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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Tiller Tamer...again

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luckystar
Navigator

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USA
236 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2003 : 15:43:58

Well, after seeing that Tillerman Rudderlock, I now realize what that piece of black plastic that came with my boat 4 years ago was. I have one of those as well as the TillerTamer. So, Shelby if you want either of these and would like to save your gift certificate for something else AND save money. Email me and I can sell you one of these.

Patrick Burnett, Little Rock, AR
S/V Lucky Star #2707 1982 SK/SR

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jellyfish
Navigator

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USA
171 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2003 : 16:42:09

Steve, I am a "hands on" sailor too! but to me that does not mean continuely holding the tiller and the main sheet and the jib sheet. if I did that I would be one hand short. by sailing with my tiller tamer Im free to trim the sails or anything else I may need to do. I dont see where holding the tiller has anything to do with being a hands on sailor!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/10/2003 : 19:06:47

<b>"I don't see where holding the tiller has anything to do with being a hands on sailor!" - Jellyfish</b>

On the contrary, I became a "hands on" sailor when I became liberated "from" my tiller. My sailing waters are consistently windy and wavy, so temporarily lashing my tiller never really gave me any time beyond a few seconds. This meant that I was fixed to the tiller like a barnacle to a hull. After the installation of my autopilot, I became a hands on sailing fool. All those thousands of sail trim nuances that I had only read about, could now be accomplished because now I could let go of the tiller.

Don't get me wrong, I love the feel of the tiller and being at the helm, but letting go of the tiller has both increased my sailing knowledge and made me a more "hands on" sailor.

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
C25 SR/FK
Cradled on the hard, 200ft from Lake Erie

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5937 Posts

Response Posted - 01/11/2003 : 15:34:57

I didn't say I was a "hands-on sailor." I said "I prefer to have hands-on control of the boat." In other words, I like to have my hands on the tiller and the sheets most of the time, because the tiller pressure gives me information that helps me to know how well the boat is sailing, whether the sails need to be trimmed, and often, what adjustments need to be made to them. Also, when you need to feather the boat to windward in a gust, or alter course to follow a windshift, or cut across a power boat wake, you don't have to reach for the tiller and release the tiller tamer in order to do it.

I usually sit on the leeward side of the boat, holding the mainsheet in the same hand that is on the tiller. The jibsheet is in my other hand, which is resting on the cockpit coaming near the jibsheet clamcleat. The clamcleat is gripping the jibsheet until I need to make an adjustment. If I need to steer the boat or adjust either sheet, I can do it quickly, because my hands are on those controls at all times. Sometimes I have to steer with a knee, or hold a sheet with my teeth briefly, but, every sailor does that from time-to-time, and when you singlehand, you have to use all the "tools" that you have.

Sometimes the tiller tamer can be useful when racing. Last summer I was singlehanding the boat, and set the tiller tamer while running downwind in light air. Then I went forward to the leeward shrouds and used my weight to heel the boat and move my weight foreward, which decreased her wetted surface and increased her speed.

If I were doing long distance cruising, I would use some sort of self-steering whenever possible, but for lake sailing and coastal cruising, my personal preference is to have hands-on control of the boat. To be honest, I get a little rush when I feel a fresh wind grab the sails and tug at the tiller. I'd hate to miss that experience.

Steve Milby "Captiva Wind" C-25 T/FK #2554

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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2003 : 06:55:19

osmepneo has a tiller tamer, and I haven't used it at all. When I want to get away I from the helm I've been playing with the auto helm to gain some experience with it.

I agree with Steve, at least for me, when I'm sailing I want hands on control. If something needs to done I want to be there ready to react not even having to move my hand a foot or so to take control of the helm. Perhaps in open water I wouldn't feel that way, but on our lake, the bay we sail out of is pretty hectic and the pwc and many other power boats say, "We don't know or care about the rules of the road. You stay out of my way!"

So for me, I guess I'm just some sort of a hands on kinda guy. <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

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Shelby
Navigator

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USA
155 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2003 : 19:20:50

I only plan on using the TT when I'm out by myself and need to make a change to the sails or whatever. Being out on a lake, I like to have total control as much as possible..so I'm with you on keeping my hands on the tiller as much as possible.

Shelby
'82 C25 "Third S", #3208, SKSR, Honda 9.9, Lake Pleasant, AZ

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jellyfish
Navigator

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USA
171 Posts

Response Posted - 01/13/2003 : 12:05:23

different strokes for different folks, I have had a blast single handing my boat by setting the tiller tamer and all the sails then standing in the compaionway and steering the boat by shifting by my weight. surfing her like a huge surf board. ought to try this just for the feel of how just a little shift in weight goes along way. there are lots of ways to "get the feel" of the boat other than the tiller!

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jwilliams
Captain

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USA
357 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2003 : 13:19:48

Hi all,

Interesting discussion.

I use the bungee cord wrapped one time around the tiller method. When I want to undeploy it I take the wrap off the tiller and the bungee stays tensioned under the tiller and out of the way..that is when I have one.

You see, on my last sail I unhooked one end and clumsily let it escape. It shot off the quarter like an arrow...boing! Fortunately, I had a spare.

I like the idea of tying a loop in the ends to hook around the cleats instead of the metal hooks. That's my next plan.

When I get extra (?) boat units I will look into an autohelm device. Problem for me in SF Bay, is the the wind is so flukey and changes direction from mile to mile because of the hills and buildings. Still, there have been times when I really neeeeeeded to get away from the tiller and the bungee was too squirlly.

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk 2958
Half Moon Bay, CA

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