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Tiller control question:

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/18/2005 : 23:10:24

Is there a good way to "tame" a tiller other than installing a Tiller Tamer? How about bungees, one end attached to each side of the tiller and the other to the legs of the catbird seats?
Any other inexpensive ideas?

Frank Farmer
Long Beach, CA
aa.diver@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/aa.diver

PRETTY PENNY
'01 C-250 WK, Hull #558

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2005 : 07:48:11

I broke the plastic clip that holds the tiller handle on my tiller tamer last summer. I found a bungee cord worked great with two wraps around the tiller and the ends connected to the two rear stantions. Just a little tap on the tiller handle generally worked to change direction.

Edited by - on

Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2005 : 07:56:15

This by far has been the best solution for me. It is a work of art in the machining world and works very very well.

Here is a picture on my tiller:

http://www.elmhurstprop.com/kitty/webad/tillertamer.jpg

And here is the website. Prices are in canadian so it's a bit cheaper in USD.

http://www.cansail.com/

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2005 : 19:03:00

Turk, I'm going with Bears solution and save the 33 bucks ;-) Less money to throw into my "hole in the water".

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2005 : 19:18:06

Frank,
Go ahead and bite the bullet, you won't regret it.

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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2005 : 20:19:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tompotter
 Frank,
Go ahead and bite the bullet, you won't regret it.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Tom, what hardware did you use to attach to the stern rail seat? Your own make or off the shelf? I am going to add this this year.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5908 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2005 : 20:22:08

I agree with Tom. I fooled around with bungies for years, and when I finally got a tiller tamer type device, I realized why bungies really can't work very well. They stretch too easily. When a little puff of wind comes along, the bungee stretches and the boat drives off to leeward. When the wind eases, the bungee shrinks back to it's original length, but the boat is now out of balance, and it won't come back on course and into balance by itself. You need something stronger than a bungee to resist the tiller pressure and hold a satisfactory course in varying winds. I've seen some home made devices that used 3-4 lengths of surgical tubing. The best tiller tamer type devices have strong springs, and you can adjust their tension, with light tension for light air and much stronger tension for heavy air.

I used to lash my tiller with a piece of nylon line, and that worked pretty well, but it was difficult to make small adjustments. The device that Turk uses looks like it locks onto a piece of line, and not bungee. If so, it should work pretty well in most winds.

A lot of people find bungees satisfactory, but I suspect they only use them in light to moderate winds. I singlehanded my C25 in all kinds of winds, and needed a device that would let me get away from the tiller long enough to go forward and raise and lower sails and set a whisker pole. Bungees won't do that in strong and puffy winds.

Edited by - on

kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2005 : 20:26:45

Hey Turk, Frank may not like your solution (CanSail) but I do! Just ordered one... ;-)

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2005 : 20:33:06

It's a home made thing, I picked up a used SS VHF rail mount and bimini end at a yard sale for $5. The bimini end fit just right over the VHF mount. I then drilled out the hole on the bimini end to accept the bushing that came with the tiller pilot. Man that's a mouth full

, here's a picture.

Edited by - on

Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2005 : 21:37:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by kevinmac
 Hey Turk, Frank may not like your solution (CanSail) but I do! Just ordered one... ;-)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You will like it. The beauty of this system is it uses an adjustable cam to close around a legth of rope. Make sure you follow directions and get the exact size rope that the instructions suggest. By throwing the lever further forward, you add tension on the rope. It is fully adjustable and has positive locking when you want to walk away.

They suggest mounting on top or bottom of tiller. Mount it on the top. Easier to adjust it there. Oh, by the way, get out your sewing machine. The tiller cover from catalina will no longer fit!

Edited by - on

River Harley
Navigator

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132 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2005 : 20:12:06

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

How does this device work? Does it work well? How expensive?

River

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River Harley
Navigator

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132 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2005 : 20:12:11

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

How does this device work? Does it work well? How expensive?

River

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2005 : 21:29:45

If you do a lot of single hand sailing its a great tool to have. I use mine quite a bit, it allows me to move about the boat and maintain course. Allows trips to the head, or to the galley and you don't have to worry about the boat holding its course even if the winds pick up, or if you cross the wakes of a passing yacht. If you have a 250 with cabin top winches the TP-10 has a Tack feature which allows me to go forward and work the winches while the tiller pilot controls the tack. I used it a lot during a 4 day cruise in Pensacola last year on the long straight runs down the Santa Rosa sound. Guess you can tell I like it, I got mine from Online Marine. Theres a user guide and other info on how it works on the link below.
http://www.onlinemarine.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online_superstore/electronics/autopilots/navico_tp100tp200cx.htm?L+scstore+zltd4874ff93b793

Edited by - Tom Potter on 12/21/2005 21:33:22

kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 12/22/2005 : 10:20:56

Is the duck required or optional?

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 12/22/2005 : 13:17:11

Thats one ugly duck, it shows up everytime I go to the boat. If you want her I put her in a box and ship her to you free of charge.

Edited by - on

frankr
Captain

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256 Posts

Response Posted - 12/22/2005 : 16:06:31

I use bungie cord also with two wraps around the tiller and each end connected to the two cockpit locker latches.

Edited by - frankr on 12/23/2005 08:03:56

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 12/22/2005 : 19:00:34

Having delt with more quackers than I care to to remember I think it boils down to my grand daughters feeding them. They always remember my boat year after year after-------

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 12/22/2005 : 20:39:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by frankr
 I use bungie cord also with two wraps around the tiller and each end connected to the two cocklit locker latches.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thanks for the tip, other Frank. I'll try it and report on the result.

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