Tiller/Auto Pilots

Tiller Pilots

Just for starters, I love my tiller pilot (sometimes called an autopilot, auto-pilot, or just plane “Otto).  Otto is one of the best after-factory items that we have bought for Snickerdoodle after she went in the water in 1985.  

Otto is electric, and will steer an accurate compass course without complaint hour-after-hour.  Otto changes direction on demand.  And, is relatively quiet and doesn’t take up much space (either in operation or if stowed in the big port-side cockpit locker.  Especially, if I am single-handing Snickerdoodle on very light days where motoring is quicker than trying to sail; or if I have decided to troll for some fish for dinner; Otto is the best!

However, Otto does have a couple of drawbacks that are not mentioned in the advertising literature.  First of all: when I bought Otto, I purchased the next size up from the recommended size.  I thought that the next size up would have plenty of power for all conditions… WRONG!!!  If there are many waves – even small one-foot waves – the boat moves around enough so that Otto is always trying to correct course.  This condition of continually trying to re-set the course is even more pronounced when I try to sail and have Otto steer. 

Sailing with Otto is fraught with frustration as Otto tries to compensate for Snickerdoodle yawing due to waves and/or wind changes.  Otto just cannot get it right for any length of time.

So, if you are thinking about buying a tiller pilot or wheel steering machine, think hard about what you want the device to do and what conditions you want this done in.  Unless you are buying vane steering gear of some sort, you may be disappointed with your brand new auto-pilot.

Broken Tillers

Broken Tiller Repair

This summer, more than any summer before, there seem to have been many broken tillers on my sailing friend’s boats.  All were unexpected events. 

Don Street, a columnist for Cruising World and owner of SV Iolaire for more than 50 years, said once that it was not a matter of if the steering system would fail on a sailboat.  It was a matter of when it would fail.  But, most of us never really give any thought to what would happen if our tiller broke while under-weigh.

So, think about it…… What would you do?  Step one??  Step two??? Etc……  Is there a preferred order to do various “jobs”???  Each boat is different.  Conditions are different.  Should you take the sails down and start the motor?  Can you steer the boat under sail or while motoring if the tiller is broken.

Far more severe is if the steering fails with a wheel steering system.  Some wheel steering mechanisms have a provision for an “emergency tiller”.  Often this “emergency tiller” is a short handle that fits onto the rudder-post just aft of the wheel and binnacle.  The short tiller does not have much mechanical advantage… so, what if the weather is rough with big waves and blustery winds???  Some wheel steering systems have the “emergency tiller” engaging below the cockpit in the quarter berth or aft cabin part of the boat.  Whoever is trying to steer with this setup cannot see where the boat is going.

What should you do???

One – inspect your steering system.  The tiller, tiller bracket, rudder post, gudgeons and pintles, and the rudder itself.  Should any of these be replaced?  Is the tiller post hard to rotate in its tube?  Lubricate the rudder post (this should be part of annual preventative maintenance).

Two – Think about what kind of repair you might be able to make on your own and what materials you might need.  “C-clamps”, large vice grips, and/or duct tape can often “splice” your broken tiller back on to the rudder post or tiller bracket well enough to get you back to your marina.  But, these will only help if you have them aboard.

Three – Think about what other gear aboard might be made into an emergency steering system.  Whisker pole or spinnaker pole with a locker hatch secured to it.  A large bucket on a bridle rigged to pull from both aft corners of the boat.  If you don’t have a large bucket… how about tying a bunch of fenders together to produce a “drogue”???

Now, should you keep sailing or douse the sails and motor.  This will depend on the force of the wind at the time and how effective your emergency repairs are.  Maybe you should practice some of this stuff ahead of time.

BarnacleBillHolcomb@gmail.com

New AC Boats

Out with the old... In with the new......
The preliminary information regarding the next America's Cup races and boats is out.  And there are some big changes from the boats used in the last two Cup races.  No more flying cats!!!! to start with.

But, not back to the 12-Meter boats or AC mono-hulls either......  An "all new" design is being called up.  Here are some recently published ideas...

  The boat is a 75-foot long monohull, and the design details will be complete by next spring

  Cost containment is a fundamental principal

  The boats will need to be built in the country challenging.

  Nationality rule: Citizenship requirement is a mere 20%, the rest of the sailing team needs a strict residency requirement in the country they are representing. “It’s not a strict thing, but it’s an attempt

  Cup is Auckland 2021, but there’s no infrastructure or plans yet.  2019 and 2020 there will be pre-regattas.

  Two boats allowed per team.

  Challenger series will be organized by the CoR.  AC will be organized by the defender.  Joint group for broadcasting/sponsorship/umpiring and other common issues.

  “They might be” foiling.  The next boat will be presented in November and it ‘definitely will be an exciting boat’.

  Some one-design componentry, some supplied parts likely.  Development ‘open in the really important areas’.

  10-12 crew, bicycles allowed.

  No tank testing allowed, no wind tunnels.

  If for any reason, it can’t be in Auckland, it’ll be in Italy.

  Prada Cup.  Yes, Louis Vuitton is gone, and Prada is not only title sponsor of the challenger series, but presenting sponsor for the big one.  Does LV have the balls to return on a Challenger’s sails?

  Independent regatta directors and race management, similar to Bermuda setup for RM.

  Longer races, ~40 minutes.  Longer pre-start, upwind start.

So, there you have it......  Probably races in NZ... but maybe in Italy????  Mono-hull,,, but maybe with foils?????
More to come later.

Barnacle Bill Holcomb
509 993 3214
BarnacleBillHolcomb@gmail.com