I agree. Keep it simple. A good motto for more things in life than just sailing. I wouldn't install a tiller pilot for regular day sailing, or even short cruises. They are not really all that easy to engage and disengage (at least mine isn't), and you don't want to become dependent on it, but on a long solo cruise, with long passages, often motoring (ie: San Juans and Gulf Islands), there are times when being able to leave the tiller for a while to study your charts, plot your course and position, etc., can save you some hassles down the line. Of course, being able to make lunch and take care of personal issues is a benefit also. Or you can just heave to for a while to do all the above things. There is no real justification for "needing" a tiller pilot for average sailing and cruising. I haven't really used mine very much, but I will say, it made some looong days much more enjoyable and I arrived at my destination less exhausted than I would have been if I'd been chained to the tiller all day. Larry On Wed, 7 Sep 2005 22:30:40 -0400 "William B. Riker" <wriker@mindspring.com> writes:
Steve,
I don't know about real men, or real sailor-persons. But I know I don't get enough time to sail. When I'm out, I like to actually sail the boat - not just crew. If I just wanted to crew, I could save a lot of hassle and cash.
Sure, there are times when it's nice to have someone/something do the steering for a few minutes. But I also try to remember the first commandment of sailing: The smaller and more simple it is, the more you will use it! :-)
Bill Riker M15 - #184 Storm Petrel
-----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+wriker=mindspring.com@mailman.xmission.com
[mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+wriker=mindspring.com@mailman.xmission.c om]
On Behalf Of Steve Shenkel Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 1:14 PM To: 'For and about Montgomery Sailboats' Subject: M_Boats: Auto Pilot mounting
I am curious about how others have mounted their auto pilots on M17's. I have an older Navico Tiller-pilot and at first glance the coaming is too far away, and the cockpit seat in too far below the tiller for any convenient mounting arrangement? How have others accomplished this?
Or do real men (M17 sailor-persons) not require stinking autopilots?
Steve Shenkel
Steve Shenkel
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