Man, how clever is that? Great idea.....one line instead of the two I have been using. Norm Bundek wrote:
Hi Harry and Nancy,
I some times steer my M15 by sitting on the cabin bridge with a throw cushion to sit on. My body is inside the cabin with the hatch open. Since I solo most of the time I also set up a small beach chair on the cockpit floor and really relax on long leg with my feet up on the cabin bridge. I use this setup on the 6 hour trip to Catalina Island. It also allows me to stand in the cabin while motoring in the harbor. It's always good for a second look since no one is near the rudder.
How you ask?
I attached a block just under the gooseneck on the mast. From this I run a line from the cabin bridge or chair through the block to a block located on the starboard quarter. I also use this block to control my asymmetrical spinnaker. The line attaches to the rudder with a couple of turns and then tied off. From the port side cleat I have a heavy bungee cord which attaches to the autopilot frame. When I pull on the line, I turn to port. When I slack the line, the bungee pulls the rudder to turn to starboard. Look under M15 modifications and click on "Tiller Autopilot" to see my starboard quarter block. It's barely visible on the outside of teak cockpit grab rail.
Let me know if you have any question on it's setup. It's great because you don't get a crick in you neck by sitting sideways on a long leg.
Norm M15 #172 Ventura, CA _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats