[C38] Tiilers

[tdtron at earthlink.net]

On our 27 and earlier tiller boats we possessed we balanced the helm with
bungee cords.  We once  took a Contesa 26 from Ft. Lauderdale to the Keys
and back and without the bungee cords it would have been a very long haul
without auto steering.

After learning the bungee trick we used bungees on our wheel steered
Catalina 38 also.  Our 38 had an Autohelm but the bungees keep the strain
off of the steering motor and save the battery too by allowing the steering
motor to only make slight corrections instead of trying to fight weather
helm.  When we started using bungees on the 38 to balance the weather helm
the steering motor stayed cool to the touch.

Tom Troncalli





> [Original Message]
> From: Don Strong <drstrong at ucdavis.edu>
> To: Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org>
> Date: 6/10/2011 2:15:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [C38] Tiilers
>
> David: How is the weather helm? Don
>
> On 6/10/11 7:06 AM, david at dlrfilms.com wrote:
> > Taking the wheel out of our boat is the best thing we've done to her so
far.
> >
> > 1) Fewer things to break/fix/replace
> >
> > 2) 1000% better access to the works
> >
> > 3) Much better feel. Getting her balanced to engage the Aries is
> > faster/easier
> >
> > 4) Better connection between helm and windvane.
> >
> > 5) Positioned behind the wheel is okay for motoring in flatwater, but
it's
> > the last place I'd want to be in a seaway. Much less motion sitting
> > forward, steering by tiller.
> >
> > I took the wheel off ahead of our Bermuda passage. About 10% of the
boats
> > that came into Bermuda after us had steering gear problem. I can't
imagine
> > a) going under the deck in a seaway to try and work on the thing; b)
> > trying to steer with an emergency rudder with the wheel in way.
> >
> >
> >> david at dlrfilms.com wrote:
> >>
> >> "BTW, had a 4-hour charter with a never been on a sailboat before
couple.
> >> Within two hours the Mr was on the tiller holding a steady course."
> >>
> >>
> >> **************************************************
> >> I think that everyone who sails should learn on a tiller.
> >>
> >> We still have a Catalina 27 for our lake boat and when I had it
offshore,
> >> before we got our Catalina 38,  I could steer blindfolded once I
learned
> >> the groove of the current conditions but I never got that precise feel
> >> from
> >> the wheel on our 38 or any other wheeled boat.
> >>
> >> When racing the 27 we could make the boat do things never possible
with a
> >> wheel.  We got (in)famous racing by charging the start line too early,
> >> taking a quick 360 in almost our own boat length near the start,
> >> accelerating again over the line exactly at the gun while we watched
other
> >> boats watching us either cross early from our maneuver or causing them
to
> >> run off course while we left precisely on time.
> >>
> >> You can only get away with that trick every now and then but it sure
was
> >> "exciting."
> >>
> >> Nothing is as quick or as easy to precisely control a boat as a tiller.
> >>
> >> We sold our wheeled 38 last year but we still have four tiller boats
for
> >> our kids and grand kids: a Catalina 27, Laser, 8' O'Day dink, and a
Snark.
> >>
> >> Tom Troncalli
> >> recovering ex-racer
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> [Original Message]
> >>> From:<david at dlrfilms.com>
> >>> To:<tdtron at earthlink.net>; Catalina 38 Listserve
> >> <listserve at catalina38.org>
> >>> Date: 6/10/2011 7:26:33 AM
> >>> Subject: Speaking of fuel explosions.
> >>>
> >>> Looks like I've got a small fuel leak on the aft-most fuel injector.
It
> >>> seems to be coming out just underneath the fuel return.
> >>>
> >>> I tried putting a wrench on it. Nothing moved, nothing changed. I
guess
> >>> I'm going to soak it in PB blast and try again.
> >>>
> >>> My torch is a usual addition to these (mis?) adventures. Safe to do
when
> >>> the engine is cold, or is there fuel of there and boom?
> >>>
> >>> BTW, had a 4-hour charter with a never been on a sailboat before
couple.
> >>> Within two hours the Mr was on the tiller holding a steady course.
> >>>
> >>> "There it is, you've got her in the groove," I said.
> >>>
> >>> "Yeah, I can feel it!" said he.
> >>>
> >>> A sailor is born!
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Listserve mailing list
> >> Listserve at catalina38.org
> >> http://catalina38.org/mailman/listinfo/listserve_catalina38.org
> >>
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Listserve mailing list
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>
> -- 
> Donald R. Strong
> Professor
> Dept. of Evolution and Ecology
> University of California, Davis 95616
>
>
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