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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Self Steering

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saribella
Captain

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USA
286 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/11/2006 : 15:13:44

I know there was a post in the recent past regarding self steering apparatussess. Here is a link to the video that I had made utilizing a forespar telescoping tiller & lock boxes on Lake Michigan. Works well on a close to beam reach, not so well on a broad reach or running unless in 10knot plus winds. I know there are alot of self steering systems out there, but in my opinion the Capri's tiller rides a little low (notwithstanding a higher rise tiller) to be viable for somehting like the Tiller-Tamer; which I think is not a stable design. I have sailed +- 5 deg on course for hours using this system in light to medium air. You be the judge. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdyjAOkzkik

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2006 : 07:59:20

I was just talking about this subject with my wife this morning. In my opinion, a self steering mechanism such as that shown or one using a line to tie off the tiller works fine so long as the wind is fairly strong and steady, that is if pressure on the helm, keel, and sails remain constant, the boat sails straight. Once a wind gust of any significance is thrown into the equation the boat will not stay on a steady course. Weather or lee helm will turn the boat onto another course that must be manually corrected. A device that corrects back to the original course is therefor desirable, especially when cruising long distances.

An electronic autopilot is one answer. Another is a simple device I use on my boat. The design is based on the fact that when a wind gust hits the main sail the boom tends to rise. A line attached to the boom end or the main sheet tackle, run through a block on the coaming or a stancion, then to the tiller on the windward side, and a length of surgical tubing from the tiller to the leeward coaming or stancion, works much like an electronic auto pilot. When a gust strikes the main the boom rises slightly, pulling the tiller with it and keeping the boat on course. As the gust subsides the surgical tubing returns the tiller back to its original course position.

The inventor, whose name escapes me, has apparently sailed for days on end with little or no course correction using this system. He recommends surgical tubing because it maintains better elasticity and line tension than bungy cords. I use small jam cleats on the coamings to secure the tubing and the blocks which are attached to short lengths of cord. It works very well. Frankly I'm amazed that someone hasn't picked up on it and marketed the design.

I started using the system two years ago when, on a two day single-handed race-cruise, my electonic autopilot went on the fritz. I spent 36 hours of a 48 hour cruise on the tiller with very short intervals off to reef sails, grab something to eat, and pee. Winds ranged from 2 to 25 mph. It was an exhausting experience which would have been a lot easier with a backup manual tiller pilot. I was fortunate that we had a nine hour stop in a harbor of refuge.

Edited by - aeckhart on 09/12/2006 08:02:10

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2006 : 08:37:43

That's fascinating Al.

Got any pictures?

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2006 : 11:46:19

[url="http://www.jsward.com/steering/index.shtml"]Sheet to Tiller Steering[/url]

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2006 : 12:51:01

As mentioned on the webpage linked in Don Lucier's post, the book "Self-Steering for Sailing Craft" by John S. Letcher (1974), describes non-electric sailboat self steering options in 260 pages worth of detail.
<center>
[url="http://www.amazon.com/Self-Steering-Sailing-Craft-John-Letcher/dp/0877420424/sr=1-1/qid=1158081809/ref=sr_1_1/104-0125065-9733529?ie=UTF8&s=books"]

[/url]
</center>
Although it's out of print, copies can still be found by determined nautical scavengers. Well worth the hunt if it's a topic which interests you.

-- Leon Sisson

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2006 : 18:08:38

Aye, that be the fellow, and a fine idea he had.

I don't have any pictures of the system. If I remember my camera, perhaps when I'm on the boat again on Sunday.

Edited by - aeckhart on 09/12/2006 18:14:31

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2006 : 11:29:30

Al, how do you shift the system when you tack?

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2006 : 19:50:04

Frank,

That's one of the few drawbacks of this or any systme like it. you have to switch everything over to the opposite side of the boat. That's why you need to set up the required blocks on port and starboard ahead of time or have some type of easy means of attaching them. I use the jam cleats with short pieces of of line attached to the blocks to make it a little easier.

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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.