Jim, Sheet to tiller steering has been used for years to get a sailboat to self steer while sailing. A complete description can be found at: http://www.jsward.com/steering/index.shtml Remote steering is merely using a means to move the tiller both directions using a line. ( I suppose it could also mean steering with the wireless remote for an autohelm). I use a continuous loop. It starts from the tiller, runs to a block tied to a cleat on the coaming about perpendicular to the tiller. The line goes though the block all the way to the bow cleat where there is another block and back to block on the opposite coaming that it started on and back to the tiller. The line should be tight so there is little play in the steering. The knots to the tiller should be adjustable to set the tension. You can steer from anyplace you can reach the continuous loop. My favorite steering position while motoring is standing in the cabin or sitting on the bridge deck. Thanks Doug Kelch jim sadler <jimsadler@jascopacific.com> wrote: Thanks Skipper Not sure what "sheet to tiller" means? Also what is remote? How is that rigged? Jim On 10/11/07, Doug Kelch wrote:
Jim,
I have used the sheet to tiller steering quite successfully on my M15. It works well to about 100 deg off the wind. I saved on old jib and use two jibs as twin headsails and this works well off the wind but didn't have enough sail area for lighter winds.
I built a wind vane (non-Pendulum) steering system which also seemed to work but I did not permanently mount it and my temporary mounting had to much friction in the lines to be sure.
The M15 is so sensitive to weight that none of the above actually allow you to randomly move about the boat and still hold a course very well. Weight shifts will even drive an autohelm crazy and make it work hard.
I use remote steering for long sessions of motoring and it works very well on the M15, is cheap, and effective but requires you to still steer. You can let go of the steering long enough to dive into the cabin and grab stuff.
Thanks
Doug Kelch
Jim Sadler wrote: Have any of you skippers installed self steering on your M-15? I once had Aries windvane on my 32 ft Islander and it worked very well. I am considering installing self steering on the Pelican but don't know what is out there on the horizon.
Captain James Albert Sadler skipper sailing vessel Pelican M-15 jimsadler@jascopacific.com
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