sheet to tiller

[Rhylsailer99]

I was thinking to have a go at rigging up sheet to tiller.
Any ideas on a suitable thickness bungee cord as there is lots of different sizes on ebay.

 

[Sandy]

I was thinking to have a go at rigging up sheet to tiller.
Any ideas on a suitable thickness bungee cord as there is lots of different sizes on ebay.

It is an exercise 'trial and improvement' as my old maths professor used to say.

Not all bungee is created equal, to misquote George Orwell.

 

[Merrick]

I've been having a go at sheet to tiller with bungee very recently with some success. From my research on the matter it would appear that bungee is not optimal because of a lack of consistency in the stretch dept so I have ordered and received from eBay some surgical hose of varying thickness for my next attempt.

 

[jwilson]

40+ years since I've used sheet to tiller but I can confirm plain rubber works better than bungee cord - more linear stretch characteristics

 

[Refueler]

The 'cargo rubber covered with braid' is not actually Bungee ... and loses tension quickly as it releases. About only use on board is to hold a locker top open !!

True Bungee is same as the tube used by nurses / vets when they want to stop / reduce blood flow in your arm .... commonly termed Surgical Tube.

We use it as High Start for launching gliders in RC ... a long length stretched and hooked onto the model allows us to 'pull' a model to altitude. Hobby shops sell it usually in metre lengths ..... or get it online ...
I buy in 10m lengths .... 6 and 8mm diameter.

 

[garymalmgren]

Hi Rhylsailer99
I have done the full experimentation on Sheet to Tiller and have come to the conclusion that it is great.
To answer your question.
a suitable thickness bungee cord
You want a light rubber bungee cord. This is often called surgical cord/rubber.
It is hollow about 1/ 2 inch in diameter and a wall thickness of 1/32 or so.
You will use three cords of different lengths. The shorter being the strongest pull.
about 2 inches difference between each cord should do it, but you will need to experiment as each boat will behave differently.
That said. I went to the local budget shop and bought exercise cords 80 P.
My biggest success was a variably adjustable fitting on the tiller for the control lines.

Gary
Here are my videos of the different approaches.

Set up and tuning

Close hauled.

 

[andsarkit]

You could try resistance bands from your local sports shop.
Resistance bands
They come in various lengths and thickness and you can always use the spare ones for fitness training while the boat steers itself