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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Tiller Extensions

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B Baldwin
Deckhand

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USA
4 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/05/2009 : 17:48:10

What's the best manufacturer & size for a tiller extension for:

Racing
Cruising
Racing/Cruising

Spring's coming, I need easier access to my cabin top winches & rope clutches.

Brad B
3123 Swing Keel
"Magic"

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2009 : 18:04:09

We've got a [url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/2437?&cid=chanintel&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=2437"]Forespar tiller extension[/url]. It pops and locks into a fitting that's drilled & screwed into the top of the tiller. A quick twist of the wrist lets you adjust it's length.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2009 : 20:48:10

One word...Autopilot!

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2009 : 20:52:40

We got one of those too!

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2009 : 22:32:51

I have both as well but use for different situations.
I use the tiller extension, Forespar, while sailing in the catbird seats. I have the one that extends to 30+" but wished I had the longer one.

I use the autopilot as an extra crew member while either sailing solo or on long trips to break the monotony.
Steve A

Edited by - piseas on 02/05/2009 22:35:56

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2009 : 08:25:33

I have an autopilot, but am wary of using it. I just don't trust it in anything beyond a dead calm. Too many times it has veered off sharply, sending me to some bazrre new destination.

I have a tiller extension but have yet to install it. I should add that to my to-do list...

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2009 : 09:46:55

The Catalina 25 is very unfriendly to the whole tiller extension thing. I have used Forespar tiller extensions on all of my boats and the C25 has the worst cockpit for finding a place to perch where an extension can really help. The problem is how narrow the cockpit is. If you sit forward the angle of the extension is terrible, out to the side and you can't really get far enough away to use it well. A shorter extension would be better but I do not know of any "half length" extensions.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2009 : 09:49:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Prospector
 I have an autopilot, but am wary of using it. I just don't trust it in anything beyond a dead calm.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

There may be something amiss with your autopilot, or its installation, because spontaneously veering off sharply is not a designed feature of autopilots. Autopilots show their true worth, especially when singlehanding, in conditions that require constant attention at the helm.

Both of these videos were shot with my autopilot at the helm.

[url="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4536671289105007193"]Autopilot in action[/url]

[url="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2937627551303966063"]Sailing in a breeze with autopilot[/url]

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2009 : 10:05:21

Chris,
From your description, it sounds like the calibration for the fluxgate compass is off. There are various methods of doing the calibration, but all of them involve either sailing in large circles (actually motoring is better) that take a couple of minutes to complete, or in the case of my handheld, taking eight shots over a period of about two minutes, 45° apart from each other. Once done, you generally don't have to do it again unless you've moved quite a distance (the magnetic field of the earth isn't constant), or if you've had to replace the batteries (EG: in my handheld).

Go through your manual and make sure you've done the calibration properly, once done, your boat should be able to hold a very steady course for you. If you've done the calibration and it still veers off, I'd go through any troubleshooting steps your manual might suggest, and failing that, give the manufacturer a call.

Oh, and don't mount it near any magnetic stuff like cockpit speakers, too close to your outboard (magneto or alternator will throw it off), VHF, etc. Any of those can affect the calibration, as will any ferrous metal in proximity to the compass, especially if it's not always there, like a sheath knife, pocket full of keys, etc.

Hope this helps, you should be able to trust your AP.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2009 : 10:20:58

Thanks for the tips David. I actually blamed it on the batteries on the boat not bein gcharged (I had a load of battery problems last year). This season I will re-calibrate the AP and see if it performs any better.

Ours is a Simrad (I think) and plugs into the boat. By "Batteries in your handheld" are you talking about hooking up a GPS to your AP? I don't think ours hooks up that way. If I am wrong, then that my be my problem! Maybe it was steerin gto nothing, and thought it got there.

Dammit - I think I managed to hijack the thread again.

Ok Folks back to Tiller extensions.

Edited by - on

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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.