Lashing the tiller

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Conrad

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Having braved single handed sailing for the first time I came to the conclusion that the method used for lashing down my tiller was not good enough, there are two cleats on the tiller which seamed to be designed for this purpose. Can anyone tell me if there is a good product on the market or whether I should learn a particular knot for this purpose, or both

Regards

Conrad
 
I rarely lash the tiller when sailing single handed.

Do you have an auto pilot? When I have the boat set up on course sails balanced etc I often use the autopilot to hold the tiller - power on standby - so the boat sails herself then if I need to turn / adjust the course I can power on and turn.

I did try experimenting with elastic cords but found it more of a pain than it was worth resetting it every time.

I have seen a device where you have castellated bit on the deck and the tiller has a section that sits in it to hold it but not tried this out.
 
Been using a tiller tamer (picked up for a quid or two on Ebay) for a while v. useful singlehanded, but NOT if there is any risk of going over the side.
 
Fixing tiller is fine until you move about the boat. Then heading goes all-over the place. The Tiller-mate and similar are fine for this, but expensive for what they are and limited by above fault. The better way surely would be to invest in a Tillerpilot, which will steer to a heading, tack, alter course. Quite often Hubby will put it on, even though I enjoy helming and we both enjoy the sun or ease it gives. Ebay has various old and modern Tillerpilots for sale, so it's not necessary to spend a fortune.
 
Short term dodge whilst sailing up wind. Flip the tiller extension to leeward and jam against the cockpit coaming. Sheet the main on to induce a bit of heel and therefore weather helm.

She'll track straight, long enough for you to put the kettle on.
 
For single handed sailing I reckon there is no substitute for a tiller pilot. A lashing or one of the other gadgets mentioned are OK boats with long keels that hold their course perfectly well but other wise it's a tiller pilot.

I have one of the earliest Nautech Autohelms and have had it for the largest part of 30 years. It is without doubt the best bit of kit I've bought.

On the rare occasions that I do lash the tiller for a few minutes I do it with a length of lightish rope stretched across the cockpit between two cleats on the coamings with a clove hitch around the tiller.
 
The simplest and cheapest that I have ever used was a piece of 1/4" line stretched across the cockpit between 2 cleats and over the tiller.

The line had a length of light chain in the middle and you put one of the links over a pin that was on the tiller.

Instantly freeable for emergencies and very adjustable.
 
Thankyou all, loads of good ideas and leads.
I will be able to buy myself time to get the kettle on, sailing on the Thames just gives me enough time before I hit the other side.
Thanks again
Conrad
 
Depends on the boat. By old Vivacity 20 tracked well with just a bungee holding the tiller to windward and the sails balanced (very very important) but My Macwester 26 needs rope to hold it as she is much heavier on the helm due to different rudder shape.

I have a tiller pilot but sometimes it just won't hold a course.

Whatever you use, balance the sails first.
 
I have 3 - "Lectric George" is an autohelm who does a great job but runs the battery down. Normally used "on" to get settled and then "standby" till we get there or till a hazard looms. There was "Plastic George", a rod that slotted into the Autohelm fitting and had a row of holes underneath for a choice of angles, none of which were ever quite right. He turned out not to be man enough for the job and has been replaced with "Ally George" who is better and is always used when I leave the boat on the mooring. Cost me a new tiller though when someone in an out-of-control sailing dinghy clouted my raised rudder! Cracked it clean off at the stock! No 3 is the Sea-Sure rope jammer gismo which is infinitely adjustable so is good for the single-handed race where I would be black-balled if anyone saw Lectric George on deck! It needs a bit of elastic in the rope so that it retracts out of the way when not in use so it is never a "fixed" lock. With a bit of fiddling it can keep things more-or-less under control while I pull the main up or pull in a reef.
 
i do a lot of single handing and dont have/want a tillerpilot.

A bit of stretchy shockcord fromthe tiller to the leeward side and a light line fom the tiller arounda stantion and forward into the cabin wll give you a usable control line, a small compass below helps keep you rougly on course.

A dodge I tried recently was to lash the telescopic boathook to the tiller so the handle extended up to thecompanionway into the cabin. Able to keep control dead downwind in a fresh breeze with the kettle on like this.

010-1.jpg


Not a good picture but should give you the idea.
 
[ QUOTE ]
i do a lot of single handing and dont have/want a tillerpilot

[/ QUOTE ] but you do have a long keeled boat

but then so does Conrad!

(Don't see those grid compasses about much now! I have second mounting for mine under the tiller with a light above it. A lot easier to see in the dark, out of harms way and the light can illuminate the cockpit floor when the compass is not there)
 
I have a second mounting bracket for the compass,been meaning to fix it on the bulkhead under the tiller as you say less kickable there.On about page 6 of my jobs list /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I use a Seasure Midshipman Rope Lock on my tiller - it has a cam cleat which the helmsman can lock on or off with a flick of the finger - essential bit of gear for the single hander. I sailed my Eventide 26 with a Midshipman nearly 20 miles with the tiller locked this way, ending up bang on course, once. Far and awya the best bit of kit for the job IMHO.

http://www.sea-sure.co.uk/SeaSureCatPt2.pdf
 
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