I have cruised my M15 for many years and have used a remote steering system for much of that time. I can stand in the companionway for long comfortable periods. It has even allowed me to fly a spinnaker single handed in light winds. I mounted two cleats on the coaming just behind where the arch of the tiller touches the coaming. I put a pig tail on three blocks and attach these to 3 cleats, the two coaming cleats and the third one on the bow cleat. I then run an old mainsheet through all of these blocks and snuggly tie both ends off on the tiller. This line forms a loop that runs near the edges of the cabin entrance. You can stand in the cabin and use it like a big steering wheel with both hands or use it one handed. I have even put a cushion up on the bow and sat there in very light winds. It works on all points of wind until about 8 kts with gusts then it is only good a little bit off the wind. I use old main sheets because they are easy on the hands and are stiff enough not to run through the blocks too freely. This allows you to let go of the steering for short periods with the tiller loosely locked. I have also changed over to a Catalina 22 tiller which lets me snuggle up to the cabin wall while sailing into the wind. I single hand almost all of the time and this works well. I did mount a tiller extension on the Catalina tiller but rarely used it. Thanks Doug Kelch M15 G #310 "Seas the Day" On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 10:39 PM, Thomas Buzzi <thomaspbuzzi@gmail.com> wrote:
Hey, Jazzy You have to slide a tube over the end of your tiller to be able to stand in the companionway. Not very handy and definitely not power steering. I use a hiking stick so I can sit on the rail sometimes or you could rig some turning blocks mounted on pad eyes to lead lines forward to the companionway hatch if you are planning to do a lot of off shore voyaging. Drive safely, Tom B
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On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 6:48 PM, Jazzy <jazzydaze@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi guys, let's hear about your tiller extensions. How long does it have to be to stand in companionway? Whaddya got? What's good, what's bad?
Jazzy
