[AlbertJ]

I was wondering if anyone has been able to come up with a good solution to mounting tiller pilots on older boats with a long cockpit-sole style tillers.
The tiller on my boat (Newport 27 – similar to C&C 27) is very long (about 4ft) and is connected to the rudder shaft right at the cockpit sole – about 2 ft from the aft end of the cockpit. If the pilot is installed within the recommended range of 16-24 inches from the rudder shaft, the tiller must be raised about 30 degrees in order for the tiller pilot to reach the tiller.
Only the very tip of the tiller clears the bench if not raised (and I am using a curved tiller not a straight one). However mounting the pilot to the forward tip of the tiller would place it about 4 ft from the pivoting point and also it would greatly limit the turning angle.
I have tried using the tiller bracket mounted on the top of the tiller but that also limits the turning range since the tiller hits the sides of the cockpit.
Any help would be highly appreciated.
-Albert