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Tiller position while anchored

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Bob Jack
1st Mate

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USA
58 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/21/2009 : 16:51:59

All these years and I still don't know. When at anchor, do you tie off the tiller straight, hard over, or leave it free ?I'm almost too embarassed to ask...seems like I should know this.
Thanks Bob

Bob

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2009 : 18:09:55

We secure the wheel.

Paul

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Bob Jack
1st Mate

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USA
58 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2009 : 19:27:48

STRAIGHT AHEAD ?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2009 : 20:35:17

We tuck ours behind the rear shroud on the starboard side where it's out of the way of the boarding ladder.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5362 Posts

Response Posted - 11/21/2009 : 22:32:58

I have a pretty strong current in the river where I tie up to the slip, and the current runs about 20-30 degrees off parallel to the dock. I tie the tiller handle about 25 degrees to starboard to match the direction of the flow.

If I don't, the tiller swings around banging into the transom, denting up the tiller. I've had to re-urethane the tiller handle several times where it has hit and worn off the coating.

Even if you don't have a current, the movement of the boat from the waves will cause the tiller to swing, so in this case, I'd secure it so that it would be out of the way getting into or out of the boat.

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Peregrine
Admiral

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830 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2009 : 08:59:43

On the mooring, I have it hard over to free up the cockpit on the anchor straight.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2009 : 09:53:10

We secure ours to minimize the predominant water movement hitting the sides of the rudder.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2009 : 10:20:43

I secured it in the slip or when we were in the cockpit at anchor (tied it up to the mainsheet), but my theory (unproven) was that a secured rudder would increase the tendency of the boat to sail up on ("hunt around") the anchor, so I left it unsecured over night when we were on board.

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Bob Jack
1st Mate

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USA
58 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2009 : 16:45:59

Thanks to everyone. There are so many opinions on this subject that I no longer feel bad for not knowing whats best.I'm thinking....at anchor in a pass with current and wind, that a rudder tied off straight ahead might indeed increase sailing at anchor....but letting it flop around could be annoying. I think I'm going to go with tied off hard over and see how it goes....(in conjunction with Arlin's anchor rode bridle of course)
Thanks,Bob

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2009 : 16:50:33

I always secure mine but mostly because I figured it reduced the wear and tear on the pintle/gudgeon pin -- not to mention the wear and tear on my head listening to it move around.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5362 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2009 : 17:08:46

I've also got a bungy cord for securing the tiller, and depending on how taught I make it, the tiller will swing a little or a lot each way.

The thing I try to avoid is allowing it to swing freely across the entire range because
(1) the long tiller arm can hit you in the leg or other tender spots (it can really smart);
(2) if it bangs into the transom, it will put a big dent in the polyurethane finish on the handle; and
(3) it makes a lot of noise slamming around.

So, I either immobilize it completely, or bungy it so it remains more or less ship shape.

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Bob Jack
1st Mate

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USA
58 Posts

Response Posted - 11/24/2009 : 18:11:40

Which beggs the question... if we tie it off...what is the best position to tie it off in. Straight ahead or hard over...or kinda loosey goosey , so that it moves a little (unable to commit to a point of sail) but doesn't make noise and beat up the boat?
Aaaauuurggghhh ....
Bob

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2009 : 00:41:55

I've never noted that it make much difference where the rudder is secured though it would if in a current or tidal flow.

The forces that produce anchor rode hunting are wind on the hull rather than water movement so position of the tiller is doubtful to have much to do with it.

Regardless of where the helm is locked, the hunting oscillation takes place. Interesting is that the oscillation actually stops when winds reach a high velocity and the boat is driven very far over on a tack and holds that tack presenting a critical amount of beam to the wind and a danger of straining the ground tackle or colliding with another boat.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2009 : 06:53:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> but my theory (unproven) was that a secured rudder would increase the tendency of the boat to sail up on ("hunt around") the anchor <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Dave,
Last time I spent a few nights on the hook I played with rudder positioning (or not) in a mild current (1 to 3 kt) and found that with the rudder secured at center the boat searched a lot, but secured hard over it searched much less. A hard over tiller might keep a more taught anchor line during a tidal transition too. Different conditions might dictate a different approach though.
So Bob, I'd recommend hard over and secured at anchor and wherever is comfortable at the dock.

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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.