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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Tiller Controller

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pelinet
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/05/2012 : 14:36:56

Anyone have a suggestion of what tiller controller to purchase for my c25?

Ray Carter

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2012 : 14:59:08

Describe your use... Do you want something for long distance cruising or for holding the tiller while you hoist sails? People here use everthing from a bungee cord wrapped around the tiller to electronic "tiller pilots" interfaced to a GPS. There are a number of contraptions in between--I once had a little box that held the ball on the end of an adjustable tiller extension--not a bad solution.

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pelinet
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2012 : 15:03:22

I don 't need a tiller controller for long distance cruising just for the convenience of holding the tiller for hoisting.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2012 : 16:51:33

I secure mine with a couple of turns of bungee cord wrapped around it and secured on either side. I also have the motor fixed at midline with only enough power to maintain steerage.

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NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2012 : 17:14:12

Yea, bungee cord is the way to go imo. It doesn't require you to drill holes anywhere.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2012 : 18:36:01

Ditto bungee cord!

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Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2012 : 18:40:42

I've tried the bungee cord, or even line....and no matter how hard I try to get it perfect, my boat will veer off course pretty quickly. I have just about enough time to go below, light a smoke, grab a bottle of water, and get back. Maybe 20-30 seconds. Am I doing something wrong, or is something wrong?

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2012 : 19:17:22

That's about par. Our boats are small enough to be significantly impacted by moving ballast, and a lot depends on the direction of apparent wind. My Davis Tiller Tamer usually gives me just enough time to get a drink/snack from below or snap a photo from the foredeck, but I only need to make occasional corrections if I am just sitting in the cockpit

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pelinet
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2012 : 20:10:28

Davis tiller Tamer it is.

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2012 : 20:34:38

well...actually...if the sails are properly trimmed relative to the wind and your choice of heading, the tiller will just naturally stay centered...if you need to put a lot of pressure on the tiller to maintain your heading, it's really acting as a break and you likely have too much sail up...for fun and practice, you can steer by varying sail trim. Of course, this works best in mild to moderate conditions...

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3460 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2012 : 20:59:40

On a past boat I owned I used a Tiller Lock but forget actual name/brand. Basically, it allowed the line to pass thru unless you pressed down on the lock. Once the line locked, the tiller stayed in position until you released the handle. It worked fine. I am sure the Davis Tiller Tamer and similar products sold these days are even better suited for occasionally locking the tiller.

On my Cat, I secure the tiller only when raising and lowering my main sail. I sail 90% of the time by myself and find this useful especially when taking the main sail down upon approaching the marina. I have not bought a tiller lock or tamer yet. What I have gotten use to using and works for me is the left-over furling line from my furled Headsail. My furling line is cleated on a cleat located on my port side. I leave it cleated but take the remaining line across the mid-cockpit and put 2-3 wraps around the tiller handle. Then wrap the furling line around a cleat on my starboard side. I just wrap it around but moslty do not cleat it. This, in most instances, is enough to hold the tiller still until I pull down and secure the main sail, then I can quickly undo the furling line from the starboard side cleat and undo the wraps around the tiller.

I would consider getting an auto-tiller but my main times for locking the tiller is only for a minute or so putting up the main and taking it down. Sincw I have my boat on a river, I frequently tack and so limited times overall to utilize the full benefits of an auto-tiller.

Edited by - OLarryR on 02/05/2012 21:04:41

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2012 : 21:10:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jerlim
 well...actually...if the sails are properly trimmed relative to the wind and your choice of heading, the tiller will just naturally stay centered...if you need to put a lot of pressure on the tiller to maintain your heading, it's really acting as a break...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I don't totally agree. A little weather helm is (1) a safety factor, and (2) makes the boat sail a little faster than a completely neutral helm. You can trim for neutral helm by easing the main and flattening the headsail, but the most efficient trim creates a few degrees of weather helm (tiller 3-5 degrees to windward). A lot more than that will indeed create drag as well as a tired helmsman. With a balanced rudder, a few degrees of weather helm can be handled with one finger.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 02/05/2012 21:13:20

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2012 : 07:33:11

When I'm trimmed out, and I do it by feel, look and sound of the sails, weather helm, I can steer with the lightest touch on the tiller. I have a bit of weather helm but it's easy to handle. It increases alot during a strong puff, but I just hold it and ride it out. (that's the fun part)

Even so, I think I'd need an autohelm, GPS powered, if I wanted to spend any significant time away from the tiller.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2012 : 08:21:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">if the sails are properly trimmed relative to the wind and your choice of heading, the tiller will just naturally stay centered..<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I agree that anything other than a light touch suggests unbalanced sails and do sometimes sail by trim alone, but I suggest that you try going below or walking about the boat with your perfectly balanced sails and an unsecured tiller, the breeze bouncing through 10 - 15, and modest 1 - 2' waves.

It is easier to sail without a rudder than one free to flop about as wind, wave, and trim juggle for authority.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2012 : 08:51:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pelinet
 Anyone have a suggestion of what tiller controller to purchase for my c25?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What type of control are you seeking?

For a good number of years, I used bungee/tiller tamer devices to hold the tiller when raising/dousing sails or for quickly going down below, and while it was better than nothing, I needed something with more control as I started singlehanded sailing in more aggressive conditions which is why I bought an autopilot. I've had it for ten years now, and like roller furling, I don't know if I could ever go back to not having it as I use it every single time I go out alone.

Edited by - dlucier on 02/06/2012 09:43:32

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2012 : 09:16:00

If you're going below, heave to.

Edited by - on

pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2012 : 09:24:48

I like my Davis Tiller Tamer.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2012 : 09:59:10

Yeah the Tiller Tamer is nice because you can set it for varying degrees of stiffness on it's line. Loose enough to make minute adjustments but stiff enough to let it steer once you get it right. The down side for me is that I have to take the line out of it when I put the tiller cover on at the end of the day. But then I use the line to tie off my tiller so it kind of works out!

Edited by - DaveR on 02/06/2012 10:02:51

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2012 : 10:14:56

I previously used the Tiller Tamer, but now I use 4 lengths of yellow rubber tubing wrapped once around the tiller to hold it in place. It's much more elastic than bungy cords, and can let me correct the course without loosening anything. It also moves with changes in pressure on the rudder, and keeps the course fairly well on most tacks.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2012 : 12:15:01

The bungee cords allow for varying degrees of control as well and only cost aroun $2 each. I wrap the cord around the tiller 3 times and attach it on either side to the hasps on the cockpit lockers. It slides, with a little coaxing, forward and aft to increase/decreas the amount of tension on the line. Simple, elegant solution that doesn't get in the way of my tiller cover.

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Stu G
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts

Response Posted - 02/07/2012 : 09:12:15

I put an eye bolt through the tiller extension hole and ran a flat bungee to the stanchion on either side. I found the normal bungees weren't strong enough.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2TQ4WJusZaMdgnVR_zCGiHt1VyAdTK3PqVjrj7XvqbI?feat=directlink

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/07/2012 : 09:17:27

Nice solution Stu.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5368 Posts

Response Posted - 02/07/2012 : 19:41:38

I use a bungee to go below for some gear or a water bottle. If I plan to be down below for any more than 30 seconds and I have enough sea room, I heave to.

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JAB
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2012 : 09:01:36

I like the [url="http://www.cansail.com/"]Tillerlock from Cansail[/url]

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2012 : 11:05:08

<>

I use the tiller tamer.

I tied off the lines for the traveler, with it in the middle.. Then I put the lines from the tiller tamer aft and out coming back in the cam cleats that held the traveler lines. Makes it easy to remove the tiller, as I remove it after sailing.

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