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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 250 Specific Forum
 Tiller Tamer question		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts
Initially Posted - 01/31/2006 :  00:51:18  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Has anyone installed and used the Tiller Tamer (WM for 25 bucks)? How effective is this device for briefly holding a course? I had one on my Neptune 24 and on steady wind close reaches it held the heading for over 10 minutes. A lot more cost effective than a battery draining Tillerpilot.
Frank Farmer
Long Beach, CA
aa.diver@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/aa.diver

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

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USA
909 Posts
Response Posted - 01/31/2006 :  08:06:53  Show Profile
Frank, A lot of pro's and con's on this website about tiller tamers.
I had used one for four years on "Brandy" until I broke or wore out the pulley. The last half of last year I used a bungee chord with equal success. Not sure about this year yet. But if you single-handed
you really need something to hold that tiller for short periods of time. Both methods worked fine.
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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts
Response Posted - 01/31/2006 :  09:07:06  Show Profile
I use the Tiller Tamer. As Bear said, the operative word is SHORT periods of time. Of course, most of my sailing is done on a river where allowing the boat to run slightly off course for even a short period of time will end in a grounding. So I don't trust the tamer for much more than enough time to run forward in an emergency.

Steve
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JJM
Navigator

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USA
170 Posts
Response Posted - 01/31/2006 :  15:42:55  Show Profile
You might want to look at the Cansail Tillerlock. I recently bought one and will be installing soon to my boat. It received high accolades from those who have used it.

http://www.cansail.com/
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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts
Response Posted - 01/31/2006 :  16:45:04  Show Profile
7' of bungee cord is a lot cheaper...!
Derek
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dave holtgrave
Captain

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USA
427 Posts
Response Posted - 01/31/2006 :  19:18:23  Show Profile
the bungee cord works the same way this $30+.
i just like all that crap hanging on the tiller>
i have a removal extenstion stick and that's enough.

try the shock cord, you will be impressed.

dave holtgrtave
hard and dry near carlyle lake in southern illinois
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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts
Response Posted - 01/31/2006 :  21:39:55  Show Profile  Visit Ben - FL's Homepage
I've sailed for miles at a time with the Tiller Tamer when the sails are balanced right. My experience is it works like that better to windward. And with heavier air.

LOOK MA! NO HANDS!
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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts
Response Posted - 01/31/2006 :  23:01:20  Show Profile
Flag's lookin' a little raggedy there Ben.
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mashedcat
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts
Response Posted - 02/01/2006 :  01:56:46  Show Profile
I used the davis tiller tamer on a balboa 20. You really have to reef down on the clutch to hold it tight. I didnt think it was beefy enuf.
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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 02/01/2006 :  10:58:03  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Bungee? Depends on the bungee. Some work better than others. As to "crap hanging on the tiller", I've rigged mine so it's totally removable, nothing screwed into the tiller. (pics to follow) And it's not 30+ bucks; 25 and change at WM.
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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts
Response Posted - 02/01/2006 :  14:00:58  Show Profile  Visit Ben - FL's Homepage
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Lightnup</i>
<br />Flag's lookin' a little raggedy there Ben. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Yeah, I burned that ensign and bought a new one that I don't leave up during hurricanes.
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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 02/01/2006 :  17:14:06  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Here's how I rigged my Tiller Tamer without screwing it to the tiller or the catbird seats. On and off in a couple o' seconds:
Edited by - AADIVER on 02/01/2006 17:21:28
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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts
Response Posted - 02/02/2006 :  08:24:10  Show Profile  Visit Ben - FL's Homepage
Is that your stern light there on the aft rail?
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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 02/02/2006 :  09:31:59  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
It's a solar powered dinghy light I got from Cabelas (sp?) on-line for 12 bucks. I got two of them, one for my dinghy, one for my 250 because my outboard blocks part of the starboard stern light.
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JJM
Navigator

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USA
170 Posts
Response Posted - 02/02/2006 :  12:38:07  Show Profile
Frank,

I like your engineering here...
Can you tell me how you built the ?PVC? casing for the tamer that fits over the tiller? What materials did you use so that it fits tightly over the tiller, stays upright, and doesn't scratch the varnish? Also sizes/lengths of material would be much appreciated as well.

Any tips if I were to build one myself?

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Capt. Kurt
Navigator

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185 Posts
Response Posted - 02/02/2006 :  17:29:13  Show Profile
I installed a tiller extension with a lock box. Works great. Bungee's worked too but I kept triping over them and you cant get into seat storage without removal. I really like stearing from the sternrail seats too which is an added plus.

Kurt
#818 C250WK 'Tortuga'
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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 02/02/2006 :  19:29:47  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
John:

A piece of 2" PVC, 5" long. A strip of wood 1/2" X 1" X 5". The Tamer is screwed into the PVC and wood with 1/2" ss screws.
The snatch blocks on the seats are secured by one of the seat bolts.
No holes had to be drilled, either on the tiller or on the seats.
The Tamer slips on the end of the tiller and snugs tight as far back as it can be pushed. No damage to the tiller finish. Works for me!
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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts
Response Posted - 02/02/2006 :  21:09:02  Show Profile
Hey frank, slick idea for the tiller tamer. That light on the stern rail, does it have a switch to cut it on or off?
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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 02/02/2006 :  22:24:42  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Yeah, it has a switch, but since it's solar, not a power draining issue.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.