I know its been thrashed but im having a blissful few days cruising and sleeping on the boat. Currently sailing around to cabbage tree bay in manly. Hoping to anchor there for a bit. Yesterday sailed down to bondi. Left bit to late to mKe my intended jibbon beach. Winds are light and yesterday changed alot. The aheet to tiller on this tophat is working flawlessly. Im able to not even touch the tiller fo hours. Working much better than on the bluebird. Ive got cam cleats on tiller making adjustments very easy.

Self steering ....? Sounds like a great system, please explain how it works!?

Hiya trek. You need a block. Some thin spectra line and a bungy.
Connect the spectra to end of boom. Run through block. Block is on windward side - bungy leeeward. Obviously you have to swap these when tacking. also disconnect the main sheet totally. How it works is the wind pushes on the main usually rounding the boat into the wind but with the spectra through the block what happens is the boat gets steered back on course and the bungy corrects it. I have cam cleats on tiller that are great for quick adjustments. Takes a bit to get it right but seriously when it is the boats on rails. This system works best on beam reach or going into the wind. Im yet to try downwind using jib sheet either through block or just around winch to tiller. Tomorrow when i get home ill upload some videos.

Trek said..


Amazing modern technology! Look forward to the vids.

John Letcher's "Self steering for sailing craft' is out of print, but if you can find it, it's a classic.

Awesome Sector Steve

Cool!

Yet to try but i will very soon and will update on this thread!