Self Steering

[Darenmagness]

Anyone have any ideas on rigging self steering on a Com-Pac 16? Looking for a non-electric solution.

Thanks!

[wdscobie]

do an Internet search for 'sheet to tiller steering'.

i have good success using a TillerClutch when sailing -

http://smallcraftadvisor.com/store/prod ... ductid=299


last week i sailed, to weather, for close to an hour across Port Townsend Bay in about 8-knots with a TillerClutch. have a video showing me on the bow for over 15 minutes with boat sailing herself. don't know if the Compac will do this. trick is to get the boat well trimmed.

[Michel]

Please show us this video!

[wdscobie]

here is an older video i made back from the Sage 17 shakedown cruise in June 2011 -




i am now much better at sailing the Sage 17 so i can balance the boat quickly, and under a specific angle of sail, and set the TillerClutch to 'take control'.

i'll be putting together a video over the next couple of weeks about last week's Puget Sound trip. i'll share when it is complete.

[Michel]

Thanks Dave! Great video!

I try that from time to time and it works on my boat but the wind is shifting all the times where I sail! I have to do whatever business I have to do quickly in the cabin!

Looking forward to your next video.

[wdscobie]

I try that from time to time and it works on my boat but the wind is shifting all the times where I sail!

a sudden shift the boat can't 'keep up with'. a gradual change is not a problem ... the boat will follow a 'lift' or if 'headed'.

on Lake Dillon, here in Colorado, the wind is constantly shifting, sudden 90 degree changes and i've even done 360's. mountain sailing is a challenge!

i found sailing in Puget Sound last week 'easy' as the wind doesn't shift much.

[Michel]

I know what you mean! Terrain effects must be part of our karmas! There are only a few place in my sailing region that I can trust for a bit of steady wind. But as someone said: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

[wdscobie]

video of my overnight cruise this past July in Puget Sound -




the part showing the boat self steering begins 12 minutes into the video.

[Michel]

That was a great video Dave!

Here is my small contribution to self steering (About 1:45 in the video)

http://youtu.be/esIC-bMX8mg

[JSsailem]

It is all about balance. Proper sail set is key. I did pick up a 'tiller clutch' beats trying to tie a tiller with a couple of half hitches while trying to dash to the bow to set a sail on my Montgomery 15. I get the work done then try to reach the tiller before I broached or something worse. Always frantically tring to untie the half hitches. The tiler clutch is such an elegant solution. In a pinch I can just push the tiller and override the breaking mechinisim.