I'm looking into installing some kind of tiller tamer. What do you have ? How do you like it? I do use a battle stick but want to lock my tiller. Thank you all again for any input.
Tiller tamer
- Thread starter piedpiperIII
- Start date
I blogged all about this awhile back....
http://rarerarebird.blogspot.com/2015/09/of-pilots-tamers-and-clutches.html
http://rarerarebird.blogspot.com/2015/09/of-pilots-tamers-and-clutches.html
I just received the Tiller Clutch and will be installing it next week. Looking forward to the test sail. I emailed quite a bit with the Wavefront staff. Very helpful folks.
I've never used either one, (I have an auto tiller) but I always thought the Clutch would be better than the Tamer.
In a pinch, you can use a dockline stretched across the cockpit and a sail tie or bungee cord wrapped around the tiller and dockline to create friction. The stick will move from side to side, but only when you give it a tap. It does the same thing as the two devices above, once you get it set up. I never touched the tiller during this video on a calm day:
In a pinch, you can use a dockline stretched across the cockpit and a sail tie or bungee cord wrapped around the tiller and dockline to create friction. The stick will move from side to side, but only when you give it a tap. It does the same thing as the two devices above, once you get it set up. I never touched the tiller during this video on a calm day:
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Anything that just locks the tiller in place is gonna be iffy when close hauled. If the wind increases, or if weight is shifted to leeward (yes, this one is counter intuitive), the boat will steer to windward and you'll be luffing. It's best to fall off a few points first, if you hope to leave the tiller longer than it takes to snatch a beer out of the cooler.
https://stingysailor.com/2016/03/19/make-this-simple-low-cost-tiller-lock/
I did this myself. Used tiller tamer but never liked the knob action.
Works like a charme.
I did this myself. Used tiller tamer but never liked the knob action.
Works like a charme.
Awesome idea using snaps on the ends of your Tiller Tamer rope Jacktar!! Why didn't I think of that?? Thanks for giving me another idea for speeding up the rigging and de rigging process. PS: The Blue Angels put on one awesome airshow down there in Pensacola this year (as they do every year), were you out on the water in that massive fleet watching the show?
I have used both the Tiller Tamer from Davis and the tiller Clutch. Found the Clutch to be by far the better solution. It's on or off INSTANTLY and easily, and holds firmly when it's on. And, it's on or off with just one finger. With the Davis you have one hand holding the tiller, while the other hand turns the knob until you think you have it tight enough not to slip. Instant release with the Davis when you get whacked with a nasty gust?...not so much. I suppose the saving grace with the Davis if you get a nasty gust is that the Davis probably wasn't holding that well to begin with, so you can force the tiller over in spite of it. Which is probably more of a flaw than a saving grace.
I have a tiller tamer set up like Jacktar, with snaps (we trailer sail). I almost never have to mess with the tension knob. set it and forget it. I keep it loose enough to steer, but tight enough to stay where I put it and have never had a problem with it moving wile I do a tack or grab a cold drink etc. I don't think I'd like having to lock and un-lock it all the time, but I guess it's whatever you get used to that works.
Last season I replaced my tiller tamer with a tiller clutch. The clutch is far better but does cost more. Money well spent.
We have had a Simrad TP10 Tiller pilot on our h27 for about 12 years now. It's offered for $438 on Amazon. (A Raymarine ST1000 is $359.) it is reliable, and effective. Shifting from autopilot to manual (switch off and disconnect from tiller) takes about 1-2 seconds. Switching back to autopilot takes about 5 seconds. No sweat!
Installation of the holder bar and fixture, tiller attachment point, and power connection took an afternoon. We don't notice the flat fixture for the holder bar when we are not using the autopilot. It takes a few minutes to take the pilot and holder bar out of storage in the cabin, and set them up ready to use.
We mostly use it when motor-sailing (we always have the main up when motoring) and it can manage for 10 hours with no problem. It does struggle when there is a sea on the quarter, but we are usually sailing with a sea and wind on the quarter. And I love to have the helm when we are sailing!
Installation of the holder bar and fixture, tiller attachment point, and power connection took an afternoon. We don't notice the flat fixture for the holder bar when we are not using the autopilot. It takes a few minutes to take the pilot and holder bar out of storage in the cabin, and set them up ready to use.
We mostly use it when motor-sailing (we always have the main up when motoring) and it can manage for 10 hours with no problem. It does struggle when there is a sea on the quarter, but we are usually sailing with a sea and wind on the quarter. And I love to have the helm when we are sailing!
That interesting, that exactly backward from what I like. One of the joys of a good tiller boat is the amazing feel you get from the rudder through the tiller. I can feel weeds on my rudders, and feel the rudders load up the perfect amount of weather helm. The tightened line totally numbs that.
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I do agree with this. I used cam cleats on the ends so I can quickly release and re apply the tamer. You are right that with it tight you can't feel much but as soon as I pull the lines out of the cleats it's like it is not even there.
OK, but now you're using the cleats like a clutch. Which is kind of the point of the tillerclutch, you leave the line tight and there is zero friction and great feel, but tap that lever and it grabs the line and holds the tiller in place.
And with the tamer, a tight line generates a ton of friction as it makes the rounds around that friction wheel, even if it set loose.
Right I see what u mean now. I that the tamer that's why I'm using the line clutches because of the friction of the feeder wheel. I like the idea of the tiller clutch. I may look into that option instead. That way I can bypass the stern clutches. The tamer that I have almost feels like power steering in a car. When I have the rope clutches at the end on I do loose a ton of feel. Which I like when docking but am not a big fan of under sail.