How to set up self steering on a sailboat. Sailing Trailer Boats.

[@CaptMarkSVAlcina]

Good one, nicely done. It just amazing to me how many people don’t know about this. I did one on my main sheet and worked well

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Yes it’s so simple and effective. It seem to work just as well of wind and downwind. I’ll definitely be trying it off my boom next time

[@stevepeterson5943]

A tip for ya:. You could make a simple "suage" i think its called. To raise jib off lifelines. I used steel cable, with loop clamps (like the shrouds) about a foot long . . . Attach to sail, other end at the bow. Its just an extension, as long as you have room at top of forestay, for sail to come up a little higher . . . I did this, just to have full side to side visual between deck and sail, where it was obscured if attached right at the bow. Hooe that makes sense. Im also singlehander, big fan of self steering, got letchers book about ten years ago. Nice job : )

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Good observation. I thought the same. Beat ya to it! LOL

[@stevepeterson5943]

@@SmallSailboatCruising oh, right on : ). Did you already make one?

[@michaelcarman-yv9tm]

pretty good explanation. thanks

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Glad it was helpful!

[@carlchambers918]

Great Day spent on the water with a good mate!

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

You got that right!

[@dougendersbee8310]

I will give this a go on my Farr 6000. Appealingly simple! I will also try mainsheet.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Main sheet works well better for upwind I think.

[@mr.morgan5643]

Well done Chris, really sweet!

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Thanks I'm ad you enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to the next adventure.

[@guillaumedeseze7461]

Well explained Thank you

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Glad it was helpful!

[@georgemouliere8151]

Hey captain u just taught me something thanks

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

I’m glad it was helpful. There are quite a lot of very good videos on the subject. The idea is very diverse and creative so I recommend watching as many different videos on the subject as you have time for all the best Chris

[@macom5140]

Thanks mate! Good job. Greetings from Gold Coast! Athan

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Hello Allan. What do you sail?

[@TheFlyingPlectrum]

Apparent wind angle would be useful to know because the way you have that rigged is the opposite to conventional sheet to tiller. Going up wind, if your boat heads up the jib loses power and the bungee pulls the tiller to head further into the wind! I think you just had the boat balanced on Jib and main and could have just lashed the tiller for the same effect.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

I shall take a closer look at that. I think you are right. I experimented with a lot of different things and found the main sheet worked best on my boat. Being very light it pivots around the keel. Thinking long keel arrangements create more of a buffer and better results.

[@nathanbruneau1822]

Is it possible to balance a boat on sails in every course of sail and lash tiller??

[@theowenssailingdiary5239]

If you head up the pressure increases as the apparent wind increases. This is how I've done it, and how I've had it explained to me. The whole system is based on more pressure in the sail as you head up (not less). I've also heard somebodyvexplain the increased pressure when heading up as an increase in efficiency, rather than an increase in apparent wind.

[@stevewolf7205]

Good one Chris be a good test run to Morten and back for your tiller steer cheers mate

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

I have that one firmly on the radar Steve. Commercial shipping had the right of way, so need to be able disconnect quickly which is one of the things I like about the system.

[@abdulkkhan5095]

Thank You.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

You're welcome

[@daleskidmore1685]

Looks good and nice and simple. Roger Barnes has an attachment on his tiller called The Huntingford Helm Impeder. You may already be aware of it. It is demonstrated on his vid Boat Out Of Water, March 30 2020, at 8min 34sec. It locks the tiller in place. It may be of interest; I can't paste it as a link to you for some reason. Atb.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

I heard of it but couldn't find it so thanks for the heads up. There is another guy that demonstrates it. I think it is the best setup for a smaller boat that can be steered by shifting your weight and heeling the boat.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Here is another take on the huntingford setup kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYW2Z3yBibuqpdU

[@daleskidmore1685]

@@SmallSailboatCruising It was Moonlight I had in mind really, although some of us might be able to shift more weight than others......

[@daleskidmore1685]

@@SmallSailboatCruising Thanks for the tip, what an interesting guy.

[@petten20233]

Got one Albin Vega and it works good. You need only a big Elastic attached to the tiller to a clip.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Simple is best. I love those boats!

[@garymalm]

Good one Chris Those spinnaker turning block are in the perfect position. But where is the fishing trawl line? gary

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

I’m hoping to drag that out later this week at Fraser Island

[@fredschwarz9502]

I've watched several videos concerning this procedure. Yours was the easiest to understand. Good job on the rigging and the video. Would you trust it on an overnight transit?

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

There are those that do it But every boat is different. Given suitable weather conditions I have heard of people using the system. If the wind direction changes the boats course will change. You should ask the question. Of someone who has more experience than I do.

[@kendonahve924]

I have read some time ago of a participant in an early Jester Challenge single handed transatlantic race who used this system as his only relief from tiller duty. Sorry about forgetting his name. Maybe someone remembers. I subscribed here cause tone is clear, understandable and relaxed. Thanks.

[@theowenssailingdiary5239]

You didn't explain the theory mate. Works like a charm though.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Sure does work well. There are many different ways of achieving the same result. The theory is the same regardless of the system. A change in pressure on the sails is transferred via the sheets to the helm creating a corresponding course correction. As the vessel rounds up or bears away the helm counteracts keeping her on course. I think you already understand this.

[@tronalpha9137]

G'day Mozart. I am Gerard hear in Hervey bay.I live on an 23 ft hood and i am setting it up for single handed. I have an channle and done a vlog on my boat as an intro and became a new subbie on your channle as i am interested self steering systems that are resonbley cheap to do.currently got a few jobs to on the main then i can go out sailing. See you out on the water. Gerard.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

+Tron Alpha I’m still in the early stages of refining sheet to tiller. Boom to tiller works from a broad reach to downwind. Headsail to tiller best for upwind. It seems to be trickier in small lightweight craft that are pretty twitchy. They don’t buffer. The forces like a heavier displacement vessel.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

We should catch up next time I’m up that way. Cheers Christopher.

[@tonywoollcombe1799]

Excellent 🍷🥃🍺🍹

[@franklund8635]

Fine but not in heavy weather and big waves

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

You are indeed correct. It depends a lot on hull shape and configuration. Every boat is different. Will work with some and not others.

[@sailingcitrinesunset4065]

Nice video, have you tried main sheet to tiller steering on a beam reach?

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Yes but I had the main sheet on. Should have let it off. Is that what you do?

[@AusMarineRobotics]

Nice one Chris - sorry if its a silly question (novice) but when you tack or jibe do you just release the control line until you set the new course?

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

I such thing as a silly question. Yes disconnect then go about or gybe then once on your new course reconnect the control line in reverse of what you had before.

[@mr.morgan5643]

Chris, I wonder if it will work with a cutter and a roller furling Jib!! Do u think?

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Peter Neilson did just that and it worked. He added a small bowsprit on “seeya”

[@mr.morgan5643]

@@SmallSailboatCruising Thanks Chris! Fair winds!! Doug

[@SamuelLanghorn]

Do you have to rearrange everything after tacking or jibing? I noticed your lowrance fishfinder/chart plotter, how do you like it? Do you also use the transponder? where did you install it? I plan a similar arrangement,...probably using Humminbird Helix 5 Greetings from California

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

It’s something I would use on longish tacks. It takes a little bit of setting up. Lowrance works well but Garmin is much better in my experience. It is much more user friendly. I have used lowrance and Garmin transducers as shoot through the hull which is fibreglass. This has been proven very successful. No through hull holes and flexibility for placement centrally.

[@SamuelLanghorn]

@@SmallSailboatCruising Thanks for your reply. How did you mount the transponder inside? I had used one in a strip planked outrigger filling a little cavity with water, it worked well, the problem was to take the water out after use.... If possible I would rather use a water free installation (plywood/fiberglass hull). What type of transponder function to you use? just sonar or also more fancy ones like down imaging?

[@svtruthandpups.6218]

Nobody shows how it's hooked up to the sheet I've watched like five of these videos

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

You can tie the control line to the end of the sheet or the clew. Or in between. Experiment and find what works for you.

[@brettsprojects7629]

Hi Chris could you explain the physics of it to me, few things I do not understand if the jib sheet is taking all the force from the sail how does the control line move the tiller?

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

The jib moves at the clew under pressure. Eteee. The tack and the sheet block there is enough movement to adjust the tendency to round up.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Every boat is unique. You need to experiment with things to find what works.

[@theowenssailingdiary5239]

When a boat heads up into the wind there is more pressure in the sheet so it pulls his steering sheet which in turn acts to turn him off the wind. There is more pressure in the sheet when close hauled ad the apparent wind increases. Like if you drive you car directly into the wind there is more resistance than if you drive at an angle to it. As the boat comes' off' the wind, the apparent wind decreases, which decreases the pressure in the sail, the sheet, and so the bungee cord can then act to steer back into the wind again. It's a balancing act. It's ingenious isn't it?

[@Helliconia54]

how do you tack,with that set up?

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

Quite similar to handling a spinnaker. I guess you don’t attach the control lines unless your planning to go straight for a while. Im still learning.

[@tonywoollcombe1799]

Excellent 🍷🥃🍺🍺🍹