be simpler; couldn't work better. Note that you have to get it from Canada mail order, using Rob's link. I single hand most of the time in my Cal 20. It would be much trickier without a tiller lock. I use it, for example, when hoisting or lowering sails; when doing a heave to; or when tacking (see my post in a separate thread). On days when the wind's not too heavy, I'll sail her for maybe 15 minutes at a time using the tiller lock, and just adjusting my position in the cockpit for any steering that's necessary due to apparent wind shifts. So: 1. I recommend you get some type of tiller controlling device; 2. that you seriously consider a Cansail as your choice.
Modified Cajun Tiller Lock
Paul, I used a modified Cajun setup on my Cat 27. I added a home-built teak jamb cleat to the bottom of the tiller positioned with the jaws opening forward. To engage, just slip the bungee cord into the jamb cleat. Adjust by pulling forward on the bungee just enough to disengage it from the cleat. Quickly disengage by pulling the cord forward out of the cleat. Worked just fine.
Paul, I used a modified Cajun setup on my Cat 27. I added a home-built teak jamb cleat to the bottom of the tiller positioned with the jaws opening forward. To engage, just slip the bungee cord into the jamb cleat. Adjust by pulling forward on the bungee just enough to disengage it from the cleat. Quickly disengage by pulling the cord forward out of the cleat. Worked just fine.
Tiller Tamer
My tiller tamer is old, a piece that guides the rope through the sheave on one side is broken off. Also the sheave is a dried out and chipped in a bunch of places. It still works, I can't complain. The Cansail certainly looks more robust that the tiller tamer. The biggest issue with the tiller tamer is it is not worth $30, if it was $10 it would be awesome.
My tiller tamer is old, a piece that guides the rope through the sheave on one side is broken off. Also the sheave is a dried out and chipped in a bunch of places. It still works, I can't complain. The Cansail certainly looks more robust that the tiller tamer. The biggest issue with the tiller tamer is it is not worth $30, if it was $10 it would be awesome.
Dancin-bear you're looking at the Jack Benny
of boating. You are right the Tiller Tamer is not well made, though it is well designed. Mine works well and hasn't broken yet. I figure that if it ever does break I would remake the body with a small piece of stainless channel, using the knob, block and sheave. I paid $21 for mine 2 years ago and feel that I have gotten my money's worth out of it. Right now I am working on a miniature wireless remote for my Tillermaster so I can steer the boat through the channel from the bow, how lazy is that? Frank
of boating. You are right the Tiller Tamer is not well made, though it is well designed. Mine works well and hasn't broken yet. I figure that if it ever does break I would remake the body with a small piece of stainless channel, using the knob, block and sheave. I paid $21 for mine 2 years ago and feel that I have gotten my money's worth out of it. Right now I am working on a miniature wireless remote for my Tillermaster so I can steer the boat through the channel from the bow, how lazy is that? Frank
Best one I had
On a Freedom 21 I had a tiller tamer that had a hand lever, like you would find on a motorcycle clutch. The handle at the end of the tiller, when squeezed released a clam cleat further aft. This did two things, it allowed you to lock the tiller with just a little +/- weather helm; and secondly a quick squeeze release the tiller for rapid changes. When not needed, you squeezed, opened the cleat and slipped the rope out and viola its gone! I don't know who made the system. I'm sure it wasn't cheap, but it was good.
On a Freedom 21 I had a tiller tamer that had a hand lever, like you would find on a motorcycle clutch. The handle at the end of the tiller, when squeezed released a clam cleat further aft. This did two things, it allowed you to lock the tiller with just a little +/- weather helm; and secondly a quick squeeze release the tiller for rapid changes. When not needed, you squeezed, opened the cleat and slipped the rope out and viola its gone! I don't know who made the system. I'm sure it wasn't cheap, but it was good.
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