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Just my plug again for the sheet-to-tiller setup...
This is an arrangement that very few people understand or try, which is a shame because it works so well. Here's the point: to a large degree, the boat steers herself in order to keep load on the sails. In this sense, it is similar to a vane gear as the goal is the same. Instead of using the vane gear to supply input, you are using a simple tackle and instead of measuring a relative angle to wind you are measureing and driving with sheet load...
Think of it this way--for a given amount of loading on a sheet (usually it is easiest to use the mainsheet), a certain amount of helm pressure must be maintained. What the S2T rig is doing is balancing sheet tension vs. rudder pressure. A lightweight (and rather inexpensive) snatch block from the mountaineering store is used to take up a "fool's purchase" on the sheet in question and a certain amount of bend induced in the standing sheet at the point of the purchase. One end of the running tackle (thru the snatch) is made fast in an adjustable fashion(cam cleat is nice, right on the winch base or coaming), the other end thru a turning block and to the tiller. A length of line with a bit of surgical tubing is attached to the tiller in opposition. By balancing the elastic vs. the running purchase, you balance the efforts of the system and steer she will...for hours.
Weight and friction are the big enemies...so think airblocks and amsteel here. Similarly, you will benefit from airblocks or similar low-friction goodies in the mainsheet tackle, and low-stretch line in the mainsheet. You wanted that anyway!
The beauty of it is that you can set the whole mess up for 75.00 or less and it stows in a small bag until you wish to set it up, which after you are good at it will take about 2 minutes, give or take.
Doesn't work too well dead down, but neither does a vane. The accuracy does change somewhat with balance of weight on the boat, but not badly...and if you are quick, you can set it up to steer while you reef!
There are some pictures of this type system set up on my friend's Renegade on the OarClub web page ( www.oarclub.org ) in the articles on various topics under "self steering"., along with some much better instruction than mine as to setting it up and dialing it in.
Next best thing to a vane, and a lot cheaper and lighter weight than one, too. No batteries needed<G>
Dave
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Way back about 20 replies ago this started with someone "new to sailing" asking about single-handed sailing and self-steering. All the tech-talk has been great but speaking as another relatively "new to sailing" person I'd like to add more weight to the personal sailing skills side.
I learned to keep in mind that the main piece of technology on my boat is me. It's up to me to decode the relationship between the wind, the water and set the course. Things starting going better when I realized that there is already a lot of technology in-between me, the wind and the water in the form of sails, sheets, blocks, hull shape, rudder design, etc.. I was confusing being able to sail the boat with sailing it well. I'm convinced that adding more machinery just adds to my confusion and slows down my learning.
For those of us "new to sailing" I think the trick is to become the best decoder of the natural elements you can be SAFELY before selectively adding technology--very selectively. And I think the trick to doing that is to pick your days carefully and go out alone as much as you can. I've learned more in any given solo hour than in almost all the on the water classroom hours I put in 5 years ago when I started this. Adrenaline is a wonderful focus enhancer! Some of those hours have been pretty dull too since I deliberately chose days with light winds so I couldn't get in too much trouble. My second choice is to go out on livelier days with someone who sails way better than I do (they usually have a lot of dinghy experience).
My most recent discovery was that by relying too much on a Davis Tiller Tamer I was failing to learn how to balance the sails so the boat virtually steers itself. I accidentally ended up with the boat steering itself one day and could not believe a.) that I had done it, b.) that the boat sailed so much better and c.) that I had known it was possible but hadn't taken the time to learn how to do it sooner. The Tiller Tamer is still on the boat but I use it less.
I'm not sure where the line is between necessary safety technology and stuff that gets in the way. I guess it depends on the individual sailor. Even in 3 knot winds I always wear my PFD, the VHF radio is always on, the swim ladder is down, I have a full tank of gas and I'm tethered to the boat whenever I leave the cockpit. If the wind goes up I'm tethered all the time. Safety technology is a good thing.
On the other hand after spending most of a summer sailing on a friend's 35' O'Day with big self-tailing winches and roller furling I became convinced I needed those things on my boat. Now that I can change a headsail and reef the main by myself with simpler technology and more sensitive judgement about when to throttle-down, I'm comfortable I can get along without it and get more out of sailing. I've been more frightened on better equipped boats being sailed badly than on my low-tech Commander with an experienced crew to guide me. I'll be even more comfortable with more sailing experience.
I see now how easy it was for me to get roped in by the mystique surrounding "single-handed sailing" born of great ocean-crossing adventures. The truth is that most us need to master single-handed DAY-sailing since willing crew can be hard to come by. There is a big difference between 4 hours on the Chesapeake and 4 weeks on the Atlantic. I intend to sail the length of the Chesapeake and back to Baltimore in a year or two. I'll probably do it in a couple of legs mostly with crew. By 2005 I should be ready to do a leg or two on my own. Probably with cleats on the sheets and hanks on the forestay. And if necessary hiding out in a marina for a day or two while something nasty blows by. It's like I'm trying to be less of a gear-head and more of an air-head. For once that's a good thing.
From the Chesapeake,
Skipper Jer
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Captain Dave and Skipper Jer,
First, thanks for your comments. I had seen a description of a sheet-to-tiller rig in a book but your explanation and going to www.oarclub.org has really helped me. When I get a chance I'm going to rig one up and play with it. The best part of this thread is that I've learned that people do just tie off the tiller to a cleat or steer with leg while furling the headsail (whatever works)
Second, one of the best things about this message board is when someone mentions a new website. I've found two good ones in www.oarclub.org and sailboatowners.com
Last, Skipper Jer's comment about there's a lot of technology in the basic boat and sail (with most of the the technology being between your ears). I'm 3.5 hours away from my boat trying to make a once a month schedule to get my sailing fix. If I could sail every day, I'd "Just do it" but since I've got to get my kicks vicariously through the thoughts of others, this is a great message board. Thanks for everyone's patience with my ignorance
TP
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The coolest thing about the computer is the ability to exchange information and even establish friendships with people from all over the place. To me, this is still amazing stuff...I remember when it was a big deal to take the optional BASIC programming class in high school, and the first warehouse I worked in we still did everything with pencils and paper! This is an terrific vehicle, and threads like this are a good example to me of why!
The one thing I haven't soapboxed on here that I just realized I should, since we are talking among other things of safety, is ground tackle.
Yep, ground tackle. Safety gear.
Very few boats carry enough scope. I like to have about 600' for the head anchor, and it will fit in the A/C chain locker just fine!
Make sure you have a good hook that is a size bigger than what the maker suggests, adequate chain, a couple hundred feet of nylon. The rest can be polypro from the fishboat store that has the appropriate strength but is much smaller and lighter thatn 1/2" nylon. In places where you can't sail, or where you have encountered a current that the iron oar can't get you anywhere against current, you can lay out the parking brake and wait...if you have one that works. I've held for hours on a 1:1 scope even in rather deep water, as long as it was fairly flat. (I gotta wait for wind sometimes)
Some of the worst "excitement" I've ever had, I would have avoided if I had had more than 150' of scope at the time.
Best,
Dave
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Hi there tpalmer,
Single handed sailing is just plain unsafe. Any serious human being will tell you that, however I can't remember the last time I took someone else out with me. Perusal of my log tells me that 68% of my sailing days on Augustine (Ariel hull #330) thus far have been solo. A crew is usually nice to have, but the Ariel is a great boat to single hand. I have all sorts of fancy do-dads, like custom lifelines, jack lines, emergency boarding ladders, a hand held VHF that I keep in the pocket of my sailing jacket etc. to make a single handing accident more survivable, but venturing out to sea alone is a high risk endeavor. Then again, so is backcountry skiing alone, and I have done plenty of that also. You have to understand the risks.
As far as the rigging on my boat, however, I didn't have to add self-tailing winches or any other expensive hardware. Except when I am raising the jib, I keep my winch handles below. I don't really need them. I have a jam cleat atop the coaming board on each side of the cockpit beside the standard sheet winch that came as original equipment on my boat. I run the working jib sheet to the cleat on the opposite side of the cockpit where is within easy reach as I steer the boat. I can usually set the sails where I want them by hand without the aid of a winch. Therefore, self-tailers would be of little value.
The 35-foot cutter that I sailed for years had self-tailing winches and they were great. I can't imagine why I would want to install self-tailing winches on my Ariel. It just doesn't take that much strength to pull the jib in tight with the working jib. If one was accustomed to sailing in stronger winds with a Genoa, that would be another matter. I would probably also change my mind if I were racing my boat, since you do lose time in a tack in heavy wind if you can't set the jib where you want it without luffing slightly to slack the sheet.
If I were to spend money on winches, I would spend my money on a couple of halyard winches and mount them on the aft end of the cabin top. It would be nice to be able to raise the main from the cockpit. Staying in the cockpit is desirable. Reefing single handed is a bit of fun. It can be a real adventure in winds over 25 knots and a big swell. I have to go forward to the mast to lower the sail, but I can operate the reefing lines and secure the reef points while sitting on the top of the cabin. The attached photo was on one of those days.
I do use a bungee cord for self-steering when I go forward or below. I also installed pin rails on my lower shrouds. The pin rails make good secure leaning posts when working at the mast in addition to their various other uses. They are shown in the attached photo.
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Well said there, Skipper Jer.
We boys like our toys. Technical, mechanical, practical; simple or complex, store-bought or homemade. That's the kind of stuff that seems to generate interest among sailors, here and elsewhere.
Very rarely do we discuss the simple pleasures of sailing, the fulfillment which comes from challenging ourselves.
But most sailors are romantic dreamers at heart, especially those who would adopt an old boat like ours.
I had saved two articles on singlehanded sailing. One was the tech/gear approach
http://dan.pfeiffer.net/p26/singlehand.htm
The other had a more philosophical approach, by David Guenther
... the six best things about singlehanding (in no particular order):
1. Bill Gates insists on it. Harried mothers plead for it. Throughout history, individuals have endured privation and hardship in search of it. And singlehanded sailors have found it. Well, that too. But I'm talking about solitude; a momentary respite from the distractions and demands that occur when other people are around. It's a time of peace and quiet, a chance to think and reflect, which refreshes the body, revitalizes the mind, and restores the spirit.
2. Whether you call it "communing with nature" or "feeling at one with the world," there are times singlehanding can only be described as a spiritual experience -- days when you marvel at the sea and sky and are awed and humbled by the majesty of nature, days when you savor the interaction of the boat with wind and waves and say to yourself "It just doesn't get any better than this." According to an unpublished study by Dewey, Kahn, Yu, and Howe, these moments are covered by the inverse square rule -- the intensity of the experience decreases by the square of the number of people aboard.
3. Always sailing with a crew is like taking your relatives along on your honeymoon and having them move in with you afterwards. Getting away by yourselves provides an unparalleled opportunity to become intimately familiar with your boat. You discover its likes and dislikes, its strengths and weaknesses, and its quirks and limits. You come to appreciate the good, change what you can for the better, and accept the inevitable. Over time, your initial apprehension fades and is replaced by a feeling of comfort and trust. Your ability to handle your boat improves until it becomes an extension of yourself; your senses become so attuned that you pick up on everything and react properly without thinking.
4. Ask a sailor to identify the allure of sailing and a common answer is "freedom and independence." If you buy into this, singlehanding will give you the most for your money. With no responsibility for and no need to accommodate others on board, you can indulge yourself. Take the provisions you want and nothing you don't. Use all the stowage space for your stuff. Always sleep in the best berth. Go where you want when you want or go nowhere or nowhen at all. Do things your way and when (if ever) you are inclined to do so. Be messy or neat, noisy or quiet, lead a spartan or decadent existence. It's your toy and, for a while at least, you don't have to share it with anyone else.
5. Singlehanding is unlikely to kill you. But it offers plenty of challenges that can make you stronger and better. Not just a better sailor, but a better person. Having to do everything yourself necessitates learning which increases self-sufficiency. Self-interest will motivate you to anticipate what could happen and plan for contingencies. When (not if) the unexpected occurs, necessity will stimulate the resourcefulness and creativity needed to deal with the situation (and, occasionally, prompt a few prayers and promises to change). Your ability to both endure discomfort and appreciate the little things in life will increase. Facing your fears and pushing your limits will boost your self-confidence; while the reality you experience will keep you humble. And, ironically, what you learn about yourself while singlehanding will make you a better companion.
6. Another irony is that singlehanders meet a lot of people. I think part of it is that, after being alone for a while, they are more inclined to reach out to others for companionship and conversation. But it also seems that others are more inclined to reach out to singlehanders. Maybe one person is perceived as less of a threat or burden than a group. Maybe it's curiosity, the mothering instinct at work, empathy, or pity. Whatever the reason, the willingness of others to extend an invitation and helping hand to a singlehander and the generous degree of hospitality provided is a commonplace, yet unique and priceless, gift.
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Beautifully said, Pete!
I also admired much the pix of 376 that were just posted, and echo the comments of so many that it's a shame when we hear of one of these boats getting cut. They're simple, honest, multi-tasking little workhorses...like an old Chevrolet!
I may be preaching to the choir, here, but how many boats are there out there that are easily and completely rebuildable by a person of average skills and modest means which can be had so affordably? Let alone boats so versatile. These boats have heart.
When I get correspondance from fellows looking for a single-man livaboard, or go-places boat, the Ariel and Commander are at the top of the list. For 10 grand a fellow could be off to parts unknown in a fully found and very seaworthy Commander, if he spent wisely and applied himself. These are little dream machines...show me another boat that can do that!
Just to make Mary feel better, a friend of ours who is a Mathematics professor (and engineless small-boat sailor--in his case a Cheoy Lee Cadet or "offshore 27" which is also his home) crunched the numbers, and the odds of getting killed single handing on extended passages--let alone daysailing--were incredibly lower than the odds of living a "normal" life ashore for an equivalent period of time. Life, after all, is inherently dangerous! When we sail, I think we are just that much more alive, and perhaps that much closer to reality so that the "threats" are up close and personal, instead of things we do everyday, take for granted, and have become desensitized to. After a bit, we just adapt the same way to life on the vessel.
The most dangerous thing on the boat? Our fellow crewmembers, if we have them. This works out both in statistics and experience...let that one roll around in your mental "what-if" and "why" machine for a bit, it may make some sense.
Much like Pete, I grew up on sailing craft...so I was/am in many ways desensitized to the inherent hazards in the same way that we get to things like driving a car, working, crossing a street, showering, etc...
When I started sailing alone, my awareness of those things was altered a bit, as somehow I realized the truth of life anyhow--it's all on me. I teach junior that regardless of anything else, she is ultimately responsible for her own safety in any setting or circumstance.
Some folks are afraid of sailing alone, but then I see them at work on the street as a police officer or working on a roof! I think it is really just a matter of becoming familiar and comfortable with the boat itself...which is only done by doing!
Life, after all, is inherently dangerous.<G>
The beauty of the boat, and of that communion with nature that she allows you to have, alone...is that we are brought face to face with that reality, are forced to come to terms with it, and become stronger, calmer, more thoughtful, and better people for it. Still, you don't face it alone.
This may sound silly to some, "out there", romanticized, etc...I don't care. I'm a pretty open minded but simultaneously skeptical person...and this is just my experience.
You share those moments and experiences with the boat, and in some way or other she is a real live entity. A good old boat will appreciate the heart and soul you put forth on her behalf, and she'll pay it back 10 fold. She'll take care of you, and if you are listening or paying attention to what is going on, she'll warn you before you screw up badly and caution you when its' time to look sharp. You do not build this relationship with her unless it is just the two of you out there. You may find yourself talking to the boat!
If it is of any reassurance, once you take on the responsibility to the boat, and once you show sincere effort and intent, she's on your side...and these particular little boats are incredibly brave, true and strong.
A good friend of mine makes his living restoring wooden boats, and has a great story about doing a bunch of replanking on a nice old ChrisCraft. New owner had plenty of money, the "preeminent" woody-type surveyor in the area had been over her and allegedly found the faults. Every day, he kept finding himself glancing at the beautiful transom of this boat which was no where near his job. Last day, he walked up to the (varnished) transom and jammed an awl straight thru that spot...the one that everybody had missed, and that someone had done a lovely job of veneering over--in strips!--after packing the rot full of polyester several years before. Took pics of the whole thing just so anyone who wasn't there would believe him later. His comment, "She was talking to me all that time, and I just wasn't listening". I never really took the "boat-as-an-entity" thing seriously until I started hanging out with him, and then met a few old fishers too. One old Slavic guy, he was so superstitious he'd go on short rations if he had to to put on that new coat of paint...on a WORKBOAT! He'd been raised with this belief, you see, that if you treated the boat well, she'd never let you down, but if you sleighted her in any way, well, she's a lady after all...
That fishboat, inside, was beyond most "yachts". Nothing fancy, but everything nice and clean and seamanlike. All the gear in perfect order, always. I have to say, when I first stepped inside that boat I was surprised, because she didn't feel like a 60 year old fishboat. Instead, she felt warm, inviting, like home.
Sorry to subject y'all to my philosophical ramblings here...I guess there's really no good way to explain my feelings about it, or to show the deal to another person, so I'll just say this:
Take the boat out. Do it alone. Be reasonably cautious, but don't be afraid..because you're not going to be alone. You'll see.<G>
Dave
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One other thing that you should know about single handed sailing: Your worst enemy is cold - and I am not talking about hypothermia, which is cold to the extreme. When you cool, you stop doing things you would otherwise do, and you can't think as clearly as you normally do. You just will not act right, and do dumb things. Avoid the cold - and that does not mean that you should not sail in cold weather (which I do regularly), but it does mean your head is covered, and you have a pair of longjohns, and some decent body wear. You can get chilled when the temperature is in the seventies, if there is a good wind. And wind and rain compound the problem of getting cold. When you start having to take a whiz more frequently than usual, or begin to get the chills, you are too cold. Always put warm cloths on before you reach this point because it is difficult to recover. The way to recover, incidentally, is by eating something (and getting dry if you are wet), assuming you can't get out of the weather.
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my two cents
Make sure you know what an uncontrolled jibe is, why they happen and how to avoid them. Avoid them like the plague. Other than collision they are one of the few things I can think of that can really hurt these boats.
Figure out a way to attach yourself securely to the boat. You will probably never need it but it provides peace of mind and lets you concentrate on other things.
Go sailing remembering that the boat will easily handle conditions you don't want to deal with yet. And they are very, very hard to tip over. Unless you are sailing with an experienced sailor, you will learn more and faster sailing alone. There are fewer distractions and you can spend your time experimenting to find out what works best. Reef early. If you have any doubts, reef, until you get comfortable with the fact that these boats like wind and can carry a lot of sail. Never trust lifelines to save you. Think of them more like safety tape along a cliff marking where not to go. Don't be too proud to crawl if the conditions call for it. Don't think about falling overboard- think about how you are going to stay on the boat. It's really not that hard. You will find that as conditions get more interesting your attention gets more focused and survival instincts kick in so you always have a firm grip on something. When the outcome of carelessness could be deadly, it's amazing how careful one gets.
Eventually you will get to all the other stuff that has been mentioned earlier. And it's worth every bit of the effort it takes to get there.
Tom
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I singlehand sail most of the time. I have a autohelm 3000, and wouldn't know what to do without it. Yes it is a battery drain, but my Ariel has a Volvo MD6a (10hp inboard diesel) so the batteries get topped up a the beginning and end of a trip.
On one trip upon entering a harbor, an old man came up to me and after giving me a nod on the nice docking job went after me for not having a harness on. Up in the Great Lakes the water is about 50 degrees. He told me it really wouldn't do me a bit of good to be floating around in the middle of the lake (I wear a floatation jacket). I'd be dead in 30 - 60 minutes! (He had spent 50+ years single handed sailing the area, so he knew what he was talking about.) So, you HAVE TO be able to rescue yourself. And the only way I know is to stay attached to the boat. Even a handheld marine band would be a challenge - due to distance limitation and response time. If I'm out in the middle of the lake, either they would never get my signal or it would take them 1-2 hours to get to me. Either way, I'd be dead.
I have a lot of lines running back to the cockpit (main & job sheets, jib & spinnaker halyards). (and yes, self tailering winches on the jib sheets) I even have a downhaul for the jib to douse it from the cockpit. The biggest challenge I have is reefing / dousing the main. Have lazyjacks, but you still have to stand on the cabin to get to the main halyard. Ideally, I would like roller furling for the jib and redo the main halyard so I raise / drop it from the cockpit. The later item would be pretty cheap to do. The former would be quite expensive. I'll work on being more conservative on the jib size / changing, and save my money on a furler.
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When I was 16, I single-handed Chalupa (#57) in shorts and barefeet and without so much as a life-preserver or anchor on deck. As someone said in one post -- life is inherently dangerous. As John Wayne said, "life is hard -- its even harder if your stupid."
Now at 40 and after a 20 year separation from Chalupa, I am back and singlehanding her again. The first things I did, in this order were:
1) made sure the engine was reliable (muy importante, as it is a challenge to sail home to the slip in heavy traffic, drop the sails, and glide into the slip when the engine doesn't run)
2) built a dirt cheap rope/wood ladder with trailing line (what's the fancy word for dragging a line?) so I could climb aboard if I fell off and could catch her! (haven't use that yet)
3) hung two anchors on the bow pulpit with rode and line ready (I've used those a couple of times!)
4) added safety lines and hung docking lines on them
5) ran a temporary jack line from each aft cleat to the forward bow cleat and started wearing a harness and preserver in conditions that warrant it
6) set up an easy tiller tie down system - I just run a line between two cleats and wrap it around the tiller twice. If sails are set well then one can make very minor adjustments by rotating the line where it wraps around the tiller like a motorcycle throttle -- in good conditions it gives plenty of time to run forward or below decks for at least 5 minutes and sometimes a half-hour -- if conditions are bad, well - you should've planned ahead and dropped sail area sooner!
7) Last but not least, I ahve started dreaming about routing downhauls to the cockpit, adding single line jiffy reefing, tiller tamers, auto-pilots, etc.
Keep up the single-handling -- it is the best of sailing and the only way to become truly in tune with your boat.
Ted
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this site is awesome!!!
Just had to let you all know that. Having this assoc. to go along with the boat is priceless. And the internet is like having the library of congress in the living room.
When I decided to get Ariel #350, I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to single hand her. But this is very encouraging. I have a bunch of pad eyes, blocks, fairleads, and who knows what all on my boom--for reefing I assume--still have to figure that all out. Going through this ''new'' boat is like Christmas. I find something new everyday! Same with this site!
I've sailed 16' plywood wanna be's, and took basic keelboat on 22' santana's, which I highly recommend--along with the wife, so she knows what you're talking about! No yelling allowed! It's supposed to be fun!! And I've spent some time in 54 degree water wondering if I'd ever get back alive. You get VERY cold, and can't even think.
The learning curve is steep, but worth every bit of it. Moving up to the Ariel was a dream come true for me. I plan on giving her the best care I possibly can, so she can take care of us.:cool:
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You'll never be sorry to have gotten that boat, Willie!
FWIW, the first of our family's boats that I can remember sailing on was our old Ariel, #357. For all the boats that had come before her and for all that came after, Dad always compared to the Ariel with some amount of longing...he missed her.
The Ensign that preceded her, and the P30 and old Alberg 35 that followed...none measured up.
After I got my old Commander, I knew why.
And, although the Triton is a good boat, having seen what both of them look like out of the water--the fineries of the A/C hull are really not as meaningful on paper, or without another boat to compare to close by on the hard--well, I think I'll always miss my "Ariel", too.
Dave
PS--I had an equipment question for you, give a line at commander280@yahoo.com if you have a chance?
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Happy New Year Everyone....This is one of the great sites...
I had to chime in on this. Valhalla has the original sails as well as a 175% Genoa. My winches are original Merrimans??? (anyone have a source for handles in case one goes swimming?). Even with my wife on board, I tend to do most of the work although it is nice to be able to hand the helm over once in a while.
No one has mentioned the easiest way to trim the sails and it's almost automatic. Just let the tiller go and as the boat heads up trim the jib to where you want it. No muss no fuss. I think about getting self-tailers every year, but haven't done it yet.
I have an ancient TillerMaster, and I cannot find a place where I can get enough throw for close hauled work. Off the wind and motoring, it sails a better course than I do, and I would not be without it. I made a bracket that drops over the coaming so I could move the mounting point fore and aft. If I go aft, the throw gets so short it is almost unworkable although the TillerMaster seems to have enough power to handle the helm.
John G.
Valhalla
Commander No 287
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Capt. John,
I've never tried letting go of the tiller and just trimming the jib but look forward to trying it next time I'm on the water. Does this tactic have a name?
TP