sail to tiller steering a Centaur

lustyd said:
Why would the Americans use surgical tubing rather than bungee cord?
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surgical tubing is supposed to have a more linear stretch whereas bungee gets stifer over the extension

on katie L I run the bungee along the side deck using two lengths joined to each other - giving me a longer stretch

the reason I want to try using the baby stay and a steering sail is thaqt to get Katie L to self steer I have to tolerate a degree of backwinding

I understand that with a steering sail you can get the main and the genoa set perfectly

i do have a tiller pilot but it is noisy and I thought that a bit of experimentation might help to while away the hours

D
 
Searush said:
The early Westerlys were all built like brick outhouses, the rig & mast is well over spec'd. Just compare them to similar sized boats in any marina, harbour or boatyard. The stick is always shorter & thicker & the rigging is always a size up too. The baby stay is fastened to the uprise of the forecabin, which is effectively a solid bulkhead aligned to the stay.
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Still would not want to use part of the rig to do something it wasn't designed for and rely on a perception of over engineering and the health of a 30+ year old mast, hoping it will all be alright. However, I would never dream of stopping someone trying BUT I would reinforce the baby stay backplate just in case. Lots of folk are twitchy about replacing their standing rigging at 10 year intervals yet asking a stay to do something it wasn't designed for seems acceptable. Nowt as queer as folk :o
 
Tranona said:
Fine - except that costs more than Dylan paid for his whole boat - and he does not have any more money.
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Hi Tranona

Just to say

Firstly, The Steersman does not cost more than Dylan's boat, and prices are coming down.

Secondly, The Steersman has been thoroughly tested and it works. It is also backed up by a manufacturer that will help you through any teething problems.

Why not take another look.

http://www.steersman.net
 
I have used a steering jib, fabricated from an old dinghy sail.

It was a long time ago and I experimented using the guidance regularly supplied by Practical Boat Owner.

I also made a handy anchor light from an old Schwartz herb jar, and a dinghy anchor form 1/4 mild steel plate but never got round to sewing up an offshore harness using recycled seat belt webbing or the wetsuit form offcuts of neoprene. I used to enjoy PBO in the old days.

Anyway to get back to the question in hand. I recall reaching 14 miles, circumnavigating the Eddystone lighthouse and then reaching 14 mikes home. The thing worked well enough but I concluded only as well as the sheet to tiller alternatives. I never followed it up. This was on a 26 foot long keeler in maybe a force 4, so what luck you might have I don't know.

If you have a choice of sails I would put up the larger. I don't think I would have the spirit to be fussing with it anything above moderate winds. Good luck, I know you will keep us posted.
 
doug748 said:
I have used a steering jib, fabricated from an old dinghy sail.

It was a long time ago and I experimented using the guidance regularly supplied by Practical Boat Owner.

I also made a handy anchor light from an old Schwartz herb jar, and a dinghy anchor form 1/4 mild steel plate but never got round to sewing up an offshore harness using recycled seat belt webbing or the wetsuit form offcuts of neoprene. I used to enjoy PBO in the old days.

Anyway to get back to the question in hand. I recall reaching 14 miles, circumnavigating the Eddystone lighthouse and then reaching 14 mikes home. The thing worked well enough but I concluded only as well as the sheet to tiller alternatives. I never followed it up. This was on a 26 foot long keeler in maybe a force 4, so what luck you might have I don't know.

If you have a choice of sails I would put up the larger. I don't think I would have the spirit to be fussing with it anything above moderate winds. Good luck, I know you will keep us posted.
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woo hoo

three pages and we have first hand experience

I shall put a dinghy genoa on the boat with a view to further experimentation

so it works on a reach - which is a good thing.

I also have two genoas for the boat so I will have a play with that if the chance comes along

a few bits of bungee, some blocks, scottish fighermans superstrong plaited string

D
 
Steersman said:
Hi Tranona

Just to say

Firstly, The Steersman does not cost more than Dylan's boat, and prices are coming down.

Secondly, The Steersman has been thoroughly tested and it works. It is also backed up by a manufacturer that will help you through any teething problems.

Why not take another look.

http://www.steersman.net
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Think we have had this discussion before on this forum, so not sure there is anything new.

Also not sure you know how little Dylan paid for his boat, and if you follow his project you will know that he has no intention of spending any extra money (which he has not got anyway). He has an autohelm but wants to play with sheet to tiller steering without spending any money.

You could, of course offer him one for free - he might like that!
 
Tranona said:
Think we have had this discussion before on this forum, so not sure there is anything new.

Also not sure you know how little Dylan paid for his boat, and if you follow his project you will know that he has no intention of spending any extra money (which he has not got anyway). He has an autohelm but wants to play with sheet to tiller steering without spending any money.

You could, of course offer him one for free - he might like that!
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no self tailing winches...

and a bit of a faff to fit for my sort of sailing

£2,250 for the steersman was the price quoted in the sailing magazine I saw

but I do like the look of the system

genius I reckon

I am with Sir Robin on that

the sail to tiller steering is really just to keep myself entertained while on watch

D
 
dylanwinter said:
no self tailing winches...

and a bit of a faff to fit for my sort of sailing

£2,250 for the steersman was the price quoted in the sailing magazine I saw

but I do like the look of the system

genius I reckon

I am with Sir Robin on that

the sail to tiller steering is really just to keep myself entertained while on watch

D
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Hi Dylan. If you look on the website now, there are three different models. The smallest, the Helm Buddy we are now retailing for a basic price of £475.00
 
Have you thought about rigging the sheet to the boom? It is the way I am considering once I am back in the water.
 
Camelia said:
Have you thought about rigging the sheet to the boom? It is the way I am considering once I am back in the water.
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I have,

and I have done it on Katie L

but a dedicated steering sail was the way they used to do it in the past and also cuts out the backwinding on the main

as I understand it

I have never had a baby stay before - so I thought it might be a bit of fun

it seems that not many people do it now

D
 
dylanwinter said:
I have,
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Let us know how you get on, we can compare notes at the end of the summer.

Will you visit Orkney? If so I recommend the Highland Park distillery and say hello to Lyness on Hoy for me - interesting museum there if you are interested.
 
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Have you actually sailed a Centaur? It is a good solid boat, and if you trim the sails properly and don't try to point too high it sails surprisingly well, but the ones I have sailed have had a pretty heavy helm. Not especially severe weather helm but just a heavy feel, needing some definite pushing and pulling, not a fingertip job. I've used various sheet to tiller rigs in the past but always on boats with a light and quite well balanced helm.

The rubber tubing is very definitely better than bungee....
 
jwilson said:
Have you actually sailed a Centaur? It is a good solid boat, and if you trim the sails properly and don't try to point too high it sails surprisingly well, but the ones I have sailed have had a pretty heavy helm. Not especially severe weather helm but just a heavy feel, needing some definite pushing and pulling, not a fingertip job. I've used various sheet to tiller rigs in the past but always on boats with a light and quite well balanced helm.

The rubber tubing is very definitely better than bungee....
Click to expand...

I have never been on one while they are actually sailing

so look forward to finding out

Most boats have a point of balance somewhere

D
 
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jwilson said:
Have you actually sailed a Centaur? It is a good solid boat, and if you trim the sails properly and don't try to point too high it sails surprisingly well, but the ones I have sailed have had a pretty heavy helm. Not especially severe weather helm but just a heavy feel, needing some definite pushing and pulling, not a fingertip job. I've used various sheet to tiller rigs in the past but always on boats with a light and quite well balanced helm.

The rubber tubing is very definitely better than bungee....
Click to expand...

The Centaur(s) you sailed must have had a faulty rudder bearing or something similar. Mine really is feather light on the helm, as a consequence of the balanced rudder. There are different rudder arrangements fitted to later boats so those with a skeg may vary, I have never knowingly sailed on one.
 
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