Easy Sheet To Tiller Auto Steering Set Up

This video shows how I set up auto steering on my mid-boom sheeted 1972 Ericson 27 sailboat. Sheet-to-tiller steering can be used on any course with a few variations. My set up is temporary. Once I'm satisfied with how everything is positioned, I'll install heavy duty mounting points and bigger low-friction blocks.

This set up is used when the boat is sailing close hauled. Once the the boat is on course, the sails are balanced giving the tiller neutral or slightly weather helm and the sheet from the sheet-to-tiller system is lashed to the windward side of the tiller. Some elastic (medical tubing is best) is lashed to the leeward side of the tiller which balances out the force from the sheet. The elastic should be slack when the tiller is centered or slightly to leeward. The boats mainsheet is then slacked off and cleated so that the boom is now controlled by the sheet to tiller's line.

If the boat falls off the wind, the mainsail de-powers and the elastic pulls the tiller to leeward heading the boat back up and on course. If we round up the mainsail stalls and the headsail brings us back around again. When the system is balanced properly the sailboat will always hold its course relative to the apparent wind. If the wind increases, adjust tension on the elastic in small increments or add another length of medical tubing.

Always have someone on watch!

Видео Easy Sheet To Tiller Auto Steering Set Up канала Greg Ulrich