Dan: Another approach is to use a jam cleat, a piece of rope that will wedge in it, and two short bungees. The rope and bungees are stretched across the cockpit, maybe from the stern cleats, the jam cleat is attached to the underside of the tiller forward of where the rope crosses under it. Then pull the rope forward and hook it in the jam end of the jam cleat (which must be it's forward end). With proper bungee tension the rope with hold the tiller in position but allow it to be moved when desired. The rope can be popped out of the cleat when you what the tiller to move freely. I like the tiller clutch, but I prefer the jam cleat system. --Gary., M17 Hydeaway2 On Apr 10, 2013, at 3:04 PM, Dan Richman <danielarichman@gmail.com> wrote:
i'm trying to decide whether to install the nifty TillerClutch, from WaveFront, on my m-17. it's a beautifully made piece of gear. but in the past, i've used similar devices and they failed to hold the boat on course. not even close, even though they were properly installed. it's not that the clutch slipped; it's that the boat's balance seemed to be thrown off too much by my moving around.
i plan to add a raymarine st1000+ autopilot soon, and my thinking was that that would maintain a good course despite my movements, since it corrects itself to hold a set heading. i was thinking i'd just use the autopilot rather than the tiller clutch.
but then again, the autopilot uses up power, while the clutch does not.
does anyone have experience using the clutch, the autopilot, or both? if both, when do you use one and when the other?
thanks for your thoughts.
dan
-- Dan Richman DanielARichman@gmail.com 5039 View Road Langley, WA 98260 USA Home: 360-221-6216
Cell: 360-949-3234