Tod, Your video re-inspired me. I studied Letcher's self steering book last year, but had trouble getting surgical tubing, so the project got put on the bottom of my list. I know you were using your self steering on the Maine trip, but I never got a close look at it. I looked at the video a number of times trying to pick up details of your setup. I couldn't help but notice, after several viewings, that the boat seemed to be ghosting along with no one aboard, self steering, like when the skipper fell overboard, very eerie on Erie, very Blair Witch like. I guess self steering should include harnessing in. I look forward to seeing your rig and you first hand on one of the east coast cruises. Are you planning to attend any? Thanks for sharing, Rick Langer M15 #337 Bluebird (equipped with Doug's remote steering system)
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 13:11:31 -0500 From: "Howard Mills" <htmills@bright.net> Subject: M_Boats: video clip To: "M-list" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Message-ID: <000001c65037$94755a60$5f88db42@ACER> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I've been offline for the past week, thanks to computer troubles. Hope I didn't miss too much.
A short video clip of Busca beating out into Lake Erie last summer:
http://www.todspages.net/images/WaywardSon.WMV
Tod Mills M17 #408 BuscaBrisas
Rick: You are 100% correct about the safety factor. When it's working correctly, a self steering boat is NOT going to round up and stop, or circle back to pick you up. It's going to keep going where the wind blows it. I believe it was Blonde Hasler who said it, "if you fall overboard, be prepared to drown like a gentlemen". It is a serious issue. I built a working wind vane, but am going to re-visit the sheet to tiller method this year. Reason being, I took the swim ladder off the stern to mount the wind vane. For my use around here, the swim ladder would be of more use than the wind vane. A wind vane works on all points of sail, but can become eratic off the wind if not done extremely well. Rigging sheet to tiller to the jibsheet works as well if not better off the wind than a wind vane does. One thing that I missed the first time when I tried the sheet to tiller is to set the elastic to pull the tiller no farther to leeward than amidships. So when I tried it, the elastic pulled the tiller over too far and she wandered all over the place. Tod has proven that it will work and work well for these small tiller steered boats. Relatively cheap and easy to do. Howard On 3/27/06 10:01 AM, "Rick Langer" <farreach@optonline.net> wrote: I couldn't help but notice,
after several viewings, that the boat seemed to be ghosting along with no one aboard, self steering, like when the skipper fell overboard, very eerie on Erie, very Blair Witch like. I guess self steering should include harnessing in.
I look forward to seeing your rig and you first hand on one of the east coast cruises. Are you planning to attend any?
Thanks for sharing,
Rick Langer M15 #337 Bluebird (equipped with Doug's remote steering system)
Just a quick suggestion for self steering scholars. So called "surgical" tubing is available in all sized through lab supply companies. Van Waters Rogers (VWR) would be one of many. Their toll free number is 1 800 932 5000, and they probably have the tubing in their web based catalogue. Perhaps Tod could tell us the approx. outside and inside diameter of the tubing (amber latex) he used. Curious that I am so interested in self steering, I don't even have a sailboat, but I do have a handsome sailboat coffee mug. Cheer, bob s. -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+bobsmith=ag.arizona.edu@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+bobsmith=ag.arizona.edu@mailman.xmissio n.com] On Behalf Of Rick Langer Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 9:02 AM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: M_Boats: Busca's Self Steering Tod, Your video re-inspired me. I studied Letcher's self steering book last year, but had trouble getting surgical tubing, so the project got put on the bottom of my list. I know you were using your self steering on the Maine trip, but I never got a close look at it. I looked at the video a number of times trying to pick up details of your setup. I couldn't help but notice, after several viewings, that the boat seemed to be ghosting along with no one aboard, self steering, like when the skipper fell overboard, very eerie on Erie, very Blair Witch like. I guess self steering should include harnessing in. I look forward to seeing your rig and you first hand on one of the east coast cruises. Are you planning to attend any? Thanks for sharing, Rick Langer M15 #337 Bluebird (equipped with Doug's remote steering system)
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 13:11:31 -0500 From: "Howard Mills" <htmills@bright.net> Subject: M_Boats: video clip To: "M-list" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Message-ID: <000001c65037$94755a60$5f88db42@ACER> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I've been offline for the past week, thanks to computer troubles. Hope I didn't miss too much.
A short video clip of Busca beating out into Lake Erie last summer:
http://www.todspages.net/images/WaywardSon.WMV
Tod Mills M17 #408 BuscaBrisas
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Another source of surgical tubing is at most Physical Therapy Clinics. They are not in the tubing business but if asked most would either give a few feet free or charge a very small amount. Wayne ----- Original Message ----- From: "ROBERT L. SMITH" <BOBSMITH@CALS.ARIZONA.EDU> To: "'For and about Montgomery Sailboats'" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 11:43 AM Subject: RE: M_Boats: Busca's Self Steering
Just a quick suggestion for self steering scholars. So called "surgical" tubing is available in all sized through lab supply companies. Van Waters Rogers (VWR) would be one of many. Their toll free number is 1 800 932 5000, and they probably have the tubing in their web based catalogue. Perhaps Tod could tell us the approx. outside and inside diameter of the tubing (amber latex) he used. Curious that I am so interested in self steering, I don't even have a sailboat, but I do have a handsome sailboat coffee mug.
Cheer, bob s.
-----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+bobsmith=ag.arizona.edu@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+bobsmith=ag.arizona.edu@mailman.xmissio n.com] On Behalf Of Rick Langer Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 9:02 AM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: M_Boats: Busca's Self Steering
Tod,
Your video re-inspired me. I studied Letcher's self steering book last year, but had trouble getting surgical tubing, so the project got put on the bottom of my list. I know you were using your self steering on the Maine trip, but I never got a close look at it. I looked at the video a number of times trying to pick up details of your setup. I couldn't help but notice, after several viewings, that the boat seemed to be ghosting along with no one aboard, self steering, like when the skipper fell overboard, very eerie on Erie, very Blair Witch like. I guess self steering should include harnessing in.
I look forward to seeing your rig and you first hand on one of the east coast cruises. Are you planning to attend any?
Thanks for sharing,
Rick Langer M15 #337 Bluebird (equipped with Doug's remote steering system)
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 13:11:31 -0500 From: "Howard Mills" <htmills@bright.net> Subject: M_Boats: video clip To: "M-list" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Message-ID: <000001c65037$94755a60$5f88db42@ACER> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I've been offline for the past week, thanks to computer troubles. Hope I didn't miss too much.
A short video clip of Busca beating out into Lake Erie last summer:
http://www.todspages.net/images/WaywardSon.WMV
Tod Mills M17 #408 BuscaBrisas
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Our local hardware store sells surgical tubing by the foot. Two different sizes....3/8 and 1/4 inch as I recall. It's right by the other plastic tubing, one isle over from the copper pipe fittings. Those neat little snap hooks that fit it are harder to come by. For practice, you can try a variety of bungee cords, although Tod assures me those don't work as well. Howard On 3/27/06 6:41 PM, "Wayne Yeargain" <saltydog@ev1.net> wrote:
Another source of surgical tubing is at most Physical Therapy Clinics. They are not in the tubing business but if asked most would either give a few feet free or charge a very small amount.
Wayne
I buy my surgical tubing by the foot at a local medical supply store. They also have items like crutches, wheelchairs, etc. The price was maybe a quarter a foot or so, and it only takes a couple of feet. I never thought to look in a hardware store. That may be cheaper yet. As it deteriorates in the sun, I replace it annually. Tod -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+htmills=bright.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+htmills=bright.net@mailman.xmission.com ] On Behalf Of Howard Audsley Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 8:31 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: Busca's Self Steering Our local hardware store sells surgical tubing by the foot. Two different sizes....3/8 and 1/4 inch as I recall. It's right by the other plastic tubing, one isle over from the copper pipe fittings. Those neat little snap hooks that fit it are harder to come by. For practice, you can try a variety of bungee cords, although Tod assures me those don't work as well. Howard On 3/27/06 6:41 PM, "Wayne Yeargain" <saltydog@ev1.net> wrote:
Another source of surgical tubing is at most Physical Therapy Clinics.
They are not in the tubing business but if asked most would either give a few feet free or charge a very small amount.
Wayne
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
"They also have items like crutches, wheelchairs, etc" Is that for when the boat accidentally gybes and the boom smacks you a good one? Tod (sorry, had to ask before someone beat me to the punch) *L* -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+htmills=bright.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+htmills=bright.net@mailman.xmission.com ] On Behalf Of htmills@bright.net Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 10:39 PM To: 'For and about Montgomery Sailboats' Subject: RE: M_Boats: Busca's Self Steering I buy my surgical tubing by the foot at a local medical supply store. They also have items like crutches, wheelchairs, etc. The price was maybe a quarter a foot or so, and it only takes a couple of feet. I never thought to look in a hardware store. That may be cheaper yet. As it deteriorates in the sun, I replace it annually. Tod -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+htmills=bright.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+htmills=bright.net@mailman.xmission.com ] On Behalf Of Howard Audsley Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 8:31 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: Busca's Self Steering Our local hardware store sells surgical tubing by the foot. Two different sizes....3/8 and 1/4 inch as I recall. It's right by the other plastic tubing, one isle over from the copper pipe fittings. Those neat little snap hooks that fit it are harder to come by. For practice, you can try a variety of bungee cords, although Tod assures me those don't work as well. Howard On 3/27/06 6:41 PM, "Wayne Yeargain" <saltydog@ev1.net> wrote:
Another source of surgical tubing is at most Physical Therapy Clinics.
They are not in the tubing business but if asked most would either give a few feet free or charge a very small amount.
Wayne
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Bob, The stuff I'm using happens to be 5/16" outside diameter. There are probably a billion and one ways to hook it; I've been using a couple of black plastic shock-cord hooks that West Marine and others sell. Since the tubing wants to collapse instead of being gripped firmly in the base of the hook, I took a 1/2" long piece of electrical wire with the plastic covering (12 or 14 ga, I expect) and put that in the end of the elastic before clamping it in the hook. Works fine and the hook is re-useable (using a knive blade to pop the clamp off). Tod -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+htmills=bright.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+htmills=bright.net@mailman.xmission.com ] On Behalf Of ROBERT L. SMITH Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 12:44 PM To: 'For and about Montgomery Sailboats' Subject: RE: M_Boats: Busca's Self Steering Just a quick suggestion for self steering scholars. So called "surgical" tubing is available in all sized through lab supply companies. Van Waters Rogers (VWR) would be one of many. Their toll free number is 1 800 932 5000, and they probably have the tubing in their web based catalogue. Perhaps Tod could tell us the approx. outside and inside diameter of the tubing (amber latex) he used. Curious that I am so interested in self steering, I don't even have a sailboat, but I do have a handsome sailboat coffee mug. Cheer, bob s. -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+bobsmith=ag.arizona.edu@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+bobsmith=ag.arizona.edu@mailman.xmissio n.com] On Behalf Of Rick Langer Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 9:02 AM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: M_Boats: Busca's Self Steering Tod, Your video re-inspired me. I studied Letcher's self steering book last year, but had trouble getting surgical tubing, so the project got put on the bottom of my list. I know you were using your self steering on the Maine trip, but I never got a close look at it. I looked at the video a number of times trying to pick up details of your setup. I couldn't help but notice, after several viewings, that the boat seemed to be ghosting along with no one aboard, self steering, like when the skipper fell overboard, very eerie on Erie, very Blair Witch like. I guess self steering should include harnessing in. I look forward to seeing your rig and you first hand on one of the east coast cruises. Are you planning to attend any? Thanks for sharing, Rick Langer M15 #337 Bluebird (equipped with Doug's remote steering system)
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 13:11:31 -0500 From: "Howard Mills" <htmills@bright.net> Subject: M_Boats: video clip To: "M-list" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Message-ID: <000001c65037$94755a60$5f88db42@ACER> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I've been offline for the past week, thanks to computer troubles. Hope I didn't miss too much.
A short video clip of Busca beating out into Lake Erie last summer:
http://www.todspages.net/images/WaywardSon.WMV
Tod Mills M17 #408 BuscaBrisas
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
Rick, I'm hoping to make both the Chesapeake and Buzzard's Bay/Martha's Vineyard trips. Hope to see you there! I'll have to rig up Doug's Remote steering too....it would be very handy for setting the whisker pole (usually end up going in circles while setting it) Tod -----Original Message----- From: montgomery_boats-bounces+htmills=bright.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:montgomery_boats-bounces+htmills=bright.net@mailman.xmission.com ] On Behalf Of Rick Langer Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 11:02 AM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: M_Boats: Busca's Self Steering Tod, Your video re-inspired me. I studied Letcher's self steering book last year, but had trouble getting surgical tubing, so the project got put on the bottom of my list. I know you were using your self steering on the Maine trip, but I never got a close look at it. I looked at the video a number of times trying to pick up details of your setup. I couldn't help but notice, after several viewings, that the boat seemed to be ghosting along with no one aboard, self steering, like when the skipper fell overboard, very eerie on Erie, very Blair Witch like. I guess self steering should include harnessing in. I look forward to seeing your rig and you first hand on one of the east coast cruises. Are you planning to attend any? Thanks for sharing, Rick Langer M15 #337 Bluebird (equipped with Doug's remote steering system)
Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 13:11:31 -0500 From: "Howard Mills" <htmills@bright.net> Subject: M_Boats: video clip To: "M-list" <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Message-ID: <000001c65037$94755a60$5f88db42@ACER> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I've been offline for the past week, thanks to computer troubles. Hope I didn't miss too much.
A short video clip of Busca beating out into Lake Erie last summer:
http://www.todspages.net/images/WaywardSon.WMV
Tod Mills M17 #408 BuscaBrisas
_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
participants (5)
-
Howard Audsley -
htmills＠bright.net -
Rick Langer -
ROBERT L. SMITH -
Wayne Yeargain