self-steering

[tillersail]

I occasionally attach a 3m telsecopic pole to the tiller. The pole, which overhangs the stern, supports a small fore and aft sail (approx 4 sq feet) which acts like a fin. In a gust, the sail moves to leeward pulling the tiller to windward and the boat bears away. Tiller movement is counteracted by a length of shock cord leading to the leeward coaming. Sail efficiency is not compromised and there is no cats cradle of blocks and lines in the cockpit. It works well enough and I wonder if anyone else has tried this method of self-steering by tiller sail? Tony C

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[webcraft]

Why do you only do this occasionally?

Does it work on all points of sail?

Can you post pix/diagrams?

- Nick

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bluemoment.com>http://www.bluemoment.com</A></font size=1>

 

[Tantalus]

I know it's awfully late at night to be thinking about anything, but am I missing something here?

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[Jacket]

Presumably it doesn't work off the wind.

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[DeeGee]

see my comment in your other thread reader-to-reader (incidentally, is there some advantage to posting in two places?)

<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all