The best explanation and video demonstrations of sheet-to-tiller on YT. And it sounds like it's narrated by Capt. Gary Busey! 🤣 Thank you for passing on your knowledge - fair winds!
This was very well done. Thank you for being so thorough. I like how you did this system off of the mainsheet as opposed to bypassing it and attaching of the boom, much less force on the system.
Thank you! I appreciate the feedback. Yes, except maybe on a very small boat, directly attaching to the boom (or directly to a sheet, instead of deflecting a sheet) would be force that wasn't necessary and would have to be countered with more elastic & higher loads in general.
Thank you, Captain, for this precise and exciting video explanation! I am going to use Sheet-to-tiller self steering on my own Friendhip 23 in the next season, test it on the river Mosel (Germany) and use it on my 2023 holiday trip to the Baltic Sea.
I’ve never heard anyone reference Jay Fitzgerald before. Interesting book though. I used to be on the same dock a number of years back. I liked how he compared motor sailing to driving to the top of a mountain. Sure you can get there quicker, but it kind of misses the point. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on sheet to tiller. I’ve been a sheet to tiller guy for years, but I always feel like I’m still learning
Thanks! Glad to hear you use sheet to tiller. I can't remember exactly how I found Jay's book. Probably I found his Oar Club on the web and heard about it there, but it was a long time ago. I love maneuvering under sail, but do it much more on small boats than on my 50 footer, which is a handful when shorthanded...
you did a great job of explaining this concept, I'd love to see a time lapse shot of the compass when on the self steering to show the adjustments made by this device
A jam cleat on the tiller to fine adjust line a little easier? Love the hitch on to the main sheet.I have also seen a system sheeted of the Genoa any thoughts?
I think a jam cleat on the tiller would work well for adjustments. Using a Genoa sheet instead of the majnsheet works just as well...any sheet works, the best sheet to use is one you get a good lead from on a particular boat.
Scott, thanks for the question, and for liking the video. On the Folkboat in the video, the jib was poled out on a broad reach, with the main set on one side and the jib poled out on the other. Without the pole, the jib would not set on the opposite side as the mainsail. It's difficult to get most boats to balance on a broad reach without poling the jib out--in a gust of wind, all the sails heel the boat the same way, which causes the hull to turn into the wind. With one sail on the opposite side, the tendency to turn into the wind in a gust is reduced.
Let me know if I'm wrong--so the rig needs to be readjusted with any significant change in wind speed? Love the simpliesty. Even if you don't use it all the time, it gives you back up to a wind vane or autopilot.
The setup needs to be adjusted any time the sails are reefed, or set or doused, so anytime the wind change is significant enough to adjust the sails, it needs adjusting. Wind vanes and autopilots are definitely less work to use, but as you say, sheet-to-tiller is a great backup method.
Thanks very much, Gregory. If you are attaching the control line to the boom instead of to the main sheet, then I would think your control line transmits more force and travels less distance. Which would mean more elastic force is required to counteract the control line force, and likely the attachment point on your tiller is closer to the rudderpost, so less travel is required to turn the tiller enough to steer the boat. Glad to hear it's working for you. What size boat do you have, and how far from the rudderpost do you attach the control line?
@@SchoonerIssuma My boat is 29'. I usually attach the control line about 2/3s from the end of the tiller. I take your point though. Keep on sailing man.
My schooner has a windvane self-steering system. I use sheet-to-tiller self-steering on my schooner in two conditions: * light winds, when the friction in the windvane bearings reduces its sensitivity to the point that it doesn't steer well * when the windvane is being repaired (not often, but it does happen) Off the top of my head, I don't recall using sheet-to-tiller off the wind in winds over about Force 6, because the windvane--which is easier to use--would work well in those conditions, so unless it was being repaired at the time, the windvane would likely be in use. I don't see any reason sheet-to-tiller would have problems steering off the wind in heavy weather, since the loads on the sails and sheets are high in windy conditions. Sheet-to-tiller is more sensitive to changes in wind speed than a windvane, so adjustment tends to be needed as the wind speed changes. I would expect one would need to be proactive/aggressive about setting sail after heavy weather, when the wind dies down but the seas are still high, to keep the boatspeed and force on the sails and sheets high enough to turn the boat after the still-high seas push it off course.
Great to see examples with different types of boat. For the smaller craft, I have found jibsheet to tiller very effective, as on a reach the sheet tension changes more quickly due not only to the change in apparent wind, but also the jib gets blanketed by the main as the boat heads off the wind. When the sheet load is too high, the choices are: mainsheet to tiller, a sheet tensioning reduction method, or using an additional smaller headsail on an inner stay or flown loose. The John Letcher book you mention is excellent and though long out of print is available for free download with the kind permission of the author. See the Jester Challenge website: jesterchallenge.wordpress.com/articles/self-steering/ His notes on initial setting of the bungee are vital for achieving a setup that will respond reliably to changing wind strength. Applying his principles I found such good results that I set off for a UK - Azores return trip last year without windvane or autopilot. The only time it failed to steer was when there was so little wind we lacked steerage way, in which case windvane or autopilot would not work either. Upwind I have found a bungee alone or lashed helm gives best results. I run my bungee across the cockpit with several turns around the tiller. Friction holds it in place and fine adjustment is simply a matter of twisting.
Thanks! And thanks for making John Letcher's book available on your site! That's a great resource. I wasn't aware of your video (ua-cam.com/video/pnkDsDWl8zQ/v-deo.html) or website when I made this video. Great to see the success you've had voyaging long distances solely using sheet-to-tiller self-steering, and interesting the way you run the bungee across the cockpit and take several turns around the tiller. I guess because I learned sheet-to-tiller on my 15m schooner, I never considered taking a sheet directly to the tiller like you have done (I always used a control line from the sheet to reduce the power). Good to know that jibsheet direct to tiller works so well on smaller boats--I will try that.
The best explanation and video demonstrations of sheet-to-tiller on YT. And it sounds like it's narrated by Capt. Gary Busey! 🤣 Thank you for passing on your knowledge - fair winds!
Thanks very much! Glad you found it useful.
Great explanation! Very clear. I got it!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful.
I've been looking at options for self steering on my Cornish shrimper 19. Thanks for the demonstration can't wait to try it.
Thanks Joseph! Glad to hear it.
Thank you , great video , I'll be trying this next time I'm out .
This was very well done. Thank you for being so thorough. I like how you did this system off of the mainsheet as opposed to bypassing it and attaching of the boom, much less force on the system.
Thank you! I appreciate the feedback.
Yes, except maybe on a very small boat, directly attaching to the boom (or directly to a sheet, instead of deflecting a sheet) would be force that wasn't necessary and would have to be countered with more elastic & higher loads in general.
Excellent explanation and demonstration. Thanks, Skipper!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, Captain, for this precise and exciting video explanation! I am going to use Sheet-to-tiller self steering on my own Friendhip 23 in the next season, test it on the river Mosel (Germany) and use it on my 2023 holiday trip to the Baltic Sea.
Ben, thanks very much! Glad to hear you're making use of it. I appreciate the comment.
Thanks for this..very simple and clear with good examples. Cheers
Glad to hear it! Thanks for the feedback.
Great explanation of the topic. The best I ever saw. Thanks! I’m going to try and set this up on a Cape Dory Typhoon.
Thanks, Frank! Glad you found it helpful. I'm sure it will work well on your Typhoon.
Works great on long distance , just now and then a glance to see if she's on course
You sound like someone who uses sheet-to-tiller self-steering.
Glad to hear it!
This is excellent, thank you. What about a system for hanging weights instead of bungees?
Thank you! I would think that a system of hanging weights instead of bungees would make a less predictable force when sailing in waves.
Great! Can’t wait to try this out.
Great video richard very well explained i will try it next season. Cheers from your marina neighbor.
Thanks very much, George!
Richard
I’ve never heard anyone reference Jay Fitzgerald before. Interesting book though. I used to be on the same dock a number of years back. I liked how he compared motor sailing to driving to the top of a mountain. Sure you can get there quicker, but it kind of misses the point.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on sheet to tiller. I’ve been a sheet to tiller guy for years, but I always feel like I’m still learning
Thanks! Glad to hear you use sheet to tiller.
I can't remember exactly how I found Jay's book. Probably I found his Oar Club on the web and heard about it there, but it was a long time ago. I love maneuvering under sail, but do it much more on small boats than on my 50 footer, which is a handful when shorthanded...
you did a great job of explaining this concept, I'd love to see a time lapse shot of the compass when on the self steering to show the adjustments made by this device
Thanks, Andrew, that's a good idea to show the compass while the self-steering is in action. I'll shoot some video of that.
A jam cleat on the tiller to fine adjust line a little easier? Love the hitch on to the main sheet.I have also seen a system sheeted of the Genoa any thoughts?
I think a jam cleat on the tiller would work well for adjustments. Using a Genoa sheet instead of the majnsheet works just as well...any sheet works, the best sheet to use is one you get a good lead from on a particular boat.
how are you broadreaching while the sails are set for a dead run -- wing on wing
but thanks for the video
Scott, thanks for the question, and for liking the video.
On the Folkboat in the video, the jib was poled out on a broad reach, with the main set on one side and the jib poled out on the other. Without the pole, the jib would not set on the opposite side as the mainsail.
It's difficult to get most boats to balance on a broad reach without poling the jib out--in a gust of wind, all the sails heel the boat the same way, which causes the hull to turn into the wind. With one sail on the opposite side, the tendency to turn into the wind in a gust is reduced.
Let me know if I'm wrong--so the rig needs to be readjusted with any significant change in wind speed? Love the simpliesty. Even if you don't use it all the time, it gives you back up to a wind vane or autopilot.
The setup needs to be adjusted any time the sails are reefed, or set or doused, so anytime the wind change is significant enough to adjust the sails, it needs adjusting.
Wind vanes and autopilots are definitely less work to use, but as you say, sheet-to-tiller is a great backup method.
Very good video Richard. I usually attach my windward side to the boom rather than the main sheet. It seems to work for me. Any thoughts?
Thanks very much, Gregory.
If you are attaching the control line to the boom instead of to the main sheet, then I would think your control line transmits more force and travels less distance.
Which would mean more elastic force is required to counteract the control line force, and likely the attachment point on your tiller is closer to the rudderpost, so less travel is required to turn the tiller enough to steer the boat.
Glad to hear it's working for you.
What size boat do you have, and how far from the rudderpost do you attach the control line?
@@SchoonerIssuma My boat is 29'. I usually attach the control line about 2/3s from the end of the tiller. I take your point though. Keep on sailing man.
hey is this where i can do my ghetto auto pilot ??
I'm not sure I understand your question...
I wonder how sheet to tiller works on your schooner off the wind in heavy weather?
My schooner has a windvane self-steering system. I use sheet-to-tiller self-steering on my schooner in two conditions:
* light winds, when the friction in the windvane bearings reduces its sensitivity to the point that it doesn't steer well
* when the windvane is being repaired (not often, but it does happen)
Off the top of my head, I don't recall using sheet-to-tiller off the wind in winds over about Force 6, because the windvane--which is easier to use--would work well in those conditions, so unless it was being repaired at the time, the windvane would likely be in use.
I don't see any reason sheet-to-tiller would have problems steering off the wind in heavy weather, since the loads on the sails and sheets are high in windy conditions. Sheet-to-tiller is more sensitive to changes in wind speed than a windvane, so adjustment tends to be needed as the wind speed changes.
I would expect one would need to be proactive/aggressive about setting sail after heavy weather, when the wind dies down but the seas are still high, to keep the boatspeed and force on the sails and sheets high enough to turn the boat after the still-high seas push it off course.
@@SchoonerIssuma I do the same good video
: ) , helpful/instructvie . . . thanks!
Thanks, George!
Great to see examples with different types of boat. For the smaller craft, I have found jibsheet to tiller very effective, as on a reach the sheet tension changes more quickly due not only to the change in apparent wind, but also the jib gets blanketed by the main as the boat heads off the wind. When the sheet load is too high, the choices are: mainsheet to tiller, a sheet tensioning reduction method, or using an additional smaller headsail on an inner stay or flown loose.
The John Letcher book you mention is excellent and though long out of print is available for free download with the kind permission of the author. See the Jester Challenge website: jesterchallenge.wordpress.com/articles/self-steering/
His notes on initial setting of the bungee are vital for achieving a setup that will respond reliably to changing wind strength. Applying his principles I found such good results that I set off for a UK - Azores return trip last year without windvane or autopilot. The only time it failed to steer was when there was so little wind we lacked steerage way, in which case windvane or autopilot would not work either.
Upwind I have found a bungee alone or lashed helm gives best results. I run my bungee across the cockpit with several turns around the tiller. Friction holds it in place and fine adjustment is simply a matter of twisting.
Thanks! And thanks for making John Letcher's book available on your site! That's a great resource.
I wasn't aware of your video (ua-cam.com/video/pnkDsDWl8zQ/v-deo.html) or website when I made this video. Great to see the success you've had voyaging long distances solely using sheet-to-tiller self-steering, and interesting the way you run the bungee across the cockpit and take several turns around the tiller.
I guess because I learned sheet-to-tiller on my 15m schooner, I never considered taking a sheet directly to the tiller like you have done (I always used a control line from the sheet to reduce the power). Good to know that jibsheet direct to tiller works so well on smaller boats--I will try that.
Lots of sheets to choose from. lol
Yes, one of the nice things about a multi-masted boat is the number of sheets to choose from :)
Sailing 101 do up your life vest 😂😂😂😂😂