West Marine has a product they call a Tiller Tamer. It screws onto the tiller and controls it via a line attached aft. If you have had any good or bad experience with this product it would help me to know. Thanks. As a thank you in advance for responding, here is a joke. How do you know if your in a redneck hotel? If you call the front desk and say you got a leak in your sink and they say "go ahead."
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LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners
Tiller Tamer
These are great little devices if you want to hold the tiller in one place so you can go forward or whatever. It's only good for a short time but does the trick. Don't mistake it for an autopilot replacement. You could also tie lines around the tiller to get the same basic effect. LaDonna
These are great little devices if you want to hold the tiller in one place so you can go forward or whatever. It's only good for a short time but does the trick. Don't mistake it for an autopilot replacement. You could also tie lines around the tiller to get the same basic effect. LaDonna
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BCassel
Recommend an alternative product
I've got a Tiller Tamer, I'll be happy to sell it to you. I would recommend you look at the Tiller Stay. Same use, different design and method. Release is easier and, from what I'm told, it much more reliable. I believe they have a website at tillerstay.com. No, I don't own one, yet (I will soon) and I have no financial interest in the company.
I've got a Tiller Tamer, I'll be happy to sell it to you. I would recommend you look at the Tiller Stay. Same use, different design and method. Release is easier and, from what I'm told, it much more reliable. I believe they have a website at tillerstay.com. No, I don't own one, yet (I will soon) and I have no financial interest in the company.
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Dale Wile
It lives up to its name!
I have owned Davis Tiller Tamers for at nearly fifteen years, on two different boats. It was the first thing I installed when I bought my new boat five years ago. I have not heard of the alternative product suggested, so I have no basis for comparison. But, it would be hard to imagine a better product than the "Tamer". One time, under ideal wind conditions (light, steady and unaltering in direction), I was able to lock the Tiller Tamer in position and, while sailing single-handedly, go up on the foredeck and take a 20-minute sun bath. It was like I was being pulled across the lake by an invisible string.
I have owned Davis Tiller Tamers for at nearly fifteen years, on two different boats. It was the first thing I installed when I bought my new boat five years ago. I have not heard of the alternative product suggested, so I have no basis for comparison. But, it would be hard to imagine a better product than the "Tamer". One time, under ideal wind conditions (light, steady and unaltering in direction), I was able to lock the Tiller Tamer in position and, while sailing single-handedly, go up on the foredeck and take a 20-minute sun bath. It was like I was being pulled across the lake by an invisible string.
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Rob Rich
No Experience with a Tamer, but....
you can get the same job done by taking a line, making it fast on one side of the cockpit, wrapping it three times around the tiller, and then securing it on the other side of the cockpit. I use the winch cleats as a securing point. This will hold the tiller in position, and allow you to re-position it as needed. It also has the added benefit of allowing the boat to slowly point into the wind during gusts (assuming you have weather helm). Anyway - worth trying while singlehanding! Best Regards, Rob Rich
you can get the same job done by taking a line, making it fast on one side of the cockpit, wrapping it three times around the tiller, and then securing it on the other side of the cockpit. I use the winch cleats as a securing point. This will hold the tiller in position, and allow you to re-position it as needed. It also has the added benefit of allowing the boat to slowly point into the wind during gusts (assuming you have weather helm). Anyway - worth trying while singlehanding! Best Regards, Rob Rich
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Rick Webb
I Love Mine
You could do the same thing almost by wrapping a line around the tiller. The big advantage to the Tiller Tamer is you can set the tension so that the tiller stays in one spot but with a litttle nudge it can be adjusted. Screw it down hard and it won't move at all. As boat things go it is cheap give it a shot.
You could do the same thing almost by wrapping a line around the tiller. The big advantage to the Tiller Tamer is you can set the tension so that the tiller stays in one spot but with a litttle nudge it can be adjusted. Screw it down hard and it won't move at all. As boat things go it is cheap give it a shot.
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Larry Watkins
tiller tamer
Sean; Try securing the tiller a tad to windward with the lazy sheet. With the wind forward of the beam, it will hold a pretty good course with a little experimentaion. Good luck, Larry
Sean; Try securing the tiller a tad to windward with the lazy sheet. With the wind forward of the beam, it will hold a pretty good course with a little experimentaion. Good luck, Larry
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Don Evans
I Use the "Tiller Lock"
I have owned 2 Davis tamers in the last 12 years, both, being plastic have succumbed to UV destruction. A competitor has engineered a SS and Navy bronze alternative. Installed it last year and works great. You can view them at www.cansail.com and is the same cost as the tamer. Don
I have owned 2 Davis tamers in the last 12 years, both, being plastic have succumbed to UV destruction. A competitor has engineered a SS and Navy bronze alternative. Installed it last year and works great. You can view them at www.cansail.com and is the same cost as the tamer. Don
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R.W.Landau
Great Idea
I bought one the day I bought my boat. The first day I used it, I broke it. When installed, do not lean against the line. I leaned against the line to pull my outboard up and broke off the side flange. I rebuilt it with an aluminum plate that I bent to fit. It worked great for about two years. I started having trouble with it so I designed and made my own. If you single hand at all or just like to take your hand off the tiller for a quick trip to the head, you can't beat a tiller device. r.w.landau
I bought one the day I bought my boat. The first day I used it, I broke it. When installed, do not lean against the line. I leaned against the line to pull my outboard up and broke off the side flange. I rebuilt it with an aluminum plate that I bent to fit. It worked great for about two years. I started having trouble with it so I designed and made my own. If you single hand at all or just like to take your hand off the tiller for a quick trip to the head, you can't beat a tiller device. r.w.landau
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Tom O'Keeffe
Tiller Stay
The Tiller Stay is a very neat device. I broke 2 tamers and find the stay much more effective. See web site at http://www.mv.com/ipusers/whale/tillerstay/.
The Tiller Stay is a very neat device. I broke 2 tamers and find the stay much more effective. See web site at http://www.mv.com/ipusers/whale/tillerstay/.
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Dick of Sylvan
Tiller Stay Put
I have a "Tiller Stay" on my 22ft. Catalina. I like it a lot, but don't recommend its use during high wind or gusty changeable winds. It works on spring tension rather than cranking down a friction device as on "Tiller Tamer", and can slip when wind is uite strong. Its advantages I think are that the Tiller Stay is rather druable, and it is real easy to disengage (merely pull one of the lines up out of its locking device), which is nice when things get dicey.
I have a "Tiller Stay" on my 22ft. Catalina. I like it a lot, but don't recommend its use during high wind or gusty changeable winds. It works on spring tension rather than cranking down a friction device as on "Tiller Tamer", and can slip when wind is uite strong. Its advantages I think are that the Tiller Stay is rather druable, and it is real easy to disengage (merely pull one of the lines up out of its locking device), which is nice when things get dicey.
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