How to set up self steering on a sailboat. Sailing Trailer Boats.

Рет қаралды 20,927

Күн бұрын

How to setup sheet to tiller steering. After studying a dozen different ideas on setting up sheet to tiller steering, I arrived at a simple method to try out on the Coral Sea just off the coast of Mooloolaba. Perfect for solo sailing.
#selfsteering #howto #solosailing
I was looking for a simple, low-cost system that is quick to rig, and quick to disengage if necessary.
I have seen plenty of examples of expensive electronic tiller pilots that often break down either mechanically or electronically.
I read articles based on John Letcher’s book, “Self Steering for Sailing Craft” written in 1974. This included one by John Ward that goes into a fair bit of detail, so there is no need for me to write too much more about it, but it is time to put my interpretation into practice. www.jsward.com/steering/
You have heard of the KISS principle, (Keep it simple stupid) but I prefer “Keep it simple and sane”
The system I chose need only a few parts that I scrounged from the workshop. A pair of cam-cleats, A short heavy shock cord, and about 10 metres of 8mm for a control line - non-stretch (such as Vectra) would be even better.
Right in the heart of Mooloolaba, which is a must-visit location for all Aussies planning to travel while international travel is restricted - is the Mooloola River boat ramp and anchorage.
When we head out towards the Coral Sea on a perfect day there is often is a steady queue of 6-knot traffic, all doing the right thing. You don’t want to overtake a prawn trawler as they have a habit of dropping their outriggers just before the heads.
I’m figuring this self-steering thing out - sheet to the tiller,
I’m with Carl, (he’s a North American) We’ve got a gentle 10 knots or so. I’ll show you what I’ve done. I’ve attached the control line to the jib sheet. It comes down and through the turning block which is part of the spinnaker setup. Across to another block. And I’ve got this line over the top. Where you can see a couple of cam cleats. Over the top and under so I can quickly readjust and it seems to work pretty well.
I hope you enjoyed this video as much as I enjoyed making it. Next time out I plan to try attaching the control line to the boom to see how that goes. With summer winding down, its time to start planning a couple of extended trips I have in mind.
Moreton Island is calling, and Fraser Island is never far from my mind. We are also planning a group sail around the Whitsundays in about June.
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00:00 Intro
2:30 Fitting the cleats
4:30 The system at work
6:30 Tweaking to improve performance.
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Predict Wind is an app I use and highly value. See just how helpful it is for sailors like you and me. Go to www.predictwind.com/?ref=chri...
Copyright 2021 Vinsek Pty Ltd

Пікірлер: 66

@CaptMarkSVAlcina 3 жыл бұрын

Good one, nicely done. It just amazing to me how many people don’t know about this. I did one on my main sheet and worked well

@SmallSailboatCruising 3 жыл бұрын

Yes it’s so simple and effective. It seem to work just as well of wind and downwind. I’ll definitely be trying it off my boom next time

@michaelcarman-yv9tm 7 күн бұрын

pretty good explanation. thanks

@SmallSailboatCruising 7 күн бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@carlchambers918 3 жыл бұрын

Great Day spent on the water with a good mate!

@SmallSailboatCruising 3 жыл бұрын

You got that right!

@stevepeterson5943 10 ай бұрын

A tip for ya:. You could make a simple "suage" i think its called. To raise jib off lifelines. I used steel cable, with loop clamps (like the shrouds) about a foot long . . . Attach to sail, other end at the bow. Its just an extension, as long as you have room at top of forestay, for sail to come up a little higher . . . I did this, just to have full side to side visual between deck and sail, where it was obscured if attached right at the bow. Hooe that makes sense. Im also singlehander, big fan of self steering, got letchers book about ten years ago. Nice job : )

@SmallSailboatCruising 10 ай бұрын

Good observation. I thought the same. Beat ya to it! LOL

@stevepeterson5943 10 ай бұрын

@@SmallSailboatCruising oh, right on : ). Did you already make one?

@dougendersbee8310 2 жыл бұрын

I will give this a go on my Farr 6000. Appealingly simple! I will also try mainsheet.

@SmallSailboatCruising 2 жыл бұрын

Main sheet works well better for upwind I think.

@mr.morgan5643 2 жыл бұрын

Well done Chris, really sweet!

@SmallSailboatCruising 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks I'm ad you enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to the next adventure.

@TheFlyingPlectrum 3 жыл бұрын

Apparent wind angle would be useful to know because the way you have that rigged is the opposite to conventional sheet to tiller. Going up wind, if your boat heads up the jib loses power and the bungee pulls the tiller to head further into the wind! I think you just had the boat balanced on Jib and main and could have just lashed the tiller for the same effect.

@SmallSailboatCruising 3 жыл бұрын

I shall take a closer look at that. I think you are right. I experimented with a lot of different things and found the main sheet worked best on my boat. Being very light it pivots around the keel. Thinking long keel arrangements create more of a buffer and better results.

@nathanbruneau1822 2 жыл бұрын

Is it possible to balance a boat on sails in every course of sail and lash tiller??

@theowenssailingdiary5239 Жыл бұрын

If you head up the pressure increases as the apparent wind increases. This is how I've done it, and how I've had it explained to me. The whole system is based on more pressure in the sail as you head up (not less). I've also heard somebodyvexplain the increased pressure when heading up as an increase in efficiency, rather than an increase in apparent wind.

@abdulkkhan5095 3 ай бұрын

Thank You.

@SmallSailboatCruising 3 ай бұрын

You're welcome

@guillaumedeseze7461 Жыл бұрын

Well explained Thank you

@SmallSailboatCruising Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@macom5140 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate! Good job. Greetings from Gold Coast! Athan

@SmallSailboatCruising 2 жыл бұрын

Hello Allan. What do you sail?

@georgemouliere8151 Жыл бұрын

Hey captain u just taught me something thanks

@SmallSailboatCruising Жыл бұрын

I’m glad it was helpful. There are quite a lot of very good videos on the subject. The idea is very diverse and creative so I recommend watching as many different videos on the subject as you have time for all the best Chris

@stevewolf7205 3 жыл бұрын

Good one Chris be a good test run to Morten and back for your tiller steer cheers mate

@SmallSailboatCruising 3 жыл бұрын

I have that one firmly on the radar Steve. Commercial shipping had the right of way, so need to be able disconnect quickly which is one of the things I like about the system.

@petten20233 Жыл бұрын

Got one Albin Vega and it works good. You need only a big Elastic attached to the tiller to a clip.

@SmallSailboatCruising Жыл бұрын

Simple is best. I love those boats!

@daleskidmore1685 3 жыл бұрын

Looks good and nice and simple. Roger Barnes has an attachment on his tiller called The Huntingford Helm Impeder. You may already be aware of it. It is demonstrated on his vid Boat Out Of Water, March 30 2020, at 8min 34sec. It locks the tiller in place. It may be of interest; I can't paste it as a link to you for some reason. Atb.

@SmallSailboatCruising 3 жыл бұрын

I heard of it but couldn't find it so thanks for the heads up. There is another guy that demonstrates it. I think it is the best setup for a smaller boat that can be steered by shifting your weight and heeling the boat.

@SmallSailboatCruising 3 жыл бұрын

Here is another take on the huntingford setup kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fbqDaax8ubzbn6c.html

@daleskidmore1685 3 жыл бұрын

@@SmallSailboatCruising It was Moonlight I had in mind really, although some of us might be able to shift more weight than others......

@daleskidmore1685 3 жыл бұрын

@@SmallSailboatCruising Thanks for the tip, what an interesting guy.

@theowenssailingdiary5239 Жыл бұрын

You didn't explain the theory mate. Works like a charm though.

@SmallSailboatCruising Жыл бұрын

Sure does work well. There are many different ways of achieving the same result. The theory is the same regardless of the system. A change in pressure on the sails is transferred via the sheets to the helm creating a corresponding course correction. As the vessel rounds up or bears away the helm counteracts keeping her on course. I think you already understand this.

@fredschwarz9502 2 жыл бұрын

I've watched several videos concerning this procedure. Yours was the easiest to understand. Good job on the rigging and the video. Would you trust it on an overnight transit?

@SmallSailboatCruising 2 жыл бұрын

There are those that do it But every boat is different. Given suitable weather conditions I have heard of people using the system. If the wind direction changes the boats course will change. You should ask the question. Of someone who has more experience than I do.

@kendonahve924 2 жыл бұрын

I have read some time ago of a participant in an early Jester Challenge single handed transatlantic race who used this system as his only relief from tiller duty. Sorry about forgetting his name. Maybe someone remembers. I subscribed here cause tone is clear, understandable and relaxed. Thanks.

@garymalm 3 жыл бұрын

Good one Chris Those spinnaker turning block are in the perfect position. But where is the fishing trawl line? gary

@SmallSailboatCruising 3 жыл бұрын

I’m hoping to drag that out later this week at Fraser Island

@tonywoollcombe1799 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent 🍷🥃🍺🍹

@tonywoollcombe1799 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent 🍷🥃🍺🍺🍹

@AusMarineRobotics 2 жыл бұрын

Nice one Chris - sorry if its a silly question (novice) but when you tack or jibe do you just release the control line until you set the new course?

@SmallSailboatCruising 2 жыл бұрын

I such thing as a silly question. Yes disconnect then go about or gybe then once on your new course reconnect the control line in reverse of what you had before.

@SamuelLanghorn Жыл бұрын

Do you have to rearrange everything after tacking or jibing? I noticed your lowrance fishfinder/chart plotter, how do you like it? Do you also use the transponder? where did you install it? I plan a similar arrangement,...probably using Humminbird Helix 5 Greetings from California

@SmallSailboatCruising Жыл бұрын

It’s something I would use on longish tacks. It takes a little bit of setting up. Lowrance works well but Garmin is much better in my experience. It is much more user friendly. I have used lowrance and Garmin transducers as shoot through the hull which is fibreglass. This has been proven very successful. No through hull holes and flexibility for placement centrally.

@SamuelLanghorn Жыл бұрын

@@SmallSailboatCruising Thanks for your reply. How did you mount the transponder inside? I had used one in a strip planked outrigger filling a little cavity with water, it worked well, the problem was to take the water out after use.... If possible I would rather use a water free installation (plywood/fiberglass hull). What type of transponder function to you use? just sonar or also more fancy ones like down imaging?

@sailingcitrinesunset4065 3 жыл бұрын

Nice video, have you tried main sheet to tiller steering on a beam reach?

@SmallSailboatCruising 3 жыл бұрын

Yes but I had the main sheet on. Should have let it off. Is that what you do?

@franklund8635 5 ай бұрын

Fine but not in heavy weather and big waves

@SmallSailboatCruising 5 ай бұрын

You are indeed correct. It depends a lot on hull shape and configuration. Every boat is different. Will work with some and not others.

@tronalpha9137 3 жыл бұрын

G'day Mozart. I am Gerard hear in Hervey bay.I live on an 23 ft hood and i am setting it up for single handed. I have an channle and done a vlog on my boat as an intro and became a new subbie on your channle as i am interested self steering systems that are resonbley cheap to do.currently got a few jobs to on the main then i can go out sailing. See you out on the water. Gerard.

@SmallSailboatCruising 3 жыл бұрын

+Tron Alpha I’m still in the early stages of refining sheet to tiller. Boom to tiller works from a broad reach to downwind. Headsail to tiller best for upwind. It seems to be trickier in small lightweight craft that are pretty twitchy. They don’t buffer. The forces like a heavier displacement vessel.

@SmallSailboatCruising 3 жыл бұрын

We should catch up next time I’m up that way. Cheers Christopher.

@mr.morgan5643 2 жыл бұрын

Chris, I wonder if it will work with a cutter and a roller furling Jib!! Do u think?

@SmallSailboatCruising 2 жыл бұрын

Peter Neilson did just that and it worked. He added a small bowsprit on “seeya”

@mr.morgan5643 2 жыл бұрын

@@SmallSailboatCruising Thanks Chris! Fair winds!! Doug

@brettsprojects7629 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Chris could you explain the physics of it to me, few things I do not understand if the jib sheet is taking all the force from the sail how does the control line move the tiller?

@SmallSailboatCruising 2 жыл бұрын

The jib moves at the clew under pressure. Eteee. The tack and the sheet block there is enough movement to adjust the tendency to round up.

@SmallSailboatCruising 2 жыл бұрын

Every boat is unique. You need to experiment with things to find what works.

@theowenssailingdiary5239 Жыл бұрын

When a boat heads up into the wind there is more pressure in the sheet so it pulls his steering sheet which in turn acts to turn him off the wind. There is more pressure in the sheet when close hauled ad the apparent wind increases. Like if you drive you car directly into the wind there is more resistance than if you drive at an angle to it. As the boat comes' off' the wind, the apparent wind decreases, which decreases the pressure in the sail, the sheet, and so the bungee cord can then act to steer back into the wind again. It's a balancing act. It's ingenious isn't it?