Does anyone else have any experience with this type of self steering http://www.jsward.com/steering/index.shtml ? I have been experimenting with it for over a year now with good sucess. It took a little trial and error to get it dialed in for my "78 CP16 but now I'm able to adjust sails, set course and set steering and go hands off for a couple of hours at a time (while maintaining a watch). It responds well to gust and lulls, but seems to work best sailing off the wind.
In my experience most sheet to tiller arrangements seem to work their BEST (steadiest) when sailing ON THE WIND, that is, on a close reach or close hauled course, and have some difficulty maintaining a relatively steady course OFF THE WIND on a broad reach or run.
If your technique does indeed work best OFF THE WIND you sure are on to something. If it can be tweaked to perform as well ON THE WIND (which shouldn't be too difficult) you could have a truly unbeatable system in overall efficiency.
Please keep us informed.
capt_nemo
This system works reasonably well close hauled, but seems to work better with less tending and tinkering on a close reach or beam reach. On a broad reach or downwind run it tends to wonder and require more tinkering. I prefer to attach the windward line directly to the boom, adjust the course and sail trim first then release the main sheet and adjust the leeward tension line. For sailing with the wind off the stern quarters I use the 2 block system and attach directly to the jib sheet via a loop knot. The cam cleats not only work well for a very adjustable tiller to sheet connection, but also a great way to lash the tiller with a couple of short lines attached to gunwhale cleats. When the weather clears here, I'll take some pictures. It has been raining (3"-5") for days.
Guys might want to look in the archives. I discribed this for my 23 about 5 years ago. Still use it.
Newt, I've looked thru the achives with no success. I found only the briefest of mentions of "sheet to tiller" steering. Could you send me a link to that post?
Here's a video of CJ sailing his meridian shett-to-tiller http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NokZpCJIuBg
I can't find it here too! Go to Sailfar on this link :http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=554.60 My tutorial starts at post 70. There is a good discussion on sheet to tiller throughout the thread, which continues for several years....
Thanks Newt! I'm always interested in learning how others do things and getting ideas to try to improve what I do.
WOW, thanks Newt! That was a very informative thread and food for thought and experimenting.