Does anyone have any techniques for tying off the tiller while under sail I am not interested in purchasing an autopilot just need an occasional few minutes break.
tying off the tiller
- Thread starter Dan Hier
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Tiller Tamer
Check out this link to WM. This works well and is not expensive. Bryon Thomas "Shore Leave"
Check out this link to WM. This works well and is not expensive. Bryon Thomas "Shore Leave"
2nd for the Tiller Tamer
I put a Tiller Tamer on my Oday 23 two years ago; it is the best $25 gadget I ever bought. On a reach or close hauled, I can go 10-15 minutes without touching the tiller. I can eat my lunch with two hands or take a head break while sailing solo. I have heard a number of people complain that they have had problems with durability of the unit, but I have not. Maybe because I mounted the unit on the underside of my tiller and its out of the sunlight?
I put a Tiller Tamer on my Oday 23 two years ago; it is the best $25 gadget I ever bought. On a reach or close hauled, I can go 10-15 minutes without touching the tiller. I can eat my lunch with two hands or take a head break while sailing solo. I have heard a number of people complain that they have had problems with durability of the unit, but I have not. Maybe because I mounted the unit on the underside of my tiller and its out of the sunlight?
Cajun Tiller Tamer
One option mentioned a lot in the trailer sailor forum is the cajun tiller tamer. Click on "Rigging Ideas" link at this site for instructions and photos. Regards, Marc_B
One option mentioned a lot in the trailer sailor forum is the cajun tiller tamer. Click on "Rigging Ideas" link at this site for instructions and photos. Regards, Marc_B
check this out
free, easy, and if you don't like it no holes in your tiller. If you want a tiller tamer, I have one I'll sell cheap. Bought it for my 240 but there is no good place to mount it. ross@sunlightmtn.com
free, easy, and if you don't like it no holes in your tiller. If you want a tiller tamer, I have one I'll sell cheap. Bought it for my 240 but there is no good place to mount it. ross@sunlightmtn.com
How much for your tamer?
I've been doing the Cajun thing for awhile, but was thinking about trying the Tamer too...
I've been doing the Cajun thing for awhile, but was thinking about trying the Tamer too...
- Jan 22, 2008
- 519
horn/thumb cleat
I have a combination single horn cleat with an opposing thumb cleat. It is plastic, about 3 inches long and I mount it on top of my tiller. I stretch a bungee from quarter cleat to quarter cleat, and it typically rides behind the cleat by about a foot or so, until I pull it forward and hook it under the horn cleat. It stays wedged there and the bungee actually does a fairly good job of absorbing any slight movements of the rudder from waves etc.
I have a combination single horn cleat with an opposing thumb cleat. It is plastic, about 3 inches long and I mount it on top of my tiller. I stretch a bungee from quarter cleat to quarter cleat, and it typically rides behind the cleat by about a foot or so, until I pull it forward and hook it under the horn cleat. It stays wedged there and the bungee actually does a fairly good job of absorbing any slight movements of the rudder from waves etc.
It's simple ...
Necessity is the source of invention or some such. Was halfway to the lake one day when my partner for the day called and said he couldn't make it. Got to the lake, great conditions, decided I'd single-hand for the first time. Needed something to hold the tiller for a minute or so at a time. Cut a piece of line about the width of the cockpit, put a bowline on each end, put a small piece of shockcord on each cleat aft of the genoa winches. Shockcord to line, line with one wrap around tiller, to shockcord on other side. Play around till you have the whole thing tight enough to hold the tiller in place but loose enough to allow you to move it. Total cost, maybe a dollar. Works great, easy install. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
Necessity is the source of invention or some such. Was halfway to the lake one day when my partner for the day called and said he couldn't make it. Got to the lake, great conditions, decided I'd single-hand for the first time. Needed something to hold the tiller for a minute or so at a time. Cut a piece of line about the width of the cockpit, put a bowline on each end, put a small piece of shockcord on each cleat aft of the genoa winches. Shockcord to line, line with one wrap around tiller, to shockcord on other side. Play around till you have the whole thing tight enough to hold the tiller in place but loose enough to allow you to move it. Total cost, maybe a dollar. Works great, easy install. Tom Monroe Carlyle Lake
A third for tiller tamer
I also put a tiller tamer on the underside of the tiller of my Hunter 25.5. Works great!
I also put a tiller tamer on the underside of the tiller of my Hunter 25.5. Works great!
Just discovered it
My tiller has a horizontal hole drilled near the end, with a loop of braided shoestring passing through it. Often I have used a bungee of appropriate length, one end hooked in the loop, the other hooked to the traveler track (which is cockpit mounted, just aft of the bridgedeck) to steer the boat while I'm raising sails, relaxing, or going below. A couple of nights ago I was messing around with that set-up and noticed that if I hooked the bungee into the back of the traveler car (Harken windward sheeting), then adjusted the traveler up or down until the boat steered straight, it was a much finer and more sensitive way to balance the boat. In this configuration, pulling the traveler up a little pulls the tiller too, but that is somewhat counteracted by the main's imparting a little more weather helm. The stretch in the bungee allows some 'give' in the system, and I was surprised at how nicely it balanced. Don't know what it would do in heavy wind or on another boat, but it seemed to be a more active system than just lashing the helm.
My tiller has a horizontal hole drilled near the end, with a loop of braided shoestring passing through it. Often I have used a bungee of appropriate length, one end hooked in the loop, the other hooked to the traveler track (which is cockpit mounted, just aft of the bridgedeck) to steer the boat while I'm raising sails, relaxing, or going below. A couple of nights ago I was messing around with that set-up and noticed that if I hooked the bungee into the back of the traveler car (Harken windward sheeting), then adjusted the traveler up or down until the boat steered straight, it was a much finer and more sensitive way to balance the boat. In this configuration, pulling the traveler up a little pulls the tiller too, but that is somewhat counteracted by the main's imparting a little more weather helm. The stretch in the bungee allows some 'give' in the system, and I was surprised at how nicely it balanced. Don't know what it would do in heavy wind or on another boat, but it seemed to be a more active system than just lashing the helm.
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