Sheet to tiller steering

[Martinhilldpo]

Has anyone tried sheet to tiller steering? I checked out some internet resources and made up the necessary bungees etc and tried it today. The tiller never moved although the boat stayed on course upwind quite nicely. As the tiller didnt move I found that I could get the same result by lashing the tiller in place slightly to weather and setting the desired heading by adjusting the main sheet. A bit slower than active steering but quite adequate for hands free sailing.

Has anyone had any success with self steering? Lashing the tiller seems to work but it is a bit slow as she wanders about 5 degrees either side of the intended course. My speed dropped from 6 knots to 5.

[Joe Myerson]

Hi Martin,
I've been chasing the chimera of sheet-to-tiller self-steering for some time. It doesn't work well downwind, but upwind, especially close-hauled, it seems to work well, largely, I suspect, because of Cape Dory's full-keel design. The secret, apparently, is to keep some luff in the mainsail. Since my boat has mid-boom sheeting, I think I've got to install a secondary mainsheet. This approach, which I found on YouTube recently, seems to be the most promising for my boat, and probably yours:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5oXymClVDo

I plan to give it another try.

--Joe

[Sea Hunt Video]

Since my boat has mid-boom sheeting, I think I've got to install a secondary mainsheet.--Joe

Joe:

Did you convert S/V Crème Brulee to mid-boom sheeting If so, when and why

[Martinhilldpo]

Thanks Joe. I have end boom sheeting so I attached the main sheet to the tiller, however as its a heavy double block there may not be enough tension on the working end. Maybe an auxiliary sheet is the answer, I will give it a try.

[Martinhilldpo]

Hi Joe. I had a sucesfull experiment on the water today. I rigged a 2 part tackle and a surgical tubing spring. I got the boat nicely settled on a close reach on a lashed tiller then rigged the 2 part tackle in place of the boom end sheet tackle to the tiller through a turning block on the windward side with the surgical tubing on the lee side. When all was in place I slacked the main sheet completely so that all the tension was on the 2 part tackle connected to the tiller with the surgical tubing applying opposing force on the lee side.

It worked! It worked beautifully!

Progress.

However. It would only steer on a close haul. No matter how much I played with it I couldnt get her to follow any other point of sail. No matter how much I fiddled with it she always returned to a close haul.

Still it is progress. If I can get her to steer on a close reach or beam each I will post how I did it.

I used 5/16 multi plait and 2 inch blocks for the sheet tackle. 5/16 surgical tubing on the lee side for a spring. I attached the lines to the tiller with clove hitches, next refinement will be cam cleats to more easily adjust the lines.

Let me know if you progress with this, I would love to hear about it.

[Martinhilldpo]

Should also mention that I had the 2nd reef in as it was a pretty exciting day on the straits.

[Joe Myerson]

Martin,
Thanks for the report.
I'll have to wait a while to launch (snowstorm today), but I plan to give it another try.
BTW, with their full keels, Cape Dories will probably hold a close reach or close-hauled course by just tying down the tiller ... still sheet-to-tiller self-steering is a project worth pursuing.

Joe

[Skipd]

Excellent resource on this topic, "Self-Steering for Sailing Craft" by John Letcher. I was partially successful in my attempts at sheet to tiller steering, but became impatient over time. Downwind control was the issue. Ended up getting a Windpilot windvane which was pricey, but is a beautiful piece of equipment and works quite nicely.

Thanks