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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

New soft link idea for tiller boats

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Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/14/2004 : 01:10:51

I have only had my boat for a couple of month’s and have only had it out three times now and am in the process of changing things on it. One of the items I tried was the soft link.

It worked very well but I had some issues with it. First if you let go of the tiller the bungee would do it’s job and pull the motor and tiller to the starboard side. Second you have a constant pull on the tiller from the bungee which wasn’t comfortable. Third you have to loosen the steering friction bolt so the bungee would do its job. This caused the motor to flop around after it was pulled up on each tack.
To get around these issues I removed the bungee and changed the soft link to a double pull system. Now there is a rope to pull the motor to the starboard side and the original rope to pull the motor to the port side.

The steering friction bolt can now be tightened back up to the point the motor will stay wherever you put it. The tiller will also stay anywhere it is last put.
I had some problems with there being some slop in the system which you needed to hook up the ropes and I did not have full stop to stop turning ability on the rudder. To over come this a bungee was put in the system to take up the slop and allow the tiller to continue to turn after the motor has hit its stop. The bungee put in was a 15” with very little stretch.

This system will only work for tiller boats and the only thing you need to add is one more ¼” eye strap to the bottom of the tiller handle.

I haven't had it in the water yet but it works great in the driveway.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2004 : 11:01:43

I don't see a block at the stanchion. Is there one? Will there be one? It looks really well thought out to me. Thanks for the tip. After you try it and are happy with it you should submit it as a tech tip to the Cat 250 Tech Tip Editor.

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Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2004 : 12:10:50

There is no block at the stanchion. The idea was to keep it as simple as possible. The rope just slides on the stanchion and keeps itself off of the fiberglass on it's own. With no block it makes it easier and faster to put on. Who is the Tech Tip Editor and how would I submit it as a tech tip? Having been a member for only a couple of month's I don't know my way around this forum yet.

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2004 : 12:11:45

Looks like a good solution to some of the problems you experienced with the soft link with a tiller.

A couple of thoughts. The soft link answers the problem of close quarters steering but the addition of motor steering at cruising speeds is neither needed or desired (over steer problems) so the system needs easy disconection. Unfortunately the Honda engine shown in the picture doesn't employ an easy to use tensioning / locking adjuster so has to be left free which means that when disconnected, the motor is free. To deal with that, a loop of line should be affixed around the upper pintle and when the fixed line is unsnapped from the rudder eye, it should then be made to the loop which is adjusted so the motor then centers and holds that center position.

With this affixed, the motor will rotate up for sailing and be held from flopping each way on tacks and when lowered will hold a center position for cruising speed. Using it this way, the tug on the tiller only exist while actually docking with the soft link connected to the rudder eye. The pull pull system pictured should work well as long as connection changes between docking and crusiing are simple.

Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 03/14/2004 12:13:34

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2004 : 12:47:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Keith D.
 Who is the Tech Tip Editor and how would I submit it as a tech tip? Having been a member for only a couple of month's I don't know my way around this forum yet.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Arlyn is for the Mainsheet Magazine.
You can submit it to the website via "spike"
you can submit it to the Telltales newsletter via JimB517

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Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2004 : 21:51:05

Arlyn good points. I can see now that I did not completely install your soft link. I missed the part about the loop around the pintle. What is hard to see in the pictures is to disconnect the ropes you remove the s hook from the bottom of the tiller and the carabiner from the rear of the rudder. There is an another carabiner at the back of the motor if you want to take it off also. The steering friction bolt can be left tight enough to keep the motor where ever you last put it at all times. Again I will need some water time to give this a test.

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2004 : 23:05:50

Keith,

I described the loop previously but added a drawing today on the suspicion that the loop around the pintle wasn't being picked up.

Keep everyone informed on how it works.

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.