Tiller to sheet self steering

[davidpm]

This is an old but good trick for those who haven't seen it before..

Tiller to sheet self steering.
Need a lenght of light line a small block and a bungie.

Set the boat to an upwind course and balance the helm with main and jib sheets.
Tie a bungee from the tiller to the leeward rail.
Tie a block to the windward rail
Reeve a light line from the tiller to the block and attach it to one part of the main sheet.
Adjust everything and it will steer your boat sometimes for hours.

PS
No comments on the messed up traveler and back-stay tensioner, it has since been fixed.

[Hartley18]

Neat trick! ..and a lot simpler than other versions I've seen.

Will have to try it some day.

[groggy]

whoa. thats kinda great.

[Stearmandriver]

Any thoughts on how/if this would work with a wheel? I'm thinking I'd either have to reverse the lines, or rig them to the bottom of the wheel so theyre pulling the right way... Or does it only work with the longer arm of the tiller?

Cool trick anyway!

[Minnewaska]

Similar to how I recall Manry rigged Tinkerbelle when he crossed the Atlantic.

[Barquito]

Probably not as efficient, but if I get sails balanced OK, I can just let go of the tiller and my Bristol 27 will sail forever. This would probably reduce the amount of time the boat pinches up into the wind. You can also set up something that steers off of the jib sheets.

[rbrasi]

That's it. I'm doing this next time out. The other one with the surgical tubing and other gizmos looks too complicated.

[centaursailor]

Just what I,m looking for.

Safe sailing

[davidpm]

Originally Posted by Stearmandriver

Any thoughts on how/if this would work with a wheel? I'm thinking I'd either have to reverse the lines, or rig them to the bottom of the wheel so theyre pulling the right way... Or does it only work with the longer arm of the tiller?

Cool trick anyway!

The popular wisdom is that it is a tiller only solution. Course you could be the first to figure it out with a wheel.

[johnnyandjebus]

Dave

Nice setup. I have played with this as well and a couple of comments if you don't mind;
Bungee cord will work on the lee side of the tiller but surgical tubing is better. Something about its elasticity properties, that are way beyond my ability to explain.

The same general setup can work on a broad reach. No pics but I'll try to describe my setup.
- When setting the jib sheet pass it around you lee-ward winch ( a 1/4 turn) and then on to your windward winch before cleating it off.
- Connect your "sheet to tiller rope" to the center of the jib sheet, between the two winches and then back to the windward side of your tiller.
- Connect your bungee cord to leeward.
- Adjust accordingly.
- Nothing new about this on my part, googling it will find you some pics.

The above does not work nearly as consistently as going to windward but it can work, main sail down helps.


Again, nice setup I really enjoy playing with sheet to tiller steering. Sometimes with great success, other times not so much.


John