tiller control

[petersto]

I am looking to buy a tiller control to make single handed sailing easier. A chap at our club has an excellent one which fits under the tiller and reminds me of a brake for a bike. You squeeze the lever and you release the tension and move the tiller .However after making many enquiries cant find supplier. There are another two on the market namely the Tiller Tamer and the Tiller Hand both look the same but one is more expensive and has I think a better finish. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SwedishLass]

I will start this with the usual it depends. Not least on the size of boat and facilities available. Personally I use the electronic tiller pilot thingy of which there are a few on the market. However there are a number of other solutions.
The tiller can be clamped in position by a device such as the tillermate effectively a friction clamp on a rope to the sides of the cockpit. I have used a pair of ropes with eyes slipped over the tiller when needed and held by cam cleats.
Some boats have a peg board to restrain the tiller when needed or if the tiller can be lifted slightly the other device is like a comb (on a hinge so it folds out of the way if not needed) and the tiller has a matching set of teeth which rest in the grooves.

 

[Poignard]

Until you find exactly what you want, you could use two tiller lines rigged like tent guys, i.e with a piece of wood with two holes in it in each line. I have this arrangement and it does the job and costs next to nothing.

 

[VicS]

For single handed sailing an electronic tiller pilot is invauable. A lot more expensive admittedly but IMHO better value than the things you have mentioned. Buy one and you'll wonder how you ever managed without

 

[srp]

Theres also one called a Tiller Lock - http://www.arolyth.se/txrleng.html - which you can alter the tension on just by raising or lowering the tiller. However, despite having seen a supplier at the LIBS and emailing the company, I can't find a UK contact to buy one. If you have better luck than I've had so far, let me know.

 

[PatrickB02]

I inherited one of those Tiller Locks with my recently-acquired boat. All I can say is it doesn't work for me. Maybe it is old and/or not properly set up, but it just doesn't lock off the way it should.
I would second Vic's comment - there is nothing to beat an electronic tiller pilot. I had one on my old boat, and it was brilliant. A new one is top of my shopping list for the new boat!

 

[petersto]

I have an electonic one but I find I am always bashing it jumping about in lumpy weather. So I thought I might try something a little cheaper.

 

[srp]

Thats interesting - I was quite impressed with it at the Boat Show and I'm thinking of getting one. But there's nothing like using one for real so in the light of what you say perhaps I should just put the money towards something a bit more useful (electronic? Simrad or Raymarine?)).
The website link above has got a downloadable instruction sheet so you could check its set up properly, also they say the type of rope is critical. Just in case you want to check yours has been installed properly.