Tiller pilot security lashing

[pugwash]

I bought a new tiller pilot the other day and it has changed my life but there's a problem. One end slots into a wooden block on the deck abaft the cockpit, which is fine, but if it were to come out of its slot for some reason it would slide overboard and be dragged along by its connecting wire. The instrument itself is shaped like 'arge soap-cake with rounded corners and streamlined appearance, which will help it jump over the toe-rail, and there is absolutely no facility for attaching any sort of rudimentary safety lashing. Any ideas as to how this might be achieved without drilling holes?

 

[tony_brighton]

glue on a loop of string (or something) which you can put a line around.

 

[oldsaltoz]

G’day John.
Is the slot long enough to drop in a small plate that has a wing bolt threaded through it. This would prevent it dropping out and no tools required, just a thought.

Avagoodweekend Old Salt Oz……

 

[Plum]

Interesting point, but I have never had mine come out of its mounting hole, but even if it did, it would only move about 150mm aft before the cable went taught so sould never actually fall off the deck. The cable is well fitted so that the connections do not take any strain. Maybe you should shorten the cable.

Try e-mailing the manufacturer and letting us all know what they recommend (please).

 

[Guest]

Have a TP10 and it hasn't "jumped out" yet - despite seeing plenty of "rock & roll".

Suggest a spot of good old fashioned "Araldite" to spot-weld a short length of thin flexible stainless steel wire somewhere appropriate.

Magic stuff Araldite - but prefer the old fashioned brand to the new "Rapide".

Best regards )

Ian D

 

[claymore]

I used to have an autohelm tiller pilot and I tied a bowline in a short piece of thin kevlar line and looped it over the piston. The other end was tied off to the base plate and was quite tight. It allowed the piston to push and pull the tiller and helped the unit to stay firm in the base plate. I've not explained that too well but hope you catch my drift
regards
John S

What care we - tho' white the Minch is,
What care we boys, for wind or weather?

 

[pugwash]

Thanks for all your good thoughts. It's only a question of ease of mind, really. My outboard is worth only half as much but I never forget to put a safety line on it. The cable needs to be long and is quite strongly socketed so I'm unlikely to lose the autopilot, but the possibility of a wave or butter-fingers dropping it over the side doesn't seem sensible. I will certainly e-mail the makers and pass on any info that helps.