Tillermate. Is it any good?

[richardh10]

I have heard plenty of anecdotal evidence that these are good bits of kit if you do much single handed sailing, but I've yet to meet anybody who has actually used one.

Anybody used one, and is it any good?

 

[pampas]

brilliant for short time fiddles when single handed, better still if rubber shock absorber fitted to each tail, Mine was a very early model with camb lever, not the screw type. Nip below fill kettle,have a look around if all clear make the tea.

 

[richardh10]

sorry to appear dim, but how do rubber shock absorbers help?

 

[webcraft]

.
Another option is a camcleat either side of the tiller, attach a bungee to something handy and adjust the tension on the bungee to simulate the right amount of weather helm for the conditions. This works well for ages in a steady breeze, less well if gusty.

(You can improvise without camcleats - they just provide a very easy way of subtly varying the tension on the bungee, and we have them fitted anyway for the tiller lines from the windvane)


- W

 

[webcraft]

sorry to appear dim, but how do rubber shock absorbers help?

When the wind speed increases and the boat responds by coming up into wind they apply increasing pressure to counter the increased weather helm. Much more effective than just fixing the helm in one position.

- W

 

[oldharry]

Tiller Lock good, Seasure Midshipman even better. I wouldnt be without one. I usually sail single handed, and to be able to lock off the helm while I attend to something else makes it nowadays an essential bit of kit.

Why Midshipman over Tiller Lock? Tillerlock needs tightening down, Midshipman works with a cam lever, which I can flick on and off with one finger almost without thinking about it. OK Tillerlock only takes a second or two to clamp down, but the convenience of being able to flick the Midhsipman on and off, makes it the better in my book.

Tllerlock adherents claim it is superior because you can adjust the level of clamping, so that it holds the tiller, but still leaves it free enough to steer against the friction. Midshipman cant do that they say, and even the makers agree, but mine does it quite happily, and I have no problem with adjusting clamping tension! I have had them on three different boats, and it works.....

I too am interested to know why a bungy improves things., I found it made it impossible to clamp the tiller tight enough to hold an accurate course. Likewise string and cleat solutions take too long to set up for the single hander who needs to be able to drop the tiller quickly to do something else.

Uses include: going about - lock the tiller while winching jib sheets to stop her head coming up; hold boat on course while raising lowering sails; making coffee; having a snack; visiting heads; checking chart; setting up, operating GPS; taking bearings.... yes can all be done by autopilot too but even if it is ready to go, you have to locate the pushrod on the pin, check course and bearing, press 'auto', re check heading. Midshipman - flick the lever as you let go the helm..

 

[Fire99]

I have to admit i've been tempted myself with either the TillerLock or Midshipman. I sail single handed probably 99.9% of the time (more's the pity) and I use my Autotiller alot. However, it can be a bit of a pain attaching and disconnecting the pin. Particularly since my sails can quite easily overpower the slightly limited range that the Autotiller has over the rudder.

My 23ft boat isn't the most 'racey' of yachts but things still can happen quite quickly at times so being able to quickly lash the Tiller in any position certainly sounds good in my book.

 

[Nigel_Ward]

Tiller Lock good, Seasure Midshipman even better. I wouldnt be without one. I usually sail single handed, and to be able to lock off the helm while I attend to something else makes it nowadays an essential bit of kit.

..

I agree with oldharry comletetly. The midshipman is so easy to switch on an off and that is what makes it so good.

Also, I think it is well made for the price.

 

[pampas]

Thankyou Old Harry, tis a midshipman that I have, came with a bit of rubber shaped like a dogs bone for one end. found by use that when it was on the windward side course keeping as a lot better than the other tack, So fitted rings drive belts from old Hoover, geat success, allowed the system to trim itself and hence a better course.

 

[oldharry]

Thankyou Old Harry, tis a midshipman that I have, came with a bit of rubber shaped like a dogs bone for one end. found by use that when it was on the windward side course keeping as a lot better than the other tack, So fitted rings drive belts from old Hoover, geat success, allowed the system to trim itself and hence a better course.

Good - new idea to play with next time I go out.... thanks!

Warning to Chi harbour users - if you see a battered old Trident apparently (well, ususally!) out of control, it will be me experimenting with Pampas's rubber bands! Stand WELL clear, please!

 

[William_H]

Tiller lock

Certainly for single handed sailing a tiller lock of some sort is useful. Much however depends on the type of boat. My little boat for instance when self steering gets easily upset by me moving about while a heavier boat will not be so easily upset. Keel style of course also affects the self steering ability.

I found that a long piece of bungee or elastic shock cord does the job nicely. It is stretched from one side of the boat to the other abeam the end of the tiller. About 4 turns around the end of the tiller gives enough grip but can be adjusted by rolling the cord turns around to move the tiller from one side to the other.

An easier adjustment is to fit a handy billy tackle with a cleat at one end of the bungee. The bungee is kept fairly tight with the handy billy mid range. Tighten the handy billy to bias the ti9ller more towards the handy billy. Loosen handy billy to bias tiller the other way.
Bungee cord is used because when you want to adjust heading or even tack you simply overpower the bungee to turn the boat. Release your pressure on the tiller returns it to the last setting which hopefully is going to hold the boat straight.
Fortunately I don't often sail single handed. However I have few bungee cords for use as sail ties. Three hooked together will do the job as well as any thing else.
I would not spend money on a purpose built device but would rather put the money towards an electronic autopilot which is far more reliable. (in heading) olewill

 

[prv]

yes can all be done by autopilot too but even if it is ready to go, you have to locate the pushrod on the pin, check course and bearing, press 'auto', re check heading. Midshipman - flick the lever as you let go the helm..

I don't think it would work for me. KS is small and I am, ahem, not, so moving my weight around changes her underwater profile and throws her off course. I use a tillerpilot; if I put it on and sit still it chunters back and forth a bit, but if I head onto the side decks or even below I hear it making a substantial movement to compensate.

I don't have to do any checking of bearings, I just press "auto" and it keeps us going the same way. I'm sure a Midshipman would be quicker to engage, but as I say I don't think it would then do the job for me.

Pete

 

[richardh10]

thanks for info on midshipman. Must admit I hadn't come across it, but will certainly be looking into it

Cheers

 

[Even Chance]

I made my own version of the tillermate, and use it all the time. I simply couldnt do without it when singlehanded.
I have an E-Boat, and it does tend to wander around quite a bit when unattended, but the helm lock allows me to nip forward and do the quick jobs needed.
Highly recommended.

 

[claymore]

Salty John

Salty sells something similar which is a wonderful wee gadget. I bought my Brother-in Law one for his birthday and he wonders how he ever managed without it.

 

[Vara]

Salty sells something similar which is a wonderful wee gadget. I bought my Brother-in Law one for his birthday and he wonders how he ever managed without it.

Yep I sailed on a folk-boat last year with one of these;

http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/tillerhand.htm

Worked really well.

I'd have one but they dont work on wheels.

 

[caiman]

Tiller Hand (I think) from Salty John.I used mine last week when the autohelm packed in.Aftersales is also excellent.
Cheers

 

[Fire99]

so what's the best solution, TillerMate, Midshipman or SaltyJohn's offering???

 

[MonniotC]

Tiller Lock good, Seasure Midshipman even better. I wouldnt be without one. I usually sail single handed, and to be able to lock off the helm while I attend to something else makes it nowadays an essential bit of kit...

I too have a Seasure Midshipman. However, I find that it has the maddening habit of letting the rope drop out every now and again (i.e. whenever I want to use it). It is then a fiddly and awkward job to get the rope back in. It is the correct rope, supplied with the Midshipman, and you certainly couldn't put larger rope through it to get a tighter fit. A possible reason is that I have it mounted underneath the tiller, with the open side downward, thus allowing the rope to drop out occasionally. I can't remember why I fitted it underneath like that, and I no longer have the fitting instructions. Others on this thread obviously do not have this problem. Perhaps they could advise me how they have their Midshipmen fitted.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Salty John]

so what's the best solution, TillerMate, Midshipman or SaltyJohn's offering???

The answer to that is to get PBO to run a comparative test - I'd be delighted to submit a Tiller-Hand for testing against all other mechanical tiller controllers.

These are all relatively simple devices - a mechanical brake working on a control line slung across the cockpit. They need to be as frictionless as possible when unloaded, lock solid when required and, where it is the objective to do so, allow a varying degree of resistance to the helm.

Any gear that lives on a boat needs to be durable and it's best if it is unobtrusive and doesn't take up more space than is appropriate to its benefit.

You can choose between the Tillermate, the Tiller Tamer (from USA), the Tiller-Lock, the Midshipman, my Tiller-Hand and a couple of others of more or less similar design to the rest. The Tiller-Hand is less than £20, you can spend up to £100 on others. I'd be happy for PBO to determine the best value for money but, also, to comment generally on the benefit or otherwise of tiller controllers.

I declare a commercial interest!